O Come Let Us Adore Him

Merry Christmas to you all.

Now stop reading blogs and go celebrate the birth of the King of Kings!

photo credit: debsch

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Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!

I will be taking the remainder of this week off due to the holiday season upon us. I will post again next Monday (it's already prescheduled), but otherwise might not be back again until January 4th for any real postings.

See you then!

8 People to Remember at Christmas

I am going to use the characters in the Christmas story to discuss 7 groups of people that we need to remember here at the holiday season. Why only seven? Well, Jesus is the eighth and He doesn’t represent anyone but Himself.

1. Jesus—The “Reason for the Season”, right? I won’t get on my soapbox about the commercialization of Christmas or the abuse of the holiday. I will just simply state that He IS the very reason for Christmas whether we acknowledge it or not, and it would be in our best interest to do so.
2. Mary—Ahhh….how can we sum up Mary? She was a scared girl. She was asked to face a lot of hardship. She was called to carry a child out of wedlock in the face of a society where it was greatly shunned. She was asked to love a child that would be hated by His society. She was asked to give her heart away to a son who would be murdered one day by the very people He came to love. She was asked to do a number of tasks, and she accepted her lot in life humbly, obediently, and willingly. She gave her heart to a task that would one day break it. Let’s remember those who give their entire life breathing on this earth to following through with God’s place, regardless of how much they will sacrifice to do so.
3. Joseph—Joseph was a man entrusted with a great task. He was expected to provide for his family as the man of the household. Greater than that, he was to take his meager occupation and use it to raise the very Son of God. He was called to be the father of the Son. He had a great task ahead of him with limited resources. He was the one that God entrusted His Son to while on this earth. He was given the task to be a role-model within his own means. Let’s remember those who are working hard to provide for their families and doing the best with what they have been given.
4. 3 Wise Men/Kings/Magi—Remember when Jesus noted that to those who have been given much that much will be expected? The Magi are representative of those people. You see, they were scholars and very wealthy men in their day. They had been gifted with both talents and resources and both were used to honor Jesus for Christmas. They brought Him gifts acknowledging their submission as well as who He was. They were obedient to God and used their wealth to give to Him. Let’s remember those who, despite their wealth, can humble themselves before the King.
5. Shepherds—This lowly group of men were considered one of the lowest caste in society. However, if you will note, they were the first to hear the news of Christ’s birth. God remembered the lowly and even honored them by sending messengers directly to them. They honored Him in turn by proclaiming the good news to all they came in contact with. I’m sure that those who would not have been told by the rich and powerful got the message that night when they might have otherwise never known. Let’s remember that the very least in our midst might be mighty members of God’s creation.
6. Angels—The very messengers of God. His creation. They proclaimed in God’s glory the announcement of Jesus’ birth. We should remember those who have been called to share the news of Jesus. May they only use their proclamations to draw attention to the center of the festivities.
7. Innkeeper—There was no actual innkeeper in the Bible, but we have always created one in the stories since there was an inn, so someone must have been running the place. It’s sad that since it was time for the census that Joseph & Mary were turned away due to an overcrowding in the tiny town of Bethlehem. Let’s remember those who are so focused on the busyness and chaos of this life that we neglect to see what is really happening in their very midst. They need our prayers for peace and calm.
8. Donkey—The true ministry tool of this story. The donkey was a beast of burden and used to carry Mary, Joseph & their belongings to Bethlehem. Let’s remember that there are many ministries in the world working to bring Christ to a dark world in a very real, hands-on way. They are loving through tasks and deeds because that is what they have been called to do. As with the donkey, they might get no true high praise from men on this earth, but the recipient of their works will never forget them.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Photo credit: bishopitalia

Weekend Round-Up #21

Back again for the round up of this week's blog posts and articles that I felt were worth passing along to you. This will be the last one before Christmas, so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season!

Now, onto the reading....


FINANCIAL

• Organization Saves Money at 20s Money offers several means of saving money via organization. You should check it out...these two topics are two of my favorite things. =)
• Four Simple but Costly Money Mistakes at Money Under 30 is seriously worth the read. Great stuff.
• Debt Reduction Takes Tough Love at Money Under 30 is another reminder that it is sometimes hard to keep the ultimate goal in sight when surrounded by others who aren't on a similar trek.
• No more P&G coupons on Kroger cards at MSN's Smart Spending answered the question of "why?" that I had when I heard this. I hope this isn't a trend! I love my ecoupons!
• Do You Deserve To Spend? Is It Ok To Splurge Even When You Don’t Have The Money? at Bible Money Matters approaches this question. You've gotta' know the answer, but even though I "know" the answer, I sometimes still try to justify splurges when I'm on a budget. What is it about not being able to do something makes it that much more appealing?!

