Refocusing this Christmas....

 

There's a lot of happiness at Christmas time, but there's a lot of sadness too.  Loss of loved ones, struggles with depression, illnesses and the list goes on.  The expectation is that we should all be happy.  After all it is the most wonderful time of the year.  

But Christmas isn't all about happiness, and isn't all about us, yet in our culture that's what we focus on.  We get so busy this time of year and so engrossed in our favorite traditions that we actually miss out on Christmas.  Minus the hour we spend Christmas Eve at a church service and the little things we do to try to refocus our family onto Christ and off of ourselves and even each other, we fail to truly celebrate Christmas.

My favorite Hallmark Christmas movies would have you believe that christmas is all about giving, romantic love & still believing in the spirit of Santa Claus.  It seems so sweet and perfect, but this version of christmas always misses the mark.

Yes, Christmas is about giving - Jesus gave His life for us.  In turn, we try to live our lives in a giving way, and Christmas always helps us "step it up."  We do this out of love, and "we love because He first loved us." -1 John 4:19

Yes, Christmas is about LOVE, not romantic love (which is still great for the movies).  Christmas is about that John 3:16 God love.  "For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

Christ-Mass = Christ's death or the death of Christ = Christmas = Our salvation rests in what Jesus did on the cross.

Pause - Christmas tree hunting pictures!!  Don't get me wrong I love all of the fun traditions of Christmas!  I'm just feeling the need to refocus.

 

Finally, so many of my favorite Christmas movies perpetuate this need to believe in Santa.

Disclaimer - I have nothing against Santa.  I choose not to celebrate him with my kids, but I certainly don't think less of anyone who keeps the tradition of leaving milk and cookies for the jolly old elf.

Santa is fun, but it actually makes me really sad when I hear people and the movies akin the spirit of Christmas with the spirit of Santa.  As if somehow believing in Santa will save us from our selfish selves.

Let's try to recognize Jesus as the one who saves us from our selfish sinful selves, not St. Nick.

So, to my favorite Christmas movies, Christmas is not about still believing in the spirit of Santa Claus or the actual person of Kris Kringle.  It is wholly about the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.  These then are the things you should teach.  encourage and rebuke with all authority.  Do not let anyone despise you." 
- Titus 2:14-15

So, I will try to refocus this season as I return to my Hallmark Christmas movies and watching "The Santa ClausE" trilogy with my boys.  The true meaning of Christmas is still and will always be alive and well.  I just need some refocusing this Christmas and you get to share in my thoughts if you've read this far. :)

I recognize easter isn't too far away.  So, after and during each movie we watch I will try to remind myself and the boys of God's love for us.  I will remind them that it's always great to have fun with the fantasy of Santa and the fantasy world of most Christmas movies, and the reality of Jesus, God's son.  Let's not marginalize Jesus, the true gift of Christmas past, present and future.

Merry Christmas to all who are enjoying this season to it's fullest and to those of my friends and family struggling this time of year.

"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6


 
"He is not here;He is risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay."  - Matthew 28:6

Happy Birthday, Rob!!

Today is my wonderful husband's 36th birthday!  I truly married my best friend.  I am so blessed to have such a Godly man in my life.  Together we know Christ needs to be in the center of our marriage.  As hard as that is to live out practically, I know when we fail, the Holy Spirit is there to bring us back to where we need to be.

Sometimes life gets crazy busy, but in those quiet moments when the kids are sleeping and it's just us, I'm in my happy place.

Sometimes we each have annoying habits that drive us almost crazy (though some may eliminate the word almost), but we love each other because of and in spite of what dives us batty.

Sometimes we don't agree, sometimes we argue, but always we choose to love each other no matter what!

I love you Rob!  Happy Birthday, and I think I pulled off a successful birthday surprise gift.

Can't wait to share a special night with you, Toby Mac and Philly!

                                     

Happy Birthday to the Littlest Gregamie!!

