Fall Into Reading ~ Wrap-Up

It's time to join Katrina over at Callapidder Days for the wrap-up of her Fall Into Reading Challenge.

I know officially that fall has come to an end, but if you ask me, those three months went by fast! This was my first on-line reading challenge and a challenge it was. You can read in my original post that I made my reading list intentionally easy so that I could breeze through it. Well that didn't happen.

The only books I read from cover to cover on my list were What In the World Is Going On? : 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore and Leadership Education : The Phases of Learning.

There, I admitted my failure, feels good to get it out in the open!!

I didn't read any of the fiction books I listed and the non-fiction books were read in bits in pieces. As I was looking for guidance in a certain area I would read correlating chapters. My goodness, after writing that it appears that I didn't read at all, I assure you that I read plenty! A few books that I enjoyed with the kids this fall were Winnie-the-Pooh & The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne and The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis, not to mention a plethora of autumn and Christmas picture books.

I truly enjoyed being a part of this challenge! I learned a few things about myself along the way, like at this stage of my life I am not going to get nearly as much personal reading done as I would like if I don't put on my schedule. I also realized that I miss reading fiction, stories that are so good it is a bother to put the book down.

I have my eye on a few new reading challenges floating around, but the next one I sign up for, I have every intention of finishing!!

Music Monday ~ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

This is it, the last Music Monday of 2009, after this post I will be wrapping up my blogging with my results of the Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009 and then be taking a break from my blog, heehee, not like I post enough to need a break! Cowboys Fan will be working over the holiday, and the kids and I will have some quiet days of baking, movie watching, reading and then of course days of enjoying our Christmas gifts. I find this time of year most conducive to reflection and soul searching, a renewal with the coming new year. I pray that you and your families have a wonderful Christmas, filled with laughter and joy, and that you will join me back here on January 4, 2010 for another Music Monday. Thank you all for being a part of this musical journey!

Now it's your turn, grab the button and linkup your last song of 2009!

<a href="http://savedbygrace721.blogspot.com/"> <center><img src="http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo134/savedbygrace721/pictures%20on%20blog%20posts/MusicMonday.jpg" /></center></a>

My Favorite Chirstmas Memory

I have been pondering what I would share as my favorite Christmas memory, and I have hands down decided that my favorite memory comes to me from 16 years ago, shortly before my twentieth birthday. Without it my most cherished Christmas memories would not have happened.

A friend and I were attending the staff Christmas party for the club we worked for. I knew few people since I was new to the staff and was quite nervous about the whole thing, without a few drinks to loosen me up I was a very shy and self conscious person. Needless to say, a few drinks were had and door prizes were being handed out. The prize for a bottle of zambucca was given to a drop dead gorgeous, tanned and buff body builder wonderfully handsome man. I found myself sliding up to him asking if he would share, to which he replied, *grin* *wink* "You bet, come by later to m table for a shot!"

Well, I never made it back to the table or saw him again that night, but that was the first time I met my husband. At the time it was all in good fun, flirting and kidding around, but now I know different. That was the night God brought my husband and I together, two broken people from broken homes, brought together to break generational curses and spend a lifetime together of learning and growing. God is good. :O)

My friend Donnetta, owner of My Quiet Corner, has invited everyone to her lovely blog today to share in some Christmas fellowship, won't you join us?

Music Monday ~ The Christmas Shoes

I pray you are enjoying this holiday season, your family and friends, and most of all keeping close in your heart what this season is truly a celebration of.

The song I am sharing this week for your listening pleasure is The Christmas Shoes performed by Newsong, it brings me to tears every time I hear it. I have read the book by Donna VanLiere, seen the movie starring Rob Lowe, and I love the song. If you get the chance, read the book and watch the movie, you won't regret it, I promise!




It was almost Christmas time
There I stood in another line
Trying to buy that last gift or two
I'm really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me
Was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing around like little boys do
And in his hands he held
A pair of shoes

And his clothes were worn and old
He was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see, she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus, tonight.

They counted pennies for what seem like years
And cashier says son there's not enough here
He searches is pockets franticly
And he turned and he looked at me
And he said Momma made Christmas good at our house
Most years she just did without
Tell me Sir
What am I gonna do?
Some how I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I layed the money down
I just had to help him out
And I'll never forget
The look on his face
When he said Mamma's gonna look so great.

Sir I wanna buy these shoes, for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see, she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful,
If Momma meets Jesus tonight.

I knew I caught a glimpse of heavens love as he thanked me and ran out.
I know that God had sent that little boy to remind me
What Christmas is all about

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful
If Mamma meets Jesus tonight

I want her to look beautiful
If Mamma meets Jesus tonight

Now it's your turn, grab the button and linkup your favorite Christmas song!

<a href="http://savedbygrace721.blogspot.com/"> <center><img src="http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo134/savedbygrace721/pictures%20on%20blog%20posts/MusicMonday.jpg" /></center></a>

Music Monday ~ Mary Did You Know

Happy December! I am hoping you all will be posting Christmas songs this month; I can't wait to hear your favorites.

"Mary Did You Know" is my favorite Christmas song of all. I don't presume to know how Mary thought or felt, but I would like to think that she knew God had something big planned for her life, but truly no idea the magnitude of it. God has a plan for us all, his plan is grander than we can ever imagine. This song reminds that although I don't know God's plan for my life, I can live each day to it's fullest, making the choices that keep me on the path, on God's path, that is all I can pray for. Who knows what He has in store for us all?

The video I am sharing with is my favorite version of the song, performed by Clay Aiken, I hope you enjoy it.



[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am

Now it's your turn, grab the button and linkup your favorite Christmas song!

<a href="http://savedbygrace721.blogspot.com/"> <center><img src="http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo134/savedbygrace721/pictures%20on%20blog%20posts/MusicMonday.jpg" /></center></a>