FAMILY/LIFE

• Coupons: Helping or Hurting Healthy Eating Goals? at MSN Health addresses issues that many people bring up about a downside of couponing. What can you learn from this article?

FAITH

• Saying Merry Christmas. at Stuff Christians Like offers what Jon always offers...a humorous way to look at an issue of real importance. Thanks again Jon for the laughs and the thoughts you provoke.
• The Moment of Impact published at Higher Calling Blogs by Dan King of BibleDude.net still has me smiling. It can be so frightening, yet so easy, to change the course of a life sometimes.

FUN

• Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce at Improv Everywhere offers another glimpse at a task performed by a group of fun and inventive people!
• Charitable Mis-Trust at Not Always Right made me feel sorry for this poor kid! I wonder what ever happened to him?
• Barely Scratched The Surface at Not Always Right also had to be included because I felt good about my homemaking skills after reading this one!
• Pick My Plate at Tyler Stanton's blog is sure to offer some fun when the voting begins!
• Ask Jesus’ Grandma by Shaun Groves made me smile. To see life through the eyes of a child again...
• live nativities at Jesus Needs New PR made me laugh a feel slightly guilty about doing so. I know that God will smile upon anything done with a pure and sincere heart, but some of the commentary (and the truth behind it) just made me laugh. Too funny.

FAVORITE NEW SITE OF THE WEEK

• Kids Eat For gives you a big breakdown of places in a local city where kids eat free! What's not to love?!

Photo credit: danyba

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Tuesday Free For All

Another Tuesday, another Free for All. Go ahead and check out the free goodies below. Make sure to visit the sources and enter your favorite giveaways in the linky below.

Happy Freebie-ing. =)

FREEBIES

• Through December 24, 2009, Safeway-affiliated stores are offering a freebie with a $20 minimum purchase. While I don't recommend going to Safeway everyday and spending $20 just so you can get the freebie, if you're already planning a trip or two there in the next two weeks, you'll definitely want to take advantage of this! Click here or visit your Safeway-affiliate website to print your coupons.
• Movie Gallery is having a free Tan Day in a level 1 or 2 bed, on Saturday 12/19/09, at tanning location inside a Movie Gallery. Some restrictions may apply. Click here for a location near you.
• Go here to download a free copy of Mason Jar Recipes: 34 Holiday Ideas for Gifts in a Jar. This ebook has 77 pages of wonderful and delicious gift-in-a-jar recipes which would be great to make and give as gifts this Christmas season!
• Maclaren is offering free Hinge Covers which can be attached to the elbow joints of their existing strollers. These are for Maclaren strollers only, some strollers may already have hinge covers.
• Sign up here for a free Lesson Sampler from The Homemaker's Mentor. This Lesson Sampler includes a rag quilt tutorial, free menu plans, recipes, and much more. If you like all things related to homemaking, you'll love this freebie!
• Go here to request a free 2010 calendar from Dellalo Italian Foods which comes full of coupons and recipes.
• Military personnel can register to receive a free Military Care Package including items like beanies, a deck of cards and a complimentary hour of internet access from Scion. Care Packages will ship to the U.S. and any APO or FPO addresses.
• Get a free $20 1-800-Flowers Savings Pass when you sign up for their email club. This offer ends 12/31/09 and is available to U.S. residents.
• DailyLit.com is offering over 900 books for download that can be read on any computer or mobile device. Just choose a book you want to read and receive short installments by email or RSS feed then choose the day and time you want to read. International.
• Purchase any Olay Quench Body Lotion (excluding trial size) and receive a rebate check by mail. Purchase must be made by January 29, 2010 and postmarked by February 12, 2010. Offer available to U.S. residents only.
• Click here to listen to the entire Story of Esther for free from The Bible in Living Sound.
• If you have unlimited texting on your phone, text COOKING to 467-467 and you'll receive a recipe book from ShopText filled with great holiday recipes from Making Life Better. Offer expires December 31, 2009.
• Free Sample of Gas-X Thin Strips
• Receive a free Medium Coffee Coupon at Dunkin Donuts when you sign up with the code DDPERKSCoffee. Coupon will come by mail.
• Free Sample of Kotex
• Print this coupon good for one Free Item ($13 Value) with your purchase of $10 or more at Bath & Body Works. Paired with a great sale, you’ll be able to score a few good deals for some holiday gifts! Coupon is valid until December 24th!
• Free Sample of Kotex Overnight
• Free Sample of Mean Green Hand Scrub
• Free Sample of Stacy’s Pita Chips
• Another Free Sample of Stacy’s Pita Chips
• Free Sample of Calvin Klein’s New Fragrance for Men
• Free Holiday Music from iTunes and Amazon.
  

