Christmas in Albuquerque

The kitties in Albuquerque thought Papa was a wonderful visitor. Our Grand-daughter Turtle was pretty under the weather but luckily was better so she could share opening her presents on Christmas Day. And GranBeck insisted on a picture of C-Mommy and Papa together. T-Ma helped Turtle with some of her package opening and figuring out how things worked. Papa captured GranBeck's Christmas Fleece and GranBeck returned the favor by capturing of Papa's Christmas socks! C-Mommy missed most of this round of opening presents (Yes, there were several shifts!), because she was cooking an amazing Fretada (egg casserole in an iron skillet that had amazing veges in it! That with turkey sausage links and homemade lemon bread & bagels---mmmmm...) As usual the gifts & toys took

second place to some of the boxes! We loved spending time with family this Christmas. As our little Turtle told C-Mommy, "My favorite present was having Papa and GranBecks visiting for Christmas!"

And Papa & GranBecks totally agree, Turlte!

Do You Know the Way to...

Oh MY! We are stuck in ABQ! We got to the airport on time this evening only to find out that Las Vegas, which was our connecting city, was basically shut down due to strong winds. They had delayed our flight and therefore, we would not make it to our connection for Burbank even if we could make it to Las Vegas later! So, we are in the Sleep Inn near the airport and watching bad TV shows and sleeping on so-so beds. (We have been staying in the Hyatt Place Suites which was amazing--42" flat screen with high definition, wireless Internet in the room, living room with L-shaped couch and ottoman, king size orthopedic super duper mattress, beautiful comp breakfast with Starbucks coffee for free every morning---and I got a terrific deal on Orbitz for an unbelievably low price!) We are paying $8 less for this room tonight and there is a huge difference. OKAY, We are SPOILED! But we do feel blessed that SWA helped us find this room and changed our flight to 8:45 AM and also changed the connecting city to Phoenix, AZ which is much better because Vegas has been getting crazzzzzy weather this year, including snow on the strip! Hopefully, we will be arriving in Burbank tomorrow morning and heading home to our babies, Pete & Shadow. I called Judi the Pet Lady and asked her to walk Pete tomorrow morning. I have never heard her voice so harried. She explained that several of her clients have called and are delayed because of weather! Also, her good friend had asked her to be on call in a couple of weeks for a grandbaby that was to arrive, and, you guessed it, the baby decided to come early. So, she has more jobs than she can handle right now. She is taking care of Pete though & we REALLY appreciate her! My husband & I hope you all had a blessed Christmas. We truly enjoyed being here in ABQ with loved ones. There are only a few more days left in 2008, so make the most of them.

Christmas- Today's the Day! Begin in ABQ with Santa...

...then home to CA and Pete the dog & Shadow the cat.
We have had a nice visit with Grand-daughter Turtle, but Christmas has really taken a tole on our little tike! She is exhausted from all the visiting and activities going on. It is heart breaking to know that even our little children get caught up in the business and are not able to just enjoy this season. So, a special prayer for all the children. Lord, help them see all that You want them to see & help them to seek and find the truth. Bless us, O Lord, with peace in our world, but also peace in our hearts.
Luke 15:7(Click to read)

Christmas Day Prayer:

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Christmas Eve?-Let's pray!

These 2 young people were Mary & Joseph in Bethlehem. (See previous blog about Belen.) The baby is 3 months old and spent 4 hours at the church to portray the Baby Jesus! I never heard her crying, although we did leave and take a break for awhile.

Acts 10:35(Click to read)

Wednesday's Prayer:

Jesus, above all else, I want You to know...