On July 16, 2012 Rob and I were preparing for the birth of our third child.  After, child number two, it took a while before we decided we were missing one more member of our family.  At the time we thought that Sara would be the third and final child in our family.

Now, for those who are paying attention, I never gave birth to a Sara.  To be perfectly honest, I had a strong feeling the baby inside of me would be a boy, and he was!

Chris woke me up at 5 AM, and after dropping the kids off at Aunt Beth & Uncle Andy's we quickly made our way to the hospital.

Some people have long labors, and I feel extremely grateful that I never had that experience.  On the flip side, however, is the fact that quick labors mean a baby could come in the car or the elevator of the hospital or you name the unpredictable location.  Thankfully, God allowed all my babies to be born in the hospital, and in the actual birthing room.

Chris, however, was my quickest baby, and within 2 hours of that 5 AM wake up call, he was out. That boy did not want to be left behind, and he feels the same way to this day.  Chris is always trying to keep up with his big brothers just like every good youngest sibling.

I couldn't be more blessed to be his mommy!  I love you Christopher Thomas!!  You have completed our family of 5!  3 beautiful boys!!  2 Awesome parents (wink, wink)!!

And I wasn't entirely wrong about our family missing Sara.  One month after Chris joined our family, Sarah (with an h) Jane joined our extended family.  I can live vicariously through all of my 7 nieces!!

I love my three boys, and Chris, I love you!  Happy 3rd birthday!!  God has great plans for you!

Happy Anniversary to my Beloved!

Happy Anniversary, babe!  13 wonderful years, and now we're moving on to number 14. 

You are the most amazing, loving, caring forgiveness seeking, honest, and intelligent man!  God blessed me with a best friend and husband wrapped into one. I can't imagine married life any other way. 

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

I am so thankful that in Jesus this kind of love is possible, and that He is purifying us to live this love out in our lives every day!   We certainly aren't perfect, but I thank God we don't have to be, and that "He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people eager to do what is good."

I'm looking forward to all the good God has planned for us in the next 13 plus years. I love you Rob!!!

Kathy & Rob & Kidneys, Oh my!

Yesterday Rob went up to Harrisburg Hospital for two days of outpatient testing.  He is 100% healthy (we think), but his sister, Kathy, is not.

For the past couple of years, Rob's sister has been living with a kidney disease (IGA Nephropathy). This past fall she was hospitalized and it was determined that she was in kidney failure with only 5% total kidney function.  Since then she has been going through dialysis 3 times a week, and we have all been learning about kidney transplant options.  

Without a living and willing donor, Rob's sister would need to wait years before having a transplant. Most likely that kidney would come from someone who recently died.  There are some important factors to consider with transplant.  First, the longer you wait the less effective the transplant may be. Second, a kidney from a living donor lasts twice as long as a kidney from someone who has passed away.

So, Rob's gut reaction was "I'll donate one of my kidneys," and to be honest I'm right there with him. We love Kathy and can't imagine life here without her.  I think it's great that my wonderful husband can do something out of love for his big sister, and we have been praying and continue to pray about this possibility.  

This of course doesn't mean we don't have some anxiety, but we are ready for donating.  This is a fairly low risk surgery for Rob, but it is surgery with the need for recovery time.  It is natural to have some fear.  the surgery will be much more extensive for Kathy, but getting her life back to a better normal will be so good!

We could dwell on so many "why" and "what if" questions, and we have asked them.  But we serve a mighty God!  We trust that He will be the one to carry us all through each and every day whether those days are easy or hard.

We could ask why Rob's sister is going through this, but we know God's truth.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:8-9

We could be panicked over both Rob and his sister's outcomes, but again, we know God's truth.

What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us? -Romans 8:31

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ       -Philippians 3:20

We have peace.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 12:27

Peace doesn't mean we don't have concerns.  So, please pray.