SWEEPSTAKES

• Cupcake Keepsake Box Sweepstakes: Sweet storage for your precious things
• Tyler & Friends Dog Bed Sweepstakes: Your furry friend will love this whimsical lounger
• The Conran Shop Nesting Bowls Sweepstakes: This colorful collection is handy and stylish addition to the kitchen
• Modern Coat Rack Sweepstakes: What better way to hang your hat than in cutting-edge style?
• Yak Pak Sweepstakes: Enter to win a Megu handbag Number of prizes: 2 Expires: Friday December 18 2009 ARV: $25.00
• Kendra Scott Sweepstakes: Enter to win a pair of gem earrings in crimson Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Thursday December 17 2009 ARV: $100.00
• Cristina V. Sweepstakes: Enter to win a gold Cristina V. bauble ring in green Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday December 16 2009 ARV: $129.00
• Fair Trade Product Basket Giveaway: Enter to win an eco-friendly bag chockful of Fair Trade products Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Sunday January 24 2010 ARV: $55.00
• Energizer Prize Package Giveaway: Power up your holiday gifts with this array of Energizer products. Number of prizes: 5 Expires: Tuesday January 19 2010 ARV: $200.00
• Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum Giveaway: Enter to win a lightweight, powerful Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Tuesday December 22 2009 ARV: $129.99
• T.J. Maxx “Maxxinista” $600 Shopping Spree Giveaway: Enter to win a $600 T.J. Maxx gift card Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Sunday December 20 2009 ARV: $600.00
• zBoost Car Unit Cell Phone Booster Giveaway: Enter to win a cell phone signal booster for your car Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Saturday December 19 2009 ARV: $179.00
• El Conquistador Resort, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win a four-day, three-night stay for a family of four at the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday December 16 2009 ARV: $1,000.00
• Gone with the Wind Sweeps: Ten (10) winners will receive "Gone with the Wind" DVD, retail value $69.92. One entry allowed per day. Sweepstakes Ends: December 17, 2009
• Traditional Home Blue for the Holidays Sweepstakes: Five (5) winners will each receive a $200 specialty pet store gift card! One entry allowed per day It ends: December 31, 2009
• ReadyMade Way to Roll Sweepstakes: One (1) winner will receive his and hers bikes from Electra plus a $500 REI gift card, a prize package worth $1,500! One entry allowed per day It ends: January 31, 2010
• Formica®180fx™ Kitchen Upgrade Sweepstakes: One (1) grand prize winner will receive a prize package including an in-home kitchen design consultation with a Better Homes and Gardens design consultant and much more. See official rules for complete details. One entry allowed per household It ends: February 8, 2010

GIVEAWAYS

*Huge thanks to my sources: PointClickHome, Woman’s Day Magazine, The Freebie Blogger, Money Saving Mom, Couponing 101, The Good Deal Gal, Sisterly Savings, "Deal"icious Mom, & Better Homes & Gardens

Photo credit: kimandchris2

8 Christmas Movies/Specials We Watch

Tis the season to feed our Christmas-season-watching desire. What we will have to include?

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 - TV) - We watched this last Tuesday night with Patrick for the first time. A true classic with the RIGHT message.
2. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983 - TV) - Also watched with Patrick last Tuesday night. As the kids get older this will of course fade into the background (although the others cannot...I will not allow that). But while they are young and like Disney, we can tell a classic story through those characters.
3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - (after the younger kids are asleep, of course) - This is actually my family's "traditional" Christmas movie to watch together.
4. Elf (2003) - LOVE IT! Seriously bound to be a classic.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 - TV) - I haven't seen the movie version, but the cartoon is definitely a classic
6. A Christmas Story (1983) - I hate this movie. Let me repeat myself. I. Hate. This. Movie. But Chip loves it, and Patrick is sure to as well, and those are two really good reasons that I will sit in while it plays across our screen.
7. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - By far a classic in the purest sense. I feel like this is one I have to watch or it's just not Christmas.
8. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964 - TV)/Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970 - TV)/Frosty the Snowman (1969) (TV) - This must be listed as one because if you watch one, you must watch them all. The originals. I don't care so much for the "spin offs."

