You have the power...

to change a life...

as the Christmas season moves along...

and the reason for the season is the birth of Christ...

somewhere along the way, we sometimes forget that...

depression is the highest this time of the year...

and while people are out doing the shopping thing...

the fun and things that aren't so fun...

and it seems like everyone is in a hurry...

and in all the hustle and bustle...

we forget...

we forget to smile...

to help...

to stop the pushing and shoving...

we forget Christ...

we forget that what we do is contagious...

whether we are grumpy or happy...

ever have a cranky customer ruin your time out?

someone cut you off?

how do you handle it?

Do you not realize that it's the devil trying to take the joy out of Christ's birth...

it's his way of driving a wedge into our experiences...

our reaching out to cheer someone?

What if we would pray before we left home and on the way there?

Pray for God to use us to spread joy and peace to the world...

to use us to His glory...

and to make a difference in someone else's life...

that when anyone is grumpy that you smile at them and wish them a Merry Christmas...

and let that smile reach your eyes...

because people know when you are faking it...

let them see the light shining through...

if they cut in front of you...

smile- Merry Christmas...

if they are angry and grumpy and terrible to be around...

spend a little time to change their mood...

smiling is contagious...

happy is contagious...

God's love and compassion is contagious...

if someone needs help...

stoop and pick something up...

Merry Christmas...

if we just remember that this time is to celebrate the birth of the Son of God and what that means...

that we will live forever in Heaven when we leave here...

and that that person who is cranky...

just might be our next door neighbor for eternity...

how great would it be....

when we walk down those streets...

and someone comes up to you and says...

I remember you...

you made a difference in my life?

Just how cool would that be?

We really need your prayers tonight and tomorrow...

we are having some weird problems with our electric tonight...

pray we don't lose it ....

wind chills are to be down to -20 tonight and tomorrow...

the wind is howling...

we are taking precautions...

closing rooms and getting it very warm in here...



Got to get this in the mail!

and so the fun begins...

visibility is still pretty good...

but the wind chill is down to 9 already...

the gusts are going up to 47mph...

Rebecca got off early and got home ok...

I am so glad...

she has 4 wheel drive and is fearless...

but I still worry...

this is off of FB...

the news crews took this of the interstate earlier today...

they are going to an Illini game in Chicago...

this isn't bad yet...

tonight all you will see is white...

hope you all aren't buried!

saw some beautiful photos today of all the snow that missed us...

having a good day and feeling great!

need to work on some more Christmas gifts that I have going and might even start wrapping some presents...

I think we had better find another place to put them instead of under the tree...

have a little boy who might lift his leg on them...

for the most part, he is doing good..

still a puppy with very little training...

but he is smart and catching on quickly...

I am going to do a post on him later this week...

have a good evening!

BRRRR Baby...

this was this morning...

they were calling for 4-8 inches of white stuff...

but they called that off and are saying only an inch now...

but it's dry snow...

and we are going to have 40 mph winds...

we are flat with no wind blocks...

we will have a white out...

those are most fun...

it's like a blizzard and bad fog all in one...

you can't see anything at all...

we have to wear sunglasses...

it's too bright...

we count telephone poles...

you get disoriented in it very quickly...

so we are inside...

eating sloppy joes...

football is on...

I will post more photos when it really gets to blowing out there!

stay warm and cozy today...

tomorrow will come soon enough!

another poem...

Oh Santa Claus, dear Santa Claus, I still believe in you,
For long ago, when I was small, my heart was broke in two.

I went home crying to my mom and she knew just what to say,
When bullies said you didn’t exist and I was so afraid.

She said Jesus taught in stories, so moms and dads did too,
And Santa was invented so we’d know later what to do.

You see Santa is a spirit, inspired from God and Jesus above,
And he teaches the art of giving and of unconditional love.

Because humans are born selfish, and before we can accept God’s son,
We have to be given freely to while we’re very young.

So when we grow up, we help each other in our walk here below,
And we carry Christ within our hearts wherever we may go.
Because giving is an art, it’s something that everyone must learn,
It’s such a concept to receive something that we didn’t have to earn.

She held me close and stroked my hair and rocked me back and forth,
She said, “I still believe in Santa and that he comes from way up north.

And every year on Christmas Eve, the whole world plays the part,
We dress in Santa costumes to put faith in little hearts.”

And with the tracks of falling tears, she looked me in the eye,
She wiped my face with calloused hands and let out a tiny sigh.

Now that I knew the secret, I was a big girl now,
And this year I could play Santa and she would show me how.

It was all about giving freely and helping out our fellow man,
That true joy comes with giving and soon I’d understand.

That was many years ago, but the lesson is still true,
Oh Santa, dear old Santa, I will always believe in you.

For God was the first Santa, when he sent his son to earth,
That all mankind could be saved if they believed upon his birth.

And just like Santa’s, there is a list to see who’s naughty or nice,
And the only way through Heaven’s gates is with the blood of Christ.

And the magic is still with us from that first Christmas eve,
And it’s up to us to keep the secret that teaches little ones to believe.

Teresa Stairs- Dennis 2006