A Letter To Family & Friends

Dear Family & Friends,

On the day of inauguration, I wanted to reach out to all of my friends and ask that at some point today, you take a moment to pray for the future of our country - if not for our sake, for the sake of our children and their children. Despite your political views, the current state of our country demands prayer. Pray for our new President and his advisers. Pray for the state of affairs in the midst of an economic downfall. Pray for our children's education. Pray WITH your children for the future of our country. Pray for the job situation - I personally know several people who have recently lost their jobs. Pray for our military and their families.

I am thankful for the vast majority of Christians in this country, but ashamed at our silence in recent years. I challenge you to prayer and testimony, especially over the next 4 to 8 years. Stand up for what you truly believe in and prove that we have a freedom of speech and freedom of religion, which is part of the reason we live in the greatest country in the world.

I'll be praying and testifying - I am not ashamed. I was not ashamed to write this letter to all of you, regardless of what you believe. Delete if you want to or pass on to your friends and family - whatever you choose is fine with me. Personally, I've never felt more called to faith than at this point in my life and I intend to pray hard, daily, on my knees, with absolutely no shame. God is the only one in control of our future but we have to ask for His help and pray unceasingly. I know I'm right with God. Are you in?

~If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.~

Happy Birthday David Ryan Springer!!!!!!

Today is my husband, Ryan's 37th birthday! I hope that it has been a good one for him. I haven't seen him at all! I chatted with him just briefly.

I'm a terrible wife! I haven't had a chance to get a card or a gift this year! These frigid temperatures that we have been having has kept me indoors. I just haven't wanted to get Jackson out in this mess. By the time Ryan gets home from work, the temps are just unbearable.

We are planning on going out to eat tonight. I guess Eskimo style! I'm going to bundle up our two precious offspring like the kid from A Christmas Story! You know, the one that looks like a tick and can't put his arms down. I'm sure it will be quite a sight to see.

I will at some point this weekend, go and get him a gift. Not sure what to get the guy who pretty much already has everything! I was thinking a new pair of shoe, but he has more shoes than I have so , I think not! Maybe a new shirt? Nope, he takes up more space in the closet with his wardrobe than mine! Maybe a nice piece of electronics? I don't even dare to go there. I bought him a laptop computer two year ago for Christmas. Well, I don't even want to re-live that fiasco! I'll keep ya updated on what His Princeliness ends up with!

I love you Ryan Leigh! I hope you have had a super duper wonderful day!

~The picture above is a rare picture! Ryan doesn't like sports, so this is really hilarious! I can just see him in the outfield picking daisies and praying that the ball doesn't come to him!!!! LOL!

Jan. 13, 1976: The Day My Life Dramatically Changed Forever!

Tuesday January 13, 1976 started off like any other day for me. Except when I woke up that morning my Nannie and Paw Paw were at the house and my mom and dad were gone. Where had they gone, you ask? I had absolutely no idea, but I didn't really care because Nannie and Paw Paw were there and I knew it was going to be a gloriously fun day!

I ate my breakfast, played a game of hide and seek with my grandfather and I'm sure I watched Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Ah....now this was the life. Who could ask for anything more? I'm sure I had a little nap that day after a really nice lunch. I woke up ready to play some more with my Paw Paw. Oh and play we did! I worked up quite the appetite, so my Nannie made me a nice little snack. I was eating that nice little snack when IT happened! At precisely 3:30pm my fun little world changed dramatically FOREVER!

The phone rang and my grandmother got all excited! She hugged my grandfather and was asking alot of questions. Of course, it really didn't bother me at the time because I new that once she got off the phone life would resume and the fun would begin once again. NOT SO MUCH! She picked up the phone and made call after call after call! She was so happy! Of course she was, I was the center of her universe! Or so I thought.

Next thing I know we were putting on our coats, hats and mittens. AWESOME! We were going to go on a little adventure. I loved going to fun places with my grandparents! They always took me to best places. Again, not so much on this day! We ended up at a hospital. A HOSPITAL! What the heck are we doing here, is what I'm sure my little four year old mind was thinking. We walked up to a window outside the hospital. Now my curiosity was getting the best of me. Why were we not going inside? It's cold out here for goodness sake! (I found out later that they would not allow children under the age of 10 to visit patients.) Then the curtains were pulled back and there stood my daddy. DADDY! Now where have you been all day? Work? And why are you at the hospital? Oh, and there is mommy! Why is she laying down in a bed? Cough due to a cold or something?

Then IT happened! My daddy held up this wad of blankets that seemed to be moving a bit. A puppy maybe? Oh cool! I wanted a puppy! Not so much! He turned the little bundle around and there IT was! This toe-headed, pale, and wrinkled baby doll? Then my grandmother said "THE WORDS"! The words that would forever be burned into my ears! Look Jana Leigh! It's your baby sister!

