"Raindrops on Roses..."

The Cashlings. J'adore. 

My Starbucks Thermal Coffee Press. Imperative and delightful. 

The cup I use is a very important component to my  'Coffee Experience' every day. Currently these are my two favorites. My Mom gave me the striped one. I bought the black and white one in Kampala.

The Icing of the Christmas Cookies. Wouldn't be Christmas without this!

This is on the cabinet in my kitchen. Love the picture of my cowboys. Love the Texas boot. Love the picture of the ENORMOUS Christmas tree compliments of the Galleria in Houston. Merry Christmas Y'all!

The Generator.

 I. Love. The. Generator.

 Christmas lights, the blender, television/movies, Wii games and the charging of batteries are all made possible by this wonderful machine! 

Gingerbread! Yummy!

Kali (kawlee). She is exuberant, feisty and LOVES attention.

Simba. He is somber, easy going and very loving. A wise old soul. 

Baxter. He loves me and I love him. 

One of my favorite pictures of all time. My Mam-ma and Granddaddy. I miss them.

Mam-ma and me. Some years ago :) I feel loved when I look at this picture.

Kinley, Peace and a Christmas Tree cake :) These girls have known each other all their lives. 

Joy, indeed! This picture of my niece (and all the stories of her escapades that it brings to mind) reminds me to have fun!

Our Santa collection. Jeff's Mom has given us most of these and the Santa/Mrs. Santa mugs are reminiscent of the Cash family egg nog mugs Jeff remembers every year. We miss you, Cash family!!! 

:) This little treat is a rare find. Dairy products (cheese, sour cream, cream cheese etc) are either not available, not affordable or not tasty in Uganda. This product (from South Africa) tastes just like American sour cream. Delightful! We danced a happy dance in the Kampala supermarket when we saw it on the shelf. 

A bag of white sugar! 

Because our sugar (on the right) isn't white. This doesn't matter much until you want to make Christmas candy. We were so happy to find white sugar in our store in Fort Portal! A Christmas miracle! (The Cashlings keep tasting the white sugar because they can't believe it isn't salt.) 

My man. Bring me some mistletoe! 

These are a few of my favorite things!!!! 

To Wait

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Micah 7: 7

This week I have waited:

At the grocery store—for tomatoes

At the oven—for food to warm

For the generator—so we could enjoy the Christmas lights

For the thermometer—so I would know if the fever broke

For the tea kettle—so I could make coffee

For the sunshine—so the clothes would dry

For my children—to finish math

For my husband—to feel better

For the parking attendant—so I could pay my parking fees

For the internet—to connect

I. Have. Waited.

Sometimes hopeful. Sometimes with GREAT impatience (I’m looking at you, Mr. Fort Portal parking attendant!)

Most often, with an underlying feeling of irritation.

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18

We have entered the season of Advent.

By it’s common definition, advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.

In Christendom, Advent signifies the arrival of Christ.

The Israelites had been waiting for a long, long time.

(Many struggled to recognize Him when He arrived.)

(He was not what they expected in a Messiah.)

Some knew EXACTLY Who He Was.

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2: 25-32

As we lead our children through the remembrances of the promised Christ and His arrival in Bethlehem—

I am convicted of the ‘waiting’.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14: 1-3

He is coming again.

How will He find me waiting?

“Keep yourselves in God’s love  as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 21