Let the Christmas season begin!

Warning: controversial material to follow.....

To fully enjoy the coming of fall, changing of the leaves, pumpkins and Thanksgiving, I need to be able to focus fully on these things. This means I don't want to be looking at Christmas stuff while also looking at pumpkins. It means that I should not see pumpkin pies and Christmas cookies in the same bin at the bakery. Thanksgiving and Christmas do not go hand in hand, they are two completely different events and should be celebrated separately (imo).

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and with it, the colors orange, yellow and brown. My mind has done the switch from pilgrims to presents, from turkey to tree and from giving thanks to baby Jesus. It is now ok to use red, green and gold. My kids may now make their Christmas lists and I will now begin shopping and decorating. Christmas music will now fill our home for exactly one month (just kidding, kind of).

So, I am now enjoying all the decorations and music. I am trying to get my mind and my family's to think about Jesus and the reason to celebrate this December.

Here in Peru, we are going from winter to spring right now and by Christmas, it will be hot. It is still hard for me to get used to and I really do miss the fall and all that goes with it in the U.S., but we do enjoy celebrating Christmas and swimming in the same week!

Every year, the Christmas decorations in Lima are more and better than the year before. Santa is meandering around in different stores (not sure how he does that), we're seeing more Christmas trees in peoples' windows, lots of pretty lights at night and music everywhere. Our favorite mall is decorated beautifully and has an enormous tree (50-60 ft. high) that we love. My favorite is the 6 story tall billboard with Santa drinking a Coca-Cola. 'Tis the season.

So, feel free to opine on the proper time to begin singing "Jingle Bells", but I'm gonna stick by my guns. Thanksgiving in November, Christmas in December. Whew, I feel much better now.

Miriam

On puppies and humans

A puppy does what God made him to do - acts like a puppy.

A puppy sleeps in perfect peace.

A puppy completely trusts his master.

A puppy loves to play and does so wholeheartedly.

A puppy doesn't see himself in the mirror and wish he could change his nose.

A puppy doesn't worry about his next meal, or anything else.

A puppy is disobedient until trained to obey.

A puppy accepts his surroundings without complaining.

A puppy receives love and affection readily and eagerly.

A puppy follows his master without question.

We can learn a lot from puppies.

Miriam

The good, the bad and the ugly of Thanksgiving 2010

The good:

1. We got to talk with some new friends

2. The kids had a blast

3. Someone brought "Cool Whip" (can't find that in Peru)

4. The "two-hand touch" football game ended with minimal injuries

5. I laughed until I cried

6. Two Canadian families celebrated with us

7. There was plenty of turkey for everyone to take some home

8. Someone brought cranberry sauce (also can't find this in Peru)

9. The kids made some new friends

10. Someone else cleaned up

The bad:

1. We missed our families who are in the U.S.

2. The kids are all sunburned

3. The Cool Whip went quickly and I only got a tiny scoop

4. The guys realized how old they are after playing football

5. We didn't get to talk to everyone there

6. Our Canadian friend said he was "thankful he wasn't American" (totally kidding, of course)

7. I missed my mom's broccoli casserole and "pull apart biscuits"

8. I won't have cranberry sauce again for at least a year

9. I ate too much

10. We had to pay someone to clean up

The ugly:

There was nothing ugly, it was a beautiful day! So thankful for good friends, especially when we're far from family.

Miriam

Giving Thanks

"How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me.....things so undeserved, yet You give to prove Your love for me....the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude, all that I am or ever hope to be ~ I owe it all to Thee."

My heart overflows with gratitude for so many things, I could not begin to write about them all. My Heavenly Father has cared for me, provided for me and allowed me to live a happy and abundant life. He has been patient with me, forgiving and kind, and has answered so many of my prayers. He is the One who gives me life, the One who opens my eyes to His love and the One for whom I live.

God's greatest gift to me besides Himself is my husband. He knew exactly who I needed to bring balance and wisdom to my life. I am fearful and anxious; Brent is strong and calm. I worry; Brent trusts. I question; Brent knows. I cry; Brent holds me. I get overwhelmed; Brent brings it all into perspective. He is a man of integrity who lives what he preaches. He is an excellent father and a wise and good man. I am so very thankful for him and each day we have together. I love him more every year and am still enjoying getting to know his heart.

I am so thankful for my children, for my friends, my church family, my place of service, my health, my life. God has been abundantly good to me and to my family.

A thankful heart is a happy heart ~ I firmly believe this. I hope and pray I will remain thankful in the valley or in tragedy. I hope my gratefulness isn't conditional. I don't think it is.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010! May it truly be a day for giving thanks.

Miriam

I'll let this journey be my home

Brent and I have been married for 16 years, and in those 16 years, we have lived in 3 different countries, 9 different homes, almost 2 years without a home (traveling around the U.S.), traveled thousands and thousands of miles, stayed in hundreds of different hotel rooms and missionary apartments, and are now living in someone else's home, using their things, while all of our stuff is boxed up and stored.

At times, this has bothered me and I have allowed moments of self-pity. Then I remember that our life is but a vapor and on God's list of important things in my life, where I live or even in what conditions I live in, surely are at the bottom.

I have been asked many times where "home" is and I always struggle to answer. The U.S. is my beloved country and home, but where I live with my family is home too, and now, Peru is starting to feel more like home, after 9 years here. What I have concluded, I think, is this journey of life that I'm on - wherever I am, wherever God takes me - this is going to be my home. My home will be the peace I carry in my heart that I am where God wants me, and so, I will always be at home.

Steve Green wrote a song "I Will Go" and dedicated it to the Bowers, a missionary couple in the Peruvian jungle, who's plane was shot down several years ago as they were flying in a routine flight. Mrs. Bowers and her baby girl, who she was holding, were killed.

I sang this song in many churches in the U.S. 6-7 years ago, and have sung it a few times in Spanish here in Peru, but right now, today, it means more to me than ever before. I've never met Steve Green (although I have seen him in concert) but I praise God for his insight, his gift with words and song and I thank him for writing this song. Here are the words:

Give me ears to hear your spirit, give me feet to follow through

Give me hands to touch the hurting, and the faith to follow you

Give me grace to be a servant, give me mercy for the lost

Give me passion for your glory, give me passion for the cross

And I will go where there are no easy roads, leave the comforts that I know

I will go and let this journey be my home - I will go, I will go

I'll let go of my ambitions, cut the roots that run too deep

I will learn to give away what I cannot really keep, what I cannot really keep

Help me see with eyes of faith, give me strength to run this race

And I will go where there are no easy roads, leave the comforts that I know

I will go and let this journey be my home - I will go, I will go

I will go, Lord, where your glory is unknown, I will live for you alone

I will go, because my life is not my own, I will go, I will go

Miriam