BABY SISTER? Whoa! I don't ever remember asking for or ordering one of those! Ya'll just need to send that back! But, they didn't send it back. In fact, they brought it home. Can you believe that? They actually brought that crying, scrawny and stinky thing home!

Now, 33 years later, I can say that I am glad that they brought that crying, scrawny, toe-headed, wrinkled and stinky thing home. Even though we didn't get along very well growing up and actually hated each other for awhile, she was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. God knew what he was doing on January 13, 1976 at 3:30 pm. He gave me my best friend! He gave me my sister!

Happy 33rd Birthday Sasquatch! May the next 33 be just as good! Love you girl!

~The picture above is of Jennifer at age 3 or 4 years of age.

Remembering Where I Come From and Good Southern Manners

When I woke up this morning I realized that I had to make a mad dash to Wal-mart so that I could get what I needed for supper tonight. I also realized that it is going to be insanely cold the next few days, so I had better be prepared with another meal, just in case.

While at our lovely Champaign Wal-mart, I was reminded of how unmannerly people here are. A man, knowing that I was trying to get to a product that he was standing in front of, refused to budge from where he was standing. I stood there for a few seconds and then politely said, excuse me but may I reach in front of you to get that can of kidney beans? He looked at me as if I had grown horns from the top of my head, grunted and moved.

As I was checking out, the cashier didn't look at me one time nor did she try to acknowledge my presence. The only thing that was said was " $63.10". When I was finished paying I said to the cashier, " Thank you very much. Have a great day". You could tell that she wasn't expecting me to say that to her. She stumbled over her words as she tried to say thank you.

Ryan and I have been amazed at how rude the people here are. Now, not everyone in Champaign/Urbana are rude, but for the most part they are. I can't tell you how many times I have gone to open a door only to have a man walk in front of me and not hold the door open. Things like that just erk me! If someone does something nice, you say thank you. Not so much here.

Now, where I come from you would be considered uppity or uncivilized if one were to do the things that I just talked about. Very improper! So, I have compiled a list of simple southern manners that everyone should know. I am raising my kids to use these manners and I am trying to instill them in my husband as well.

If you're not from the U.S. South, you may wonder why we southerners behave the way we do toward one another in terms of manners. Having proper manners in our everyday actions is a way of life in the South. They stem from our famed southern hospitality. Manners matter in Dixie. Good manners make life more pleasant for everyone, and you can never take them too seriously in the South. Having bad manners will cause other southerners to question your upbringing. So, if you want to know more about southern culture, are planning a trip to or within the South, are planning to move to the South, or are from the South and need to brush up on your manners, then this article is here to help. Remember that good manners are not reserved for special occasions. They are something you do every place and every day, and our friendships and relationships are based on how we treat others on a daily basis.

MANNERS TO LIVE BY:

Above all, say "please" and "thank you". Always saw please whenever making any sort of request. You may further express thanks by saying something like "Thank you very much, I really appreciate it." If you don't get what you want, say something like "well, thank you anyway." You should also use "May I," "You’re Welcome," "Excuse Me," and "Pardon Me."

Also say "yes sir" or "no sir" and "yes ma'am" or "no ma'am" at all appropriate times. If you don't use these you may be viewed as arrogant or disrespectful, or uppity.

Several fundamental tenets of southern manners:

-Be humble - Always put others first and yourself last ("after you..."). This is rooted in Bible Belt theology. Acting uppity, selfish, or self-centered are certainly not good manners.

-Be courteous - This stems from the Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you).

-Behave yourself - When in public, don't be rude, brash, loud, uncouth, coarse, or cause a commotion. If you do act that way people may think you weren't raised properly and don't know better.

-Be friendly - Act this way towards everyone whether you know them or not.

-Be modest - this is similar to being humble. In other words, don't brag on yourself.

~Here are some other tips (but this is not an exhaustive list of course):

-Always ask for something, but never demand it.

-Refer to females as "Ladies".

-Chivalry of all forms is well appreciated throughout the South.

-Hold doors open for others.

-If you're a male, walk on the street side of a sidewalk when accompanying a lady.

-Men stand when a lady enters the room.

-Remove your hat, if you're a male, when entering a building. A hat should also be removed (by men) during the national anthem, the raising of the flag, funeral processions, and prayer.

-When at fault, own up to it and say you're sorry.

-Say "pardon me" or "excuse me" when having to walk in front of someone or if you bump into someone.

-Err on the side of being too nice.

-Know proper table manners and always use them.

-Make eye contact with people and say "hi, how are you" or an appropriate greeting to them depending on the time of day ("good morning", "good afternoon", etc.).

