December Joy Dare

Well, This is the last post for Joy Dare for this year...I am not sure what I will do with it for next year, but I am thankful to have taken time to be grateful.  While some of the prompts were hard, it really stretched me to see the smallest little glimpse of all the gifts that pass by me unnoticed.  I still haven't read the book yet...maybe that will be my plan for next year...we'll see!  If you have never heard of the Joy Dare, you can read about it here and here...It may be an activity that changes your life!

1. 3 Gifts White
1} SNOW...really HOPING for some!
2} Homemade Marshmallows on Hot cocoa after playing in the snow!
3} Russian Tea Cakes...with Hot Cocoa...after the snow!

2. 3 Gifts Bright
1} Noses shining bright red in the COLD air
2} Headlights bright on the drive to a Christmas tea
3} Spirits bright as we celebrate the gift of friendship

3. 3 Gifts Shining
1} Christmas Lights shining through the front window welcoming us home
2} Christmas Lights strung throughout the house
3} My Young Living Diffuser

4. A Gift Circling, Crowning, Crafted
1} My Josiah Quilt...a paper pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern...making progress
2}Getting a crown soon...not until next year, but SO THANKFUL that my broken tooth can be SAVED rather than just pulled!!!
3} Projects with the Children

5. 3 Gifts Silver
1} Earrings...a gift from my husband...and I wear them all the time.  They go with EVERYTHING
2} My Origami Owl Living Locket with LOTS of bling
3} Blank CDs we used to make an ornament which reminds us of Mary's song of praise for being chosen to be the mother of our Savior...just try to wrap your mind around that...

6. 3 Gifts Sweet
1} Christmas Cookies
2} Eggnog
3} Peppermint marshmallows

7. 3 Gifts From Your Savior
1} Marriage
2} 22 years
3} Vows

8. A Gift Hung, Held, Heard
1} A picture my sister made for me...it looks like tile, but it is really a calendar page...I LOVE IT!
2} The youngest...the last of those who will let me hold them
3} I love you Momma

9. 3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful
1}The death of a believer...so hard, especially at this time, but death has no victory over His people
2} Believing God's promise for one who looks so far from Him
3} The death and resurrection of our Lord which purchased at GREAT Price my redemption

10. 3 Gifts Unframed Art
1} The Children's Artwork wall
2} Our Anniversary gift from Grace and David
3} Scrapbooks

11. 3 Gifts Ice Cold
1} My Sunroom...keeps our tree fresh until...oh, about April!
2} Diet Coke
3} My Feet!  Makes me really appreciate socks and blankets!

12. 3 Gifts Berry Red
1} A LARGE mug for a friend
2} A New shirt for Christmas
3} Cranberry Bliss Bars

13. 3 Gifts Striped
1} Wrapping paper on sale before Christmas!
2} Costumes at the Nutcracker this morning
3} Candy Canes

14. 3 Gifts Stamped
1} Cards made by the Principessa
2} Things going out in the mail
3} Cards from friends with Christmas greetings and well wishes

15. A Gift Gold, Scented, Bent Low
1} Gold: Decorations on the tree at church
2} Scented: Food for our Fellowship meal
3} Bent Low: Saints in prayer

16. 3 Gifts Bethlehem Unlikely
1} God puts on flesh and comes to be with us
2} God chooses and uses the unqualified to do His work
3} Faith is the Victory

17. 3 Gifts Frosted
1} Cookies
2} The world outside
3} Gingerbread Loaves

18. 3 Gifts Miraculous
1} God's Word hidden in hearts comes back just at the right time
2} Those who wait upon Him are given the strength they need
3} Grace...I will never understand it, but stand in awe and great joy in it

19. 3 Gifts Manger Small
1} My Cradle to Cross Wreath
2} Gingerbread loaves to share with sisters in Christ
3} New Glasses...I can see!

20. 3 Gifts Angelic Song
1} Emmanuel, God With Us

2}Mary, Did You Know

3}Joy, Joy

21. 3 Gifts Lit
1} Young Living Diffuser
2} Christmas Lights all around the house
3} Our Tree

22. A Gift Rejoicing, Wonder, Praising
1} This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
2} Children so excited about the gifts they are giving to their family members
3} Cantata at Church

23. 3 Gifts Starry
1} Stars on a cold, clear night
2} Children's eyes as the day approaches...full of excitement over the things they chose for others
3} Lights from the tree reflecting in and through the windows

24. 3 Gifts Humble
1} Being Born in a Stable
2} God in flesh walking our sod
3} Redemption through the cross

25. 3 Gifts in Luke 2
1}  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 10-11

2}And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. 13-20, (emphasis mine)

3} And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,  then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
 A Light [l]of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—  and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 25-35

26. 3 Gifts in Christ
1} Joy
2} Peace
3} Faith

27. A Gift Found, Shared, Saved
1} Found: Duct Tape in the clearance section
2} Shared: Pizza with the family
3} Saved: $16 on scotch tape

28. 3 Gifts Lingering
1} Holding a warm cup of coffee in cold hands, the soothing feel of it in the cup and the wonderful taste!
2} Sitting by the fire, bundled in blankets on a cold day
3} Snuggling with the younger ones

29. 3 Gifts of Hope
1} Jesus has it all covered
2} My eternal home
3} Seeing Jesus face to face one day

30. 3 Gifts Remembered
1}  DD sharing his hot cocoa and marshmallows with me
2} I am richly blessed!
3} 1,000 gifts thankful this year

31. 3 Gifts Anticipated
1} A life redeemed
2} A life broken and changed
3} Jesus' return