Top Five Favs #3

I've heard "The Christmas Shoes" by Newsong a hundred times and still tear up every time I hear it.



It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

A Perfect Cheesy Totty Day

It was cloudy this morning so that was an excellent reason to get cheesy tots. You see, when I leave BK and head back east to work there is a small strip on Delaware where the sun is hitting directly in my face and totally blinds me. I have to slow down to about 5 MPH, put the visor down as far as possible and raise up out of my seat just to see a few feet in front of the car. It takes several minutes for my eyes to adjust at the traffic light just to see what color it is. A few mornings I even turned and went a different route to avoid the sun in my face but that way is too many turns and stop signs and affects my eating routine. I am always eating my last tot by the time I make it to the Presley intersection.

With the heavy clouds this morning, I knew it would be a safe, stress free, cheesy totty day.

And they were perfect too! Brown and crisp on the outside, cheesy and creamy on the inside. Six little perfect rounds. Maybe it will be cloudy tomorrow too. I do love the rain.

Top Five Favs #4

Breath of Heaven was through Mary's eyes. This next song, "Strange Way to Save the World" by 4Him is through Joseph's.



I’m sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem

And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel come to life
And Joseph said

Why me, I’m just a simple man of trade
Why Him with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she’s just an ordinary girl
Now I’m not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the World

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth

But Joseph knew the
Reason love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought

Why me, I’m just a simple man of trade
Why Him with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she’s just an ordinary girl
Now I’m not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the World

Now, I’m not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange
Way to save the world
Such a strange way, this is
Such a strange way
A strange way to save the world
A strange way to save the world

Top Five Favs #5

Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant



I have traveled many moonless night
Cold and weary, with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father, you have come
And chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now
Be with me now

Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy

Breath of heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy

Breath of heaven

Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy

Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven

Honorable Mention #2

My second honorable mention that didn't make my top five favorite Christmas songs is "Sometimes Christmas Makes Me Cry" by Mandisa and Matthew West. Listen to the words closely. Beautiful song.



I think of loved ones who've passed away
And I pray they're resting in a better place
I think of memories of years gone by
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry

I think of soldiers across the sea
Sometimes I wonder why it's them instead of me
That for my freedom they give their lives
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry

Tears of thankfulness, tears of hope
I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know
There is peace on earth for every heart to find
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry

I think of family, I think of home
I say a prayer for those who spend this time alone
'Cause love can reach out into a silent night
And that's why Christmas makes me cry

Tears of thankfulness, tears of hope
I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know
There is peace on earth for every heart to find
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry

I think of Mary and a virgin birth
And I'm amazed by how much God thinks we are worth
That he would send his only son to die
And sometimes Christmas makes me cry

Tears of thankfulness, tears of hope
I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know
There is peace on earth for every heart to find
And sometimes Christmas makes me
Christmas makes me cry
Christmas makes me...cry

My Top Five Christmas Songs Honorable Mention #1

I wanted to do a list of my favorite Christmas songs and I guess this is just as good a day as any to start. It was hard narrowing down my list. My number one song was easy. I've loved that song for many years now. But I struggled with some of the others I wanted on the list. So, I do have a top five but I also have two more honorable mentions.

My first honorable mention is "All I Really Want" by Steven Curtis Chapman. Warning: get the tissue. Steven and Mary are big adoption advocates. They have adopted three children. Their youngest, Maria Sue, was tragically killed this past summer. Please be in prayer for this family and all those who have lost loved ones this past year. Christmas will be especially hard for them.

For more adoption info visit http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer



Well I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me - I was standing off alone
I didn't come and talk to you, 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll prob'ly never see this letter anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for
But there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Well, maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard
Sounds like the greatest gift on earth would be a mom

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for
But there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas

Is someone who'll be there
To sing me "Happy Birthday"
For the next 100 years
And it's OK if they're not perfect
Well, even if they're a little broken, that's alright
'Cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go
It's almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you
I'll be at home

'Cause all I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone
Someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for
Well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Just a family

That's all I really need

Another Reason

Well, I now have another reason for breaking the cheesy tot habit. Price increase. They went up 10¢. That would be 50¢ a week. Not much but something I should consider. And this is the second increase in about four months.

I also have to ask for a “value” size diet coke. Their small is now a medium. I guess the medium is now a large and the large is now a…colossal maybe.

That craving is just so hard to resist though. And they were perfect today. A nice, crunchy dark brown. Not soggy and greasy. And cheesy, creamy on the inside.

Maybe if that price increase was about five dollars it would be easier.