2 Days Left! Pray with me...in ABQ still!

I am posting this blog tonight because it is 7:14 PM Albuquerque time so for many of you, it is after 10 PM. I wonder if it is snowing in IL & IN where my M & M kids are tonight? Or even in Stillwater, OK where Frank's son Frank lives with his wife & Grandson Will? It is currently snowing in Santa Fe just north of here and they are expecting it here anytime now! I am pretty excited about it actually. It has been pretty cold here getting down to around 30 degrees F each night. We will have our hotel comp breakfast in the morning and then head to see 3 year old Alex! Fun times coloring and maybe a Despereaux movie even--perhaps a walk through some special Christmas lights...we adults could do our 1000 piece puzzle too--or not! lol It is getting so close--may all of you feel the excitement of this wonderful holiday time!
Hebrew 2:14-15(Click verse to read)

Tuesday's Prayer:

Lord, my heart yearns for...

3 Days to Christmas! Say a Prayer...In Albuquerque

Cousins Susan & Don drove Frank & I to Albuquerque this morning. We spent the day with some of our kids, Cynthia, Tracey & Grand-daughter Alex who just turned 3 years old! We had a wonderful New Mexican Green Chile Lunch and a little restaurant near their home. It was fun because we picked Alex up at her preschool classroom. She was very happily surprised to see GranBecks and Papa. We just left them for the evening and are now relaxing in our Hotel.
John 8:36(click on verse to read)

Monday's Prayer:

Jesus, I am asking you to help my friend...

4 Days Until Christmas Prayer! - In Belen, NM

Hi Folks, We just arrived in Albuquerque. We have been in Belen, NM visiting my cousin Susan and her husband Don for the last 2 nights. Sunday is when this should have been posted but I could not get connected to their wireless network for some reason, so it is late! We went to Susan & Don's church at 1 PM Sunday to do a "Bethlehem Walk". They were portraying Pricilla and Arthos who were "tent makers" in Bethlehem. We had to sign into Caesar's census and then we entered their Bethlehem.

We had a wonderful time during the walk and visiting with cousins! So, here is yesterday's Prayer:
Romans 8:33(click verse to read)

Sunday's Prayer:

Lord, Help me to remember that...

5 Days to Christmas Prayer!-We're leavin' on a jet plane...

goin' to Albuquerque...

Ephesians 1:4(Click on verse to read)

Saturday's Prayer:

God, I thank you today for...

Christmas Prayer 19-Free at Last...

Free at Last! Thank, Lord, we are Free at Last!!
I John 4:18(click on verse to read)

Friday's Prayer:

Please, Lord, help me reconcile with...

Christmas Prayer 18--Happy Birthday, VP!

In honor of my son's birthday, I want to pass along this Birthday Cake idea to you. It was given to us at our Sunday School class. In his book, The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren suggests holding a birthday party for Jesus. Someone in the class then gave all of a copy of this Happy Birthday, Jesus, Cake
Chocolate cake: represents our sin (Romans 3:23)
White Frosting: represents Christ's purity; Christ cleansing us from our sins(Romans 5:8-9)
12 Red Candles: Jesus is our Savior all 12 months of the year (John 10:10)
Red is for His Blood shed for us.
Star: Wise men followed the star & came to worship (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Angel: represents the bearer of glad tidings (Luke 2:9-14)
Evergreens: Christ is our Savior forever (John 14:1-3)


2 Corinthians 5:20(click to read verse) Thursday's Prayer:
Lord, I will never forget...

Christmas Prayers

Romans 6:23(click to read verse)

Wednesday's Prayer:

Lord, where I really need your touch is...

PRAYER JOURNAL 16 for CHRISTMAS

Romans 7: 17-25 (click verse to read)
Tuesday's Prayer:
Father, I choose to give you...

PRAYER JOURNAL15 for CHRISTMAS

I John 1: 8-10 (Click on verse to read)
Monday's prayer:
Jesus, Thank you for saving me from...

PRAYER JOURNAL 14 for CHRISTMAS

Romans 3:23 (click to read verse)
Sunday's Prayer:
Today, Lord, I just want to tell you...

