christmas card

Three Wise Men Religious Christmas Card

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Shutterfly Christmas cards

Christmas cards in the Moore family have come in many different forms. Sometimes it was a Christmas letter explaining what our year looked like. Others times a poem, picture or a simple Merry Christmas Hello. Sometimes they came a bit early, while other years they came a little late. I think as long as I can remember.. they came!

This year, shutterfly's adorable cards peeked my interest. Their quality is great and the fact that they can come right to my door ensures they may actually make it out this year. There are so many different styles and I did not have a hard time finding multiple ones I liked. I think so many are cute, but here are my favorites. Can you imagine a slew of grandkids on the front of this card with their Mimi and Papa on the end? I can!

Here are the favorites..

Here's one..

Here another..

But this wins...

Merry Christmas!

The Mountains

During the past three months I have been able to spend some time at the mountains. It all begin in July when I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua(first picture). We will able to observe beautiful mountain ranges all over the area where we were serving.

Then a week after I returned, Jack and I headed up to Ridgecrest, NC(picture 2). I LOVE Ridgecrest. My favorite part of being there is to get up early and head to the prayer garden. I love the waterfalls, flowers, and beauty of the area.

My last trip was to Portland, OR, to visit Jessica, Ryan, and Titus. Jessica and I went to Multnomah Falls and hiked up part of the mountain. What an amazing site!

I have developed such a love for the mountains. The fresh air and beauty of the mountains reminds me of our Creator. If earth is this beautiful under the curse of sin, HEAVEN MUST BE OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

A Right Perspective

Why do I not blog more often? Well, I could say I'm too busy; but that's really not the truth. I could make time to blog. I usually think I won't blog because I don't have young children to write about. Most bloggers do. But I decided to blog as a place to record my thoughts and write about what the Lord has been speaking to me about for the last few months.

Perspective - my head has been trying to get the right perspective on life. After spending a week in Nicaragua, it changes your perspective. Bigger isn't better. Newer isn't nicer. Things don't really matter a whole lots. What really matters is living life with an eternal perspective. I now am friends with some precious Nicaraguan people who have NEVER had a warm bath, never had indoor plumbing, never had a car to drive and live from day to day. But, the believers that I met love the Lord, seek to serve Him, love people and warmly welcome you into their modest homes. They live with an eternal perspective.

So, I ask myself this question - do I? Do I really live with an eternal perspective? Is my focus on Christ and Christ alone and the things that matter to Him? As you can see, a week in another country changes your focus.

So how has my focus changed? Again, I am reminded of my love for my family. It was hard not talking with my husband or children for a week. The Lord has given me a genuine love for the Nicaraguan people. I am praying that the Bibles that were passed out with change the lives of the readers. But most of all I am reminded again that Christ must be my life, His Kingdom must be my focus, reaching the world with the gospel must be my service and loving all people must be my passion. I pray this will be my perspective as long as I have life within me. Only with the enabling of the Holy Spirit can I EVER reach these goals but as Paul wrote, "I press on to win the prize......"

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday, Titus,
Since I haven't blogged for each grandchild's birthday, I figure I will blog for those away and then start trying to catch up with a blog for each grandchild.

I am so thankful that I was able to be present at your birth. I haven't missed being at any grandchild's birth and I surely didn't want to miss yours, even though many, many miles separate.

It was love at first sight. Really I loved you before I even saw you and had prayed many prayers for you before you were born. I'm so glad I could be there to hold and cuddle you for a few days after you were born and even get up with you some in the middle of the night.

Now I sit longing to celebrate your first birthday with you. But, that is not possible. So I will just plan your next arrival on the east coast and maybe even have an east coast party when you arrive. We'll celebrate your birthday, along with your mom's, your dad's and your uncle Chad. We'll just make it one big party. And we'll just have to have you a cake to eat and smash then.

Can't wait to see all the pictures from your monster party. Maybe we can do SKYPE on your party day.

We love you, little one. I pray that with each passing year you will "grow in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man."

Love,
Mimi

Happy Birthday, Samuel

Happy Birthday, Samuel,
Well, others in the family have beat me to writing you birthday wishes but I want to add my wishes with the rest. I woke up this morning remembering your birth day. That day ushered you into earth but only for a moment and then right into Heaven.

That was such a special day, Samuel. I have never felt that I was standing on such holy ground - not in church, not in my quiet time, not even in Jerusalem itself. That hospital room was literally full of the presence of the Lord. I kept looking so hard to see an angel. I thought maybe I could just get a little glimpse of one. I knew they were there to usher you to God's Throne. I never saw one that day but I saw so much more.

I saw God's faithfulness, His Presence, His pomise to walk with us through every valley. I saw these things in ways I had never seen them before. I saw these things take place right before me and I knew some things as well.

I knew you were safe, well, happy, and more alive than any of us. I knew you were in your forever home.

Four years have come and gone, Samuel. But you will always remain a special part of our lives until we get to meet you again in our forever home. Until then - Happy Birthday, sweet boy.

Sweet Blessings

We were able to be together. I am so incredibly thankful that everyone was well and we were able to have Christmas together.

As we sat around the living room and listened as Ryan read the Christmas story, I was moved to tears.(That doesn't happen often but when it does it is long, loud, and ugly.) Everyone started saying, "What's wrong?" I was moved by God's blessing of family-daughters, sons-in law, and precious grandchildren that Jack and I have been given.

I was also reminded of the Pakistani people who are living in tents because they have been uprooted from their homes and who faced persecution for attending Christmas services. They put worship over their own personal safety. As I sat in my warm home on Christmas, I felt so blessed but so burdened for the people of the world- people without Christ, people suffering for Christ, children without parents, children without food.

What can I do? Not a lots but what I can do I will. I can pray-God hears. I can give-God multiplies. I can go-God sends.

In 2010 I want to be living for the things that matter to the Lord. People matter to Jesus. That's why He came and died. I want to serve Him by serving others this year.