Christmas Week: Day Six - Happy Birthday Jesus!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Blessings!

Paige

Christmas Week: Day Five - Silent Night...

Silent night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight;

Glories stream from heaven afar,

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,

Son of God, love’s pure light;

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night

Wondrous star, lend thy light;

With the angels let us sing,

Alleluia to our King;

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born!

Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

Paige

On a side note.. A Blog Award

Beth over at Laugh Until You Cry awarded me with a blog award this week.

She gave me the Happy 101 Award.

The rules for the Happy 101 Award are to make a list of 10 things that make you happy, try to do at least one of them today, and tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day. For those bloggers who get the award, you will link back to my blog and create your "makes you happy" list.

10 Things That Make Me Happy:

1. My relationship with Jesus and my church family

2. Spending time with my family and friends

3. Hearing the laughter of my two nephews - Connor and Cooper

4. The smell of coffee brewing in the morning

5. Curling up in bed with a good book

6. Getting unexpected mail, e-mail or phone calls from friends

7. Giving back to others and seeing the rewards of those gifts

8. Baking goodies

9. Lazy days with no to-do lists

10. Road trips

10 Blogs That Make Me Happy:

1. The Boren Life

2. Pink Sugar Desserts

3. Little Birdie Secrets

4. Grammy Girlfriend

5. Etsy It Up!

6. As Good As Cake

7. My Little Life

8. AE Filkins

9. A Gift Worth the Wait

10. A Little Tipsy

Go check out all of these blogs! Some I have been following for awhile and others I have just recently discovered. I think you will like them.

Thanks Beth for the award!

Christmas Week: Day Four - Scrapbook Paper Ornaments

It has been a tough couple of days, but my God is good and he is taking care of my family, co-workers and our students during these difficult days. Thank you for your prayers!

Yesterday I had to keep my two nephews unexpectedly. I did not have anything planned for them, so I racked my brain and came up with a simple little craft. We made Christmas ornaments using cookie cutters, scrapbook papers, sequins and a little raffia.

We took the cookie cutters and traced them onto the scrapbook paper. We cut out two pieces of the shape, and glued them together. Then I let Connor glue sequins on them to look like ornaments and the stripes on a candy cane. We punched a hole in the top and put pieces of raffia through to hang on the tree. Here are the five we made:

And here they are hanging on the Christmas tree.

Please remember to cherish your time with family and friends this CHRISTmas season and to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

Blessings!

Paige

Christmas Week: Day Three - A Different Kind of Christmas

**UPDATE: Please remember in your prayers the Darby family today and through this Christmas season. Shortly after posting this morning, I received word that our sweet student Kayla went to be with Jesus this morning. She is whole and is no longer fighting cancer. What a beautiful Christmas morning she will have celebrating with Jesus. Oh to be apart of that birthday party!

My heart is heavy this morning, yet I know that my God is in control and that he will be glorified no matter the outcome. Christmas will have a different meaning in my life this year for so many reasons.. "For God so LOVED the world that he sent his only begotten Son..." John 3:16

One of our students, Kayla, has been battling rhabdomyosarcoma for almost two years. These past couple of weeks have really been a roller coaster ride for her and her family. She was taken on Saturday back to Children's Hospital - Birmingham due to some blood pressure issues caused by the fluid in her abdomen and the drain they just recently placed in. I received a text early this morning that woke me from sleep with the news that they have placed her back in ICU due to fluid in the lining of her lungs. They have put drains in each of her lungs, and she is doing better. Her family is so strong, but I know that even these new physical demands have been overwhelming. Kayla has a fighter's spirit and I just pray this morning that she will remain strong and be able to be home for Christmas. I pray for her family, and ask that God will give them strength, comfort and a peace during her hospital stay and as they try to have a normal Christmas.

My aunt will go today to meet with a surgeon, and we will have a better understanding of her breast cancer diagnosis. She is amazing, and has been a comfort to us as we await the results. My family is ready for this next chapter, and are all rallying to support her and provide during these times of surgery and treatments. I am truly blessed by her life!

Who knew that the word CANCER would be so frequently used during this Christmas season in my life? God allows things to happen for His reasons, whether or not we understand them. Above all, I have to remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often things happen to us and to the people we love that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, I am placing my trust in him this Christmas season.. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6

Please keep Kayla and my Aunt Cindi in your prayers as you celebrate the blessings God has given to you and your family this year. If you have a family member or friend who your heart is burdened for this Christmas season, please let me know if my comments and I will pray for you and them by name.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours! I know that this CHRISTmas will be a different kind for us..

Blessings!

Paige

Christmas Week: Day Two - All I Want for Christmas...

Friend Makin Mondays - All I want for Christmas this year is:

One of these...

and one of these...

and a trip to a place like this...

Seriously, I want:

Health and happiness for my family and friends

More time with my two precious nephews

Adventures with old friends and new friends

Making memories that will last a lifetime

Go to Amber's blog and check-out Friend Makin Mondays!

Blessings!

Paige

CHRISTmas Week: Day One

Instead of buying way too many presents that we all didn't need or want this year, we decided to play Dirty Santa with my family. I took a Snuggie! It was so funny to open the different gifts and then try to bargain with and take the gifts back and forth. At the end of the night, I ended up with Mr. Coffee Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker. I used it today and love it! It was so easy to use. I added my milk and hot chocolate mix, and then hit the start button. I ended up with a perfect cup of hot chocolate! Yum!

I am finished with all of my Christmas shopping, except picking up some stocking stuffers for my parents, so I plan to take this week easy and do some things I have been putting off doing. I hope to get my gift wrap/craft closet organized, and find a thrift-store table for my TV in the guest bed room. I may also try to rearrange the furniture in my bedroom.

Hope you all have a great CHRISTmas week!

Blessings!

Paige