“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:5

I love Christmas!

I love the lights,I love the music, I love the cold weather, I love the food, I love being surrounded by family, I love the days off, I love the movies and I love the gifts!!

Yep, you read that right… I love the gifts! One of my favorite memories is the year I asked my parents for a fur coat. I remember tearing off the paper and seeing fur sticking out of the top of the box! My excitement multiplied as I reached into the box and pulled out…my fur…bear. Oh, I was so sad…but thankful none the less for the gift that had been given to me. My parents later revealed a box with my fur coat. But, I’ll let you in on a secret.. I still have the bear…but the coat is long gone. My parents knew me better than myself! God knows me better than I know myself, too. So, He gave me the gift of Grace.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:5

I love the gifts!  Each year I carefully decorate my house with gifts that I have received from family and friends over the years. One of  my favorites is a small nativity given to me by my grandmother, to put in my shadow box that I had when I was a young girl. I make sure that it is unwrapped and wrapped very carefully each year at the beginning and end of the season so that it does not break. My grandmother taught me the importance of family treasures. God teaches me about treasure as well. He gives me the gift of Heaven.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:5

 I love gifts! One of my other favorites is a series of ornaments, made by Avon, that “Miss Mattie” gave to me and my best childhood friend, Lisa. There is a teddy on a rocker, a teddy on a piano, a teddy on a bicycle and a teddy in a wagon. “Miss Mattie” died many years ago, before I was a teenager, but these ornaments have appeared year after year, on my parent’s tree and now on mine. “Miss Mattie” taught me to love on people, young and old and the importance of loving beyond barriers that the world may place on us. God teaches me to love, too. He sent me the gift of Jesus as an example.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:5

I love gifts! This JOY marquee was a gift to myself! Come on girls, you do it too! But it is the perfect reminder of what God has called me to be and to do…

Jesus first, Yourself last, and Others in between.

Joy has taught me that everything does not have to be perfect, or that everything does not have to be right, or that everything has to be happy. Joy has taught me to have peace. God sent His one and only son to be the JOY of the world, to be the Prince of Peace, and to be the Gift!!

I LOVE GIFTS!!!

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:5

From our home to yours! Merry Christmas!

The Fender Five – Donna, Justin, Cailee, Austin and Sara