PRAYER JOURNAL 13 for CHRISTMAS

Ephesians 2:10 (click on verse to read)
Saturday's Prayer:
Lord, help me overcome...

PRAYER JOURNAL 12 for CHRISTMAS

John 3:17 (click on verse to read)
Today's Prayer:
Father, the purpose of my life is to...

PRAYER JOURNAL 11 for CHRISTMAS

I John 4:18 (click on the verse to read)
Prayer Today:
Jesus, I will always remember...

PRAYER JOURNAL 10 for CHRISTMAS

I Corinthians 11:24 (click on verse to read)
Today's Prayer:
God, Please give me the heart to...

We Interrupt these Prayers with a New Blogspot!

Hi Folks! My kids have decided to change the name of their blogspot to Rhyme & Reason . I just wanted to let everyone know. They are not gone, they are just incognito! (which is a good thing on today's worldwideweb)

Daily Prayer Journal 9

Sorry this is late but GranBecks had a mammogram today and did some shopping!
Mark 10:51 (click on verse to read)
Prayer Journal 9:
Lord, My life has meaning because...

Days 7 & 8 Prayer Journal

This seems backwards, but I missed Sunday, so to make this consistent, I am doing Monday and then Sunday!
Matthew 1:23 (click on the verse to read it)
Journal Day 8:
Teach me, Lord...

Hebrews 13:5 (click here to read)
Journal Day 7:
Forgive me, Lord, for...

Day 6 Prayer Journal

Ephesians 3:19 (Click to read verse)
Father, I pray for...

DAY 5 PRAYER - FRIDAY-TO-FIRE-YOU-UP

James 1:18 (click on verse to read it)
May I suggest that under "Comments" you would complete the prayer sentence? I gave an example on Day 2. I think it would be fun and inspiring to all of us to share our thoughts during this season. I know you are all busy so if you do not have time, I still want you to read my posts! But if you have time...post a sentence! It may be the encouragement someone else needs at that very moment!
Prayer 5:
Lord, help my family to see...

PRAYER JOURNAL 4 for CHRISTMAS

Oops...I almost missed today! Sorry about that!
I Timothy 6:17(click on the verse to read)
Day 4 Prayer:
Lord, help me celebrate...

December 3, 2008 Prayer Journal

John 3:16 (if you want to read this verse, click the link!)
Day 3 Prayer:
Father, Help me see...

December 2, 2008 Prayer Journal Day 2

Romans 8:35-39 (if you would like to read this verse about how God's love is always there for you, click the link!) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:35-39&version=31
Today's prayer starts:
Lord, I am so grateful...

Monday, December 1, 2008

December 1
Luke 2:8-14 (New International Version)
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Day 1 Prayer:
Dear God, this Christmas I hope...

The Purpose of Christmas

Merry Advent, Everyone! What is ADVENT? It is the time of year Christians wait and prepare for Jesus' coming. We wait for Christmas. We prepare. Frank and I did Rick Warren's new book The Purpose of Christmas as a part of our preparation this year. For the last 3 Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hourwe read Warren's suggestion that we fill this waiting season with "buying gifts, sending greeting cards, decorating our homes, putting up lights, cooking, attending parties, and cleaning up afterward, leaving little time to enjoy the meaning of Christmas." With all the "Hurry, Worry, & Scurry!" we sometimes forget the angel's opening statement to the shepherds of Bethlehem. God had wonderful news for us that would cause us all to rejoice, celebrate, and throw a party: "I bring you good news of great joy that will for all the people Luke 2:10
I enjoyed this book so much that I thought it might be fun to do an "ADVENT BLOG" with all of you. So, everyday I am going to type a verse and the beginning of each day's Prayer Journal from The Purpose of Christmas Study Guide. It is a busy season so I thought it was neat that he broke it down so simply. The daily Bible verse was my idea, but I am using verses Warren refers to or quotes in the book. Merry Christmas, Everyone! And God Bless us, everyone!