Heart Choices: Counting Everyday Blessings During the Christmas Season -->

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Counting Everyday Blessings During the Christmas Season


It's time to post another Multitudes on Monday when I count my everyday blessings.

It's been a busy week and I've not even begun to get ready for Christmas.  Working full time and commuting a distance doesn't leave much extra time.

But I've been so blessed by reading Jennifer Walker Crawford's eBook called "Keeping Christ as Christmas".  It's OK if I don't have a picture perfect house at Christmas.  The reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Btw, I highly recommend reading this book which can be downloaded on your Kindle, Nook or as a PDF.


I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with good friends Todd and Jamie.  They used to live in the Phoenix area until Todd's business relocated them to San Antonio, Texas.  I met Jamie when I was her daughter Ellie's Bible Study Fellowship teacher in the children's program when she was only 2 or 3 years old.  Ellie is now 13 years old and Jamie and I have maintained our friendship despite the distance.

That's the blessing of friendship; picking up where you last left off and feeling comfortable.  

Jamie and Todd celebrate their anniversary each year by running in a marathon.  They have five kids and still stay in great shape.  I just got a text from Jamie.  She placed first in the 35-39 year old women's category.  Way to go Jamie.

What an inspiration to me!

Of course, I have to share a few of the everyday blessings I get to experience at work.  Working with three year old children opens my eyes to the world in a different way.

I love how excited they are about Christmas.  Our class 'adopted' a little two year old boy named Jose from Crisis Nursery.  I love to see their expressions as they place the items they contribute into our huge plastic bag.  It's good for them to learn that not everyone has all the toys and clothes that can easily be taken for granted.

The weather in Phoenix has been much cooler lately.  Little Evan was so excited.  When he saw me in the morning outside school, he raced over and said

 "Miss Debbie, I can blow smoke!"

I looked at him questioningly and he proceeded to blow out.  He was so excited because he could see his breath!  After demonstrating for the other children, they all began doing likewise.

The simple everyday blessings of childhood.  Oh how I don't want to lose that excitement for life, no matter how old I am.

And speaking of life ...my niece Kristin and her husband Kevin found out that they will be having a baby girl.  Our family is so excited!
They released pink balloons to share the news with our family.  Even Katie, Kristin's sister who lives in NYC, was able to hear the news live via Video Chat.  The wonders of technology!

I'm so thankful for the blessing of this special time of year.  I love to see the Christmas trees all decorated.  But I especially love to remember the message of Christmas.  May I never take for granted how much God loves us.

#254 Remembering the reason for the season of Christmas
#255 Realizing how much God loves me
#256 The blessing of knowing Jesus personally
#257 Life long friendships
#258 The wonder of children learning and growing
#259 Children learning to give to others
#260 The upcoming birth of a baby in our family
#261 Becoming a great aunt soon
#262 Sharing love with others because of His love in me

I'm linking up with Ann Voscamp of A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Mondays.






Blessings and love,

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Debbie Petras
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20 comments:

  1. Beautiful post.....encouraging on so many levels....

    I think many of us are reevaluating all the hustle and bustle of our previous holidays and trying to keep this one with its intended purpose....Jesus's Birth.....

    Sweet friend, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed week ahead of you.....

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  2. Counting our blessings is so important! It is easy to "forget" and allow ourselves to get bogged down by the day to day stuff in our lives. Thanks for always posting a great list!

    Blessings, Joan

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  3. Always a joy to stop by and what a great reminder for all of us. It's so easy to get caught up in the season and all of the good things that we sometimes forget the BEST - our Savior's birth.

    I'm impressed that your friends celebrate their anniversary by running in a marathon. WOW! What a cute couple!

    I'm counting my blessings and naming them one by one ---thanks for this post!

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  4. I always love your blessings post. Thanks for including my book as part of your blessings. Love you... And congrats on the great niece. What a great way to let everyone know!

    Jen

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  5. Great post. Just a reminder that we are all truly blessed indeed.

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  6. Wonderful post and thanks for the reminder....

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  7. lovely post- lovely heart. so grateful to be in community with people who love Jesus and are celebrating Him this Christmas! Blessings from Uganda!

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  8. You are so right! Christmas isn't about decorations...however...if you are the photographer of that lovely Christmas tree, I'd like to invite you to link up with me today! I'm doing a Christmas Photo Scavenger hunt, and today's prompt is Christmas trees! Your words would be very encouraging to my readers!

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  9. Children are so full of wide-eyed wonder this time of year.

    Please keep my friend Kristin in your prayers. She lost her father last week, unexpectedly.

    Blessings my friend!

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  10. Dear Debbie,
    Walking beside you is so encouraging.
    You seem to explore new wonders every day.
    I think that is just how walking close to Jesus should be.

    Lives, be it young toddlers or old helpless ones, are so valuable all by themselves. Being allowed to watch God's wonders through the eyes of his smallest is a priceless gift.

    I'm buy driving to and from my mother's. That makes perfectly sense to me.
    I never was fond of washing or polishing, except for shoes, maybe.
    I like to decorate though and am glad the Arctic dark makes the stains less visible.

    Like you I like to focus on the essentials. The work became Flesh when God sent his son for our salvation.
    I have to admit, it's greater than my imagination.
    Nevertheless December is my month for gratitude and endless hymn singing.

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  11. Good morning! This was a great post. How easy it is to be caught up "in the season" instead of the who whom the season is all about. Good reminder. Congrats to your niece! A girl...how exciting! I love the way they announced it. How fun. Hope you have a GOOD day! HUGS

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  12. Your list warmed me all over! It is such a beautiful process to count all these gifts and for you to share them with us. Thanks!

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  13. I too love the wonder of children. Great list!

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  14. This was a fun post to read! Thanks for sharing it.

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  15. Your spiritual words are powerful. May I wish you all the very best for this holy season! Hugs and love from another part of the world! Philip

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  16. I had to laugh...I taught in the Middle School where blowin' smoke would hold a whole different meanin'! Heeehehehe!

    What a wonderful tribute to keepin' the Christ in Christmas. May we all be reminded.

    God bless ya and have a magnificent day sweetie!!!

    Giveaway...my place...ya'll come! :o)

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  17. What a lovely blessing this Christmas season--the blessing of a precious baby girl to be born to your family--and I am going to download the book to my Kindle--I really think I need to read that.

    Thanks, sincerely, Debbie, for your friendship.

    Love,
    Dianne

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  18. Hi Debbie,

    Congratulations on becoming a great aunt soon! Blessings to your niece and her husband; what a blessed time of year to receive the news. :)

    I am always amazed and delighted by all the Christmas lights and decorations too; it always reminds me of the verse in John; "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

    Blessings for a joyful "bright" week! :)
    Denise

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  19. Debbie, what a beautiful message! Congratulations to your niece and her hubby! How SPECIAL!!! What a precious gift to find out about this time of year too! LIFE coming forth!!!


    I loved your entire message of blessings. I'm counting mine too and you're on the list!

    Love you and Merry Christmas!

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