- Pray for Kathy and her health.
- Pray for our entire family (Rob's parents, both sisters and extended families included) to develop a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior in the midst of this trial and other trials in our life right now as well.
-Pray for Rob as he feels overwhelmed with wanting to be healthy enough to donate and wanting to donate this summer.  Sometimes it's hard to wait on God's timing.
-Pray for all of us not to worry.
-Pray for the doctors to make good decisions in regards to Rob's health and ability to actually donate the kidney.
-Pray for whoever will be donating their kidney to Kathy since Rob and Kathy aren't a match this will be a paired exchange donation where Rob gives to someone else and another person gives to Kathy.

Lastly, pray for Kathy & Rob's dad who is battling a brain tumor right now.  A lot is going on, but God has everyone in His hands and where they need to be.

Rob and his sister's and parents

Happy Birthday, Tim!!

On June 1, 2008 I woke up around midnight and soon realized it was time for baby number 2 to be born.  I pushed Rob a few times, and he groggily woke up unaware of what was about to happen.

Once awake and aware of the situation, Rob was ready to wake our oldest and zoom off to his sister's house to leave him for the night.  In my great wisdom, I said, "We don't need to rush.  Just because Eric came quickly doesn't mean this baby will too."

It was 2 minutes later and I was saying, "Never mind let's go now!"  When I go into labor, it's 100% from the get go.  There's no 10 minute apart contractions.  I start right off at the we should already be at the hospital and admitted phase.

So, somewhere between midnight and 1 AM we dropped Eric off at Aunt Beth and Uncle Andy's, and made a quick getaway to the hospital. Thankfully there was no baby born in the car.  I wonder how many women feel like their baby will actually be born in the car.  I'm definitely one of those women.



We were admitted quickly, and at 4:15 AM I heard, "It's a boy!"  My first reaction, since we didn't know what we were having was, "Are you sure?"  So with our 2 names ready, Sara was not going to be the name of this child.  Timothy Robert Gregory joined our family, and I became the mother of 2 wonderful boys.

Happy 7th birthday to my fun, loving, goofy and thoughtful Tim!!  You still enjoy waking me up in the morning, but I'm thankful it's not quite as early as the first day you woke me up.  I love you!

Happy Birthday, Eric!

So, when I was teaching, the joke for pregnant teachers was you should put a pickle jar on your desk so you can knock it over in case your water breaks in front of the class.  I'm not sure on the logic of this, but I thought it was funny.  Surely my water would never break while I was at school teaching...

Well on March 6th, 2006 with a little less than 5 weeks to go in my pregnancy the waters broke at school.  Thankfully, I was in the bathroom at the time and my students were spared the horror of having their teacher go into labor in front of the class.

The kids were at special and my co-teacher was busy as well.  I pretty much disappeared on everyone b/c labor was happening and it was happening quickly.  I had enough time to call my doctor, call my husband's school and get a ride from my school secretary to the hospital.  I'm fairly confident that she thought that baby might be delivered in her car, but still it seemed to me that she drove a little too close to the speed limit. :)

At the hospital, Rob was already there to help me out of the car, and we were checked in fairly quickly.  Labor was quick and not without its stresses.  First, Eric was coming too early.  Second, his heart rate kept dropping during contractions so he needed to be hooked up to a heart rate monitor.  I still have no idea who delivered Eric because the person who delivered him was simply the closest doctor available.  With some assistance from a vacuum, Eric came out and was just the right weight to not have to go to the NICU.

Dwarfed by the football

 

We were blessed with our first baby boy!  He was perfect, and tiny! God was watching over Eric and us.  With the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, it was a blessing that he was born as early as he was, and two weeks later, he joined Rob and I on our "last getaway before the baby is born."  The three of us enjoyed our first family vacation together instead.

Happy 9th birthday to my smart, sensitive, loving, and intense 3rd grader.  To this day, you still want to be early for things. :)

Leadership Training Part II

Part II

Saturday was our day to return home to our families who missed us greatly.  For 4 of us, our flight was scheduled for 2:55 PM, leaving us just enough time to finish the last large group training, get our things, check out and head to the airport.