Honorable Mention:

• Home Alone (1990) (the original one only...the others were pathetic) - We don't normally watch this one, but it is a good family movie and one Patrick is sure to love with all of its slap-stick type fun.
• The Santa Clause (1994) - This one has good potential. It's a cute movie.
• The Nativity Story (2006) - There was some controversy in the making of this movie that surrounded some of the actors, but after watching the movie last year (or maybe the previous year), I have nothing but good things to say about it personally. It takes some artistic liberties to fill in gaps where the actual Christmas story leaves some unknowns, but it seems very plausible in its telling.

Is it wrong that Elf and Christmas Vacation made the list while the Nativity Story only made an honorable mention? I actually feel really bad about that, but honestly the top 8 are the ones that we will see this year.

Weekend Round-Up #20

Another week of good reading to recommend to you:

FINANCIAL:

• 6 Holiday Shopping No-Nos from BeingFrugal.net can help keep you financially in check during this busy shopping season
• 10 Frugal Gifts I’m Giving at Frugal Hacks has some great ideas!
• How to Handle an Expensive Social Calendar at Northern Cheapskate is both a reminder and confirmation that this holiday season does HAVE to be out of budget.
• Trashing old credit cards? Be careful at MSN Money gives some great tips on protecting your identity and credit!
• 50 Frugal Gifts You Can Give This Christmas at Bible Money Matters had some great ideas!
• How To Teach Young Children About Money at Bible Money Matters had some great ideas for any family.
• Money morality: legit to shop at thrift stores? at Bargain Babe featured her quandary about an issue that was weighing on her conscience. Head over and offer her your opinion on the matter!
• Frugal failures: When DIY goes wrong at MSN's Money Central proposes that it is often more frugal to hire out some tasks.
• 7 Free Toys Your Kids Will Love More Than Expensive Gifts at My Super-Charged Life reminded me that I really don't have to go overboard to make my children happy for ANY holiday--they really are simple and imaginative creatures!

FAMILY/LIFE:

• 7 Strategies for Keeping the Internet from Taking Over Your Life over at Michael Hyatt's blog offered some advice that too many of us need to heed!
• Not knowing what to do with Santa. at Stuff Christians Like is a topic hot on my mind this year. What about you?
• 100 Ways To A Stress Free Christmas at Dumb Little Man offers some tips that we'll ALL need to use at least one of this upcoming holiday season!

FAITH:

• Looking for Jesus was a guest post by Billy Coffey over at Hey look, a chicken and is a reminder about our perspectives here at the Christmas season.
• Taking Back the Bible from Liberals at The Church of No People addressed an issue I had read about just the day before this post. I am a conservative person, both personally, politically, and in my faith, but this is preposterous! (I don't know that I've ever actually used the word preposterous.)
• A Reply To Those People by Shaun Groves was a great eye-opener to me. While I don't want Jesus taken out of Christmas in public, maybe I should make sure my heart is in the right place first.
• The Red Gloves at Getting Down with Jesus is a look at what one blogger did with Billy Coffey's $10 Challenge. What a touching story.

FUN:

• Adventures with Edward: Edward and the infomercial at Adventures with Edward make me truly crack up. You must know that I AM a Twilight fan (the books, not the movies) and we have a stuffed leather donkey that we take places and photograph as a tourist. So this really fed a niche for both of these items.
• Losing At Candyland by Kearsie from Sounds Like Tomatoes and Adventures with Edward had me rolling.
• Cake Wrecks has an unending supply of bad holiday cakes here, here, here, and here.
• Feelings About Monopoly Over Time at Graph Jam gave a visual representation of an old familiar feeling....
• Flipping Out at Not Always Right was one of several that made me giggle this week.

FAVORITE NEW SITE OF THE WEEK:

• Jesus Needs New PR - Sometimes people's good intentions should be communicated differently.

Have a great weekend and have fun reading some of these!

Photo credit: ba1969