Christmas Stuff

As a family we do not really purchase gifts, decorate a tree or stuff stockings but we do try and take part in  things of the season which focus on the Lord.  For instance this year our family thoroughly enjoyed attending a beautiful performance of Handel's Messiah. That is always a family favorite tradition. One thing we often notice during this season is that people seem to be more open to the gospel.. So we do not ignore Christmas.. rather pray and ask that the Lord gently lead us through the season .. doing things which glorify him. We pray that we are honoring of Him in that. This year we were invited by Papa Ben and Nana to come to their home for their Christmas dinner. They promised only to purchase the children books and not go crazy. :) We had such a blessed day, thanks Nana and Papa!

 One thing that does grieve us during the season is just how much money we as Americans spend on trinkets and gifts.. while many across the globe go hungry. (click on this link to view a tract that a friend of Jeremy King's recently wrote) https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5453094/Black%20Friday%20Tract.pdf
We know how Jesus views this.. He is not silent on the matter.

We are blessed by organizations who offer alternatives and thank those in our family who gifted us this year by gifting others. Both Grandpa and Nonnie's share of a heifer and Nana and Papa's share of a goat herd came from Heifer International https://secure1.heifer.org/gift-catalog/?msource=KIK1K122942&gclid=CLXHoa69vLQCFeGDQgodYn0A5w
By purchasing from this gift catalog you can provide a necessary item for a needy family and also bless those on your gift list.

Christian Aid Ministries is another wonderful organization who provides relief around the world http://www.christianaidministries.org/

All of that said, we want to also say that we appreciate those family members of ours who took this season to bless our family with practical gifts that they knew we needed.. coats, jackets, children's books and school books as well as money to pay our bill. We are so touched by the practical things which others have shared with us.. We in no means want to stand by and judge how others spend their money or celebrate the season. Our family needs to grow in the area of giving for sure..we just want to be asking  the question of ourselves and of you.. what is necessary? Are we feeding the poor? Especially those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ?.? Are we fulfulling what the Lord has required of us?

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6;8 NKJV

¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we know^[a] that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 1 John 3:17-19 (NKJV)

May the Spirit of truth guide us into all truth! And may we be the hands and feet of Jesus daily.. both in our own homes and around the world. ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Family Tradition and a Blessing

Since 2006 we have made cookies to take to a local women's shelter on Christmas Eve. Although we do not celebrate Christmas ourselves per se, we know that people tend to be more sensitive about things of the Lord during this time of year.  In the past we have enjoyed showing this small gesture of love toward these hurting and precious women. The chance to bless them, pray for them and share things of the Lord with them is always such a highlight of the season for us. It most likely blesses us much more than it blessed them! This year our family had the flu the whole week before Christmas. SO, we were very behind on baking by the time we all recovered! On Christmas Eve day we were so busy finishing up the cookies! Sometime around mid afternoon, our very sweet neighbor whom we have known for many years now, came over and blessed us with a huge dinner! A pot roast, carrots, twice baked potatoes and fruit. What a perfect day for this. I mean, the kitchen was trashed with nothing planned for dinner! Thank you so much K for blessing us like that. It enabled us to go deliver the cookies, take some time at the shelter and come home to a beautiful dinner. It makes me think of the verse in Luke:

³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  Luke 6:38 NKJV

 

Amanda's crinkle cookies (you can see the pot roast cooking too!)

"Were you helping or sampling, Laura?"

 

 

Wonderful job girls!

 

The women's shelter

 

A view of the kitchen and all the cookie mess!

What a blessing to come home to this wonderful meal! Thank you dear neighbors!

 

 

Amanda's Visit to Halsey

Amanda had such a blessed week with our special friends the Pages. They made her feel so special and welcome.. even caring for her when she came down with the flu at their home. They pampered her and helped her through her illness with such kindness and gentleness

 Savannah, Amanda and Meadow

 

Willow (the special young lady who came to visit us in Belize last year)

 

Amanda thoroughly enjoyed praying, singing and reading scripture with the girls and Mrs. Page. She was so encouraged by the visit and time they spent with one another. The time spent in the morning with Mr. Page reading from the Word was a blessing.

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing

and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

 Amanda and Meadow write a quote by Thomas Kempis on the board

 

 

 

The girls also had a lot of fun! During Mandy's visit their family acquired 2 kittens, made playdoh with Prairie, made cookies and other treats and in general just had a great time enjoying each other's company. Their family made Mandy feel *right* at home! :)

 

play doh puppies

Making play doh pie

eggless chocolate chip cookies

 

Gluten free crackers

 

When I walked in to the Page's house to pick Mandy up, I instantly felt at home.. everywhere was scripture verses and lovely touches of love.. photos of the girls, handmade treasures and decorations. But what was the most beautiful thing about their house was the love for one another and for the Lord that is so very apparent. As the days get darker in this world, we just thank the Lord for the light that shines from this family. And we thank Him for our friendship with them..

 

 

 

 

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;

 and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

 

 

A Year-End Greeting From the McDonalds!

Ok like I said, I lost my address book-again. Thanks to those who sent us cards and emails. It has helped me rebuild our contact list. :)

So for those of y'all who did not receive an actual card, we send you our warmest love and greetings to you, our special friends and family.. I hope to write up a year-in-review post soon but for now, we love you, we pray for you and appreciate all of your prayers and the kindness you extended toward us this past year.. especially during Amanda's illness early this year. Blessed be the name of the LORD!

Countryside Park Spanish Lookout, Belize 

  April 2012