Northeast Region

At 9 AM I received a call from my "I'm ready for you to come home so please get out of ATL as soon as you can" husband.  Our flight was under an advisory and we could reschedule at no cost to us. Well, there was an 11:20 flight that we could catch if we could switch our tickets.  Then comes lesson one: Just because everything seems to be lining up for one purpose doesn't mean that's exactly what God's plan for you is.

We got the tickets: yay!!

The airport shuttle was right there when we came to the front of the hotel: yay!!!  Oh, and we had friends joining us with the same idea in mind.

Surely God is opening all of these doors for us so we can make it home to our husbands and kids: no!

We arrived at the airport to find that the machine where we print our tickets was saying our flight was cancelled: couldn't be - DENIAL

At the check-in counter our tickets were printed and we were told the flight was a go: too good to be true!

Through security we banter back and forth who was right the machine or the Airline man: um, the machine.

We glance up at the Flight wall to see our flight was in fact cancelled: but wait why were all these doors opened for us if we weren't meant to get on the flight??

After some moments of indecision and a few changes to our flights, we finally decided it would be wise to take a Sunday "morning" flight back to Baltimore.  The earliest flight we could schedule was for  4:20 PM.  So, we took it :).

The question on my mind was did we make the right decision to try to leave early?  I think we all felt better at the time knowing we at least tried to get back to BWI, but I can't say for sure if it was the right decision.  What I do know is in the end everything worked out the way God wanted it to.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that in all things 

God works for the good of those who love him 

who have been called according 

to his purpose.

So often we think we have God figured out.  We are so naive.

Well, it was back to the hotel where we decided to make the best of things.  Sad that we missed out on the last talk, but happy to have a place to sleep for the night, the 4 of us went back to the hotel where we reunited with 2 others and all went to lunch.

After we returned to the hotel, one friend had the opportunity to spend some time with a close cousin. Others wanted to rest, and I enjoyed a wonderful walk with 2 friends.  Atlanta's weather was significantly warmer and to us it felt almost spring-like.

We returned back to the hotel and enjoyed free appetizers in the 12th floor lounge.  We started our dinner of rotating appetizers at 5:30 and quickly increased in number with the rest of our group joining us.  Then we were joined with other displaced friends from the Northeast.  We talked and just enjoyed each others company until 10:30 at night.

Our Pow-wow group

Side note - I forgot my cell phone and missed some calls from my husband who was not too happy that I wasn't picking up.  I had extreme feelings of guilt for worrying him and not taking time to call again that night.  I did call in the morning once I realized he had called emailed etc.  I think I said "I'm sorry" more Sunday morning than I ever have before.

On Sunday we were all able to enjoy breakfast together and thanks to the wisdom of two women who were with us, we enjoyed our own Sunday morning service/Bible study.  We were able to sort out all of the wonderful information we were absorbing over the past few days.  Also, the 2 wiser women who stayed for the last session on Saturday morning were able to share their notes with us. That last session focused on application - What do we do next?

So, I have one more take away:

Does God's word, His truth entertain us or transform us? 

Romans 12:2 

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - 

His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So I pray that I continue to be transformed, and become more of a life giver with my family, friends and the teens I minister to.  I am so unworthy of ministering to these young girls, and I know it's only through God's grace that I can.

My brother, Mark, & I in the ATL airport

Bonus: I met with my brother for an hour at the airport while he had a layover to Florida and I waited for my flight home.  We do live near each other, but rarely get to just enjoy talking one on one.

Leadership Training Part I

Sometimes, it can be so hard to put my thoughts into words!  God taught me a lot these past few days. On Thursday, I was blessed with the opportunity to fly to Atlanta for my church's denominational women's leadership training.

The 5 women who came to LT from our church

I am overwhelmed in a good way with the wealth of knowledge I received from so many wonderful female leaders and speakers.  As I look through my notes, I have found so many key points that there is absolutely no way I could express all of them in a blog without causing your eyes to blur.  So, I will just point out a few points.