-Conduct small talk with others whether you know them or not (particularly in stores and restaurants, etc.).

-Respect elders

-Be gracious and extend hospitality whenever possible. Offer guests in your home food and drink.

-Don't interrupt.

-Shake hands with a firm grip.

-Don't be in a rush and impatient all the time. Things move at a different pace in the South.

-Keep your word.

-Stand by your family.

-If someone has had surgery, a new baby or a death in the family, organize the neighbors to all take turns fixing dinner for the affected family.

-Welcome new neighbors.

The pictures above are of the town that my family is from: Madison, Ga.

Picture #1 is of The Morgan County Courthouse seated in Madison.

Picture #2 is of downtown Madison.

A National Championship and Severe Dry Eye Syndrome

The Florida Gators beat the Choklahoma Sooners last night for the National Championship title and trophy. The final score was Florida 24 - OU 12. WOO HOO! I actually rooted for Florida for the one and only time in my life. That was probably the hardest thing to do for this avid UGA fan. Trust me, when it was all said and done, I had to take a very long bath to scrub the nasty gator off of me. I felt so dirty after rooting for them. So wrong!!!!!! However, it sure is nice to keep the National Championship title and crown in the overall best college football conference, the SEC, for the third year running! So awesome!
I went back to the eye doctor for yet another agonizing visit today. I was diagnosed with severe dry eye syndrome back at the beginning of December. Man has is been a struggle. At the beginning of November I started having what I thought was really bad allergies or possibly pink eye. Both eyes were really red, my eye lids were red and swollen (looked like I was wearing bright red eye shadow) and it hurt so bad just to blink. Felt like I had sand in them all the time. And they watered like crazy!
After doing everything that I possibly knew to do I was at my breaking point and finally called the eye doctor. The very minute he saw me he said " you have severe dry eye syndrome". He looked at my eyes with his special machine and confirmed what he already had thought. My eyes looked like raisins. Oh, gross! So he put me on some over-the-counter meds to see if I could get some relief. It helped, but still was bothersome. I went back a week later and he then put me on a steroid eye drop. If I got relief from that then he would most likely put me on RX Restasis. I about had a heart attack when the pharmacist told me that the eye drop would cost me $50 and said that I was lucky that I had insurance. Had I not it would have been $150. NO WAY! It was worth the money because my eyes felt tons better.
I went back to Dr. Burgwald right before Christmas and he told me that I may need to consider Restasis. Only problem is that it would cost me $100 a month. I almost passed out! I asked him if I could continue on the steroid a little longer but only use it once a day and keep up my OTC regime. He said yes, and wanted to see me in two weeks to reassess.
Which brings me to today! I'm much better, sorta. I can't continue taking the steroid for much longer. Could cause major issues down the road for my eyes. So I have one of two options. 1. Go ahead and swallow really hard and pay the $100 a month for the Restasis or 2. Have tear duct plugs put into my eyes. Oh, I thought that I would pass out at that thought. See, I have a really hard time putting eye drops in my eyes. I can't stand to have anything near my eyes. It wasn't until two years ago that I started wearing sunglasses because it bothered me. Dr. Burgwald reassured me that I wouldn't feel a thing. He told me that this really is my best option. He told me that this is what he would do for himself and would have his wife or kids do if it were needed as in my case. He told me to go home and think about it and call him on Monday.
So, here I sit. Wondering what to do. I'm leaning toward having the tear duct plugs. Uggggg, decisions! If you or know of anyone else who has had this done, please let me know. I'm totally stressed over this whole thing. I've always prided myself on having really good eyesight and just perfect eyes in general. Oh, he did say that my vision is perfect.......BONUS! I'll keep ya posted on my agonizing decision.
Until then............

Freezing Cold Weather and Frosty's

So, I pick up Morgan from school this afternoon and as soon as she gets into the car she asks me, "Mom......can we stop by Culver's for some frozen custard"? I, of course, swung around and said "Girl, are you crazy it is freezing outside"! And I left it at that.
So what do I do? I pull into the Wendy's and order her a chocolate frosty and myself a vanilla frosty! I HAVE GOT TO BE OUT OF MY MIND! Sure was good though....... :)

Reality And Recipes

Well, today was the beginning of our family returning to reality after two weeks of vacation. Ryan went back to work today. Although it was so nice to have him around helping me with things around the house and helping me with Jackson, it was time for me to bid him a fond farewell. I love my husband, don't get me wrong! But after two weeks of constant togetherness, well, it was time for some "alone" time!

