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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Filled With Kisses - Gold Wrapping Paper Christmas Story

At my most recent Kiwanis Club meeting one of the pastors in our group shared some tear jerking, heartfelt Christmas stories and I wanted to share one with you!


The Gold Wrapping Paper
*source*

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.

As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten the money to buy what was in the shoebox.

Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!"

As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her.

But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young lady," he said harshly, "when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package!"

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: "Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full."

The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there. 

In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Aslan Adventure, Advent, Gold, Kisses, God
Photo ℅ Casey @ An Auspicious Adventure

I hope all of you will keep this story in mind while unwrapping your gifts this Christmas season. Take time to tell the ones you love, that you love them. Give them real kisses and hugs. Tell the story of Jesus and don't take anything for granted.

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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Day Eight

i want to remember this right here...

sitting with my husband in our empty living room

bare floor, missing carpet, anticipating a fresh new {soft} facade

on our 2nd bottle of wine

listening to Brea's snoring, signaling a busy day of keeping her heifers in-line

day eight of Advent complete - have you heard Mary's song?!

me cheering for the MNF underdog and Steven hopeful of my {and his} fantasy team

Yes. this right here. it fills my heart and my soul

it is so Beautiful …

and i owe it all to Him





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Monday, December 8, 2014

Currently // December

How is it the last month of the year?! And it already feels like it is over since we are booked solid - but it is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and I am trying not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and remember the Reason For The Season!!


Listening // to the sounds of Christmas on iTunes radio {of course … What is your Favorite Christmas Song??}

Watching // the snow melt … heat wave going on in North Dakota right now

Wrapping // gifts for myself - I have a problem with online shopping and there have been some awesome deals I couldn't pass up, but at least I have enough will power to wrap them up for the 25th right?!

Making // Advent Calendar/Christmas Card display - also working on our gallery wall

Anticipating // Christmas Decorations. We are in the middle of some small home updates and that includes new carpet so no decorations can go up until that gets done - crossing my fingers it comes today or tomorrow!!

:: I have some Christmas Cards that need a home FILL THIS OUT if you would like one ::

Linking up with Jenna & Anne

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Would you like our 2014 Greetings?

Postage has been bought, $150 later I'm ready to mail out Christmas cards for 2014.

I do have a few extras this year and if you would like to see our face among your Christmas Cards please fill out THIS FORM or comment below that you want one!!

Making our yearly cards is one of my favorite holiday traditions.
See Previous Years Here



Do you create a Photo Card for Christmas or go with Handmade?

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