1. We do not have a business problem but an unbelief problem!

John 15:5 
I am the vine; you are the branches,  
Whoever abides in Me and I in him, 
he it is that bears much fruit, 
for apart from Me you can do nothing.

If we believe this to be God's true word, spoken through his son, Jesus, then
we should focus more and more on Him
instead of our daily schedules (BTW - I'm the Guilty one here!)

2. God doesn't need us, but He chose us anyway!

John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you 
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit 
and that your fruit should abide, 
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, 
he may give it to you.

God is 100% sovereign.  He is in control.
We are blessed because He chose us and uses us for His glory!
He doesn't need us, and yet he entrusts us with His work,
much like a dad might entrust his child with a task
he is perfectly capable of doing himself.
Why? - Because God doesn't want any to perish.

3. The Bible has been used unwisely on both sides of many hot button issues.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you 
and gave Himself up for us, 
an offering and a sacrifice to God 
as a fragrant aroma.

Titus 2:1
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

Aside from those two verses, I can't even begin to address all of the aspects of this without several pages of writing that would make your eyes cross.

So, the women's leadership training was great, and by Saturday I was excited to hear the rest of the speakers bring closure to our time together.  And then, snow.

Meditating

January 3rd marked a change in how I spend time with God.

Psalm 1:1-2 says 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But he delights in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.

How is this possible?   How does someone meditate on the word of God; meditate on His law day and night?  Well, I suppose this looks different for everyone.  Some people read their Bibles throughout the day.  Others pray throughout the day.  Then there are those who have countless verses memorized and/or placed in key locations where they can reflect back on those verses - keeping God's word in their hearts.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (I looked this one up)

For myself, there was no consistency.  I would pray when I thought of it, keep up with my Bible study books, utilize other devotionals and occasionally attempt to read through the Bible.  I did finally make it through once, and I am still attempting a second run through.

The problem through is God's Word didn't feel like it was hiding in my heart.  Instead it was hiding in the hearts of those who wrote the Bible Study books and devotionals. Having God's word truly hidden in my own heart seemed extremely overwhelming.

Introduce the book I started reading on Jan. 3.  --> "His Word in My Heart: Memorizing Scripture for a Closer Walk with God."  - by Janet Pope

Yes, the book talks about memorizing God's word, but it doesn't stop there.  By Chapter 3 it has you memorizing too!  The difference is I'm not memorizing select verses, but rather passages of scripture, and even books of the Bible.  Context is key!!

How????  Where did I get the time/desire, especially with my 3 boys and wonderful husband to keep me busy?  Well, the desire has always been there.  I've just made excuses to suppress it.  There was always something more pressing - TV, FB, books, activities, laundry, errands, time with friends, time with family....

Janet Pope's booked helped me to see that memorizing passages in context was easier for me, and I could do it throughout the day with nothing more than my mind to remember (not always an easy task).  I memorize one verse at a time.  Then I recite it throughout the day - during a commercial, pausing while reading a book, as I'm driving, out loud while playing with my 2 year old....

I have the time!

It's not overwhelming!!

And on the days when I don't memorize a new verse, I continue to recite the verses I already know.   God is speaking to me through His Word!  It is starting to truly hide in the depths of my heart.

I am more able to meditate on His law day and night!  God is good, and I am blessed!

Blogging?

Well, this is my attempt at blogging.  I've been inspired by friends, family and their blogs.  Who knows if I will continue, but first I need to figure this out.  I'm hoping I can learn how to make the appearance of my blog look a lot better than it currently does. We'll see....

So, why the Gregamies?  Two teenage boys in our neighborhood coined the term for our boys, and it stuck.  I don't know why, but I think the name Gregamies fits our family perfectly.  It sort of makes me think of the Gremlins - please don't feed any of my boys after midnight :).

Just figured out how to add pics (edit #1)

The Gregamies 

(You didn't think I meant myself did you?)