Morgan will return to school tomorrow! She was given an extra day of Christmas vacation this year via Mother Nature. The last day of school (oh, the horror of missing the class Christmas party) was cancelled due to bad weather. I too will bid her a fond farewell! In the morning you will hear me skipping though the house singing a version on " It's the most wonderful time of the year" as we are getting ready for school. It has been nice having her home as well! She has helped me alot with Jackson and a "few" things around the house, but I will not miss the 24/7 drama that comes along with her being at home. If I hear "I'm so bored" one more time, I may just explode!

Jackson, well, I'm looking forward to him getting back on his "pre-Christmas vacation" schedule. Poor little guy is so confused as to when he is suppose to sleep and eat. I can't complain, he has really hung in there and looks like he will survive.

Before I go, I wanted to let you know that I am beginning to post some of my recipes. At the right of the page under "Recipes From Our Kitchen" you will find some links to things like, Beverages, Soups, casseroles,ect. This is a work in progress so you will have to check back from time to time to see what is new. I love looking for new recipes so I hope that you will enjoy this.

Well, better run for now. Time to feed little guy and I'm sure his sister is hungry too! She STAYS hungry!

UPDATE.....

GEORGIA WINS!!!!!!


Georgia 24 - Michigan State 12

What way to start 2009! The game was intense for the first half and then the DAWGS came back in the 3rd quarter a swinging! Here is to starting the new year off right. I just hope that the 2009-2010 season will be much better than the 2008 season.

WE WANT A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!

Happy New Year & Georgia Bulldog Football

Happy New Year! Can you believe that it is already 2009? Where did the time go? Seems like yesterday it was Jan. 1, 2008. I hope that this year doesn't fly by as quickly as 2008.
Our family wishes you and your family nothing but peace, hope and lots of happiness in 2009.
Ok, so we have all of the New Year well wishes out of the way..........Now it is time to get down to business! It's time for FOOTBALL!
Georgia plays Michigan State at 12:00 p.m. CST. on ABC. GO DAWGS! HUNKER DOWN HAIRY DAWGS, HUNKER DOWN FOR A FIGHT! Glory, Glory!

Saying Goodbye to 2008

Well here we are! On the threshold of yet another new year. With only a few hours left in 2008, I am remembering some of the highs and lows that the year has brought to the Springer's.

In April, my step-brother Mark got married. His new bride is just as sweet as she can be and beautiful to boot! We all just love Kirstin and feel that she is a positive addition to our family. Along with Kirstin comes Miss Marley. She is Kirstin's sweet little girl. We all just think she is a doll. Mark........ya did good!

In June we welcomed our little Jackson. Jackson was born on June 20 at 8:10am via c-section. He was 7 lbs and 12 oz. He was only 18 1/2 inches long. Short little thing! He is an absolute joy to have in our family. Words alone can't express what this little bundle of joy means to me. He just melts me. I finally got my future Georgia Bulldog football player! Hold on Dawgs.......He's a coming!

Miss Morgan not only became a big sister this year, but she turned 10 years old. FINALLY, double digits! Oh the teen years are going to be SO MUCH FUN! Can you sense the sarcasm in that statement? She is now a 5th grader and is just as smart as she can be. This year she has been accepted into the gifted and talented program at school. This will be of great benefit down the road when it comes time to decide on colleges. Of course, her mother would love to see her attended the University of Georgia!

My sister Jennifer moved from Lake Saint Louis to the Lake of the Ozarks. She and Scott love it there. They say that life is like that of Mayberry. They also got a new baby this year, my new neice dog Beacon. She is a Boston Terrier. She is absolutely the cutest thing! Very laid back for a Boston! Miss Hailey turned 8 this past May and still as sweet as she is beautiful. She is such a breath of fresh air. Mr. Aiden turned 3. What a little dynamo. He is always on the go and he knows that he can melt the hearts of his Aunt Nana and Aunt Wessica! By the time he is 20, look for him to grace the cover of People magazine as the sexiest man alive!

Let's see, Ryan's dad became very ill this year and was told that he would need a liver transplant. We had some very tense moments waiting on a liver. He finally got one in August. We can't tell you how amazed we are at how well he has responded to his new liver. He is almost back to the same old David that we know and love. Please keep him your prayers and pray that he doesn't go into rejection.

We found out in October that my dad is diabetic. This was a shock to all of us. He had been out mowing the grass and was struck in the leg by a stick. He doctored it himself and thought that it would get better. Well, it only got worse. He was put into the hospital because of the infection and because of blood work that had to be done, found out that his blood sugar was off the charts. He was very lucky not to have gone into a diabetic coma at some point. Divine intervention my friends. We found out before it was too late. Daddy has had trouble adjusting to the new lifestyle but is doing much better now.

My little sister Jessica once again found a lump in her breast. She had it removed and thankfully the lump was benign. Bless her heart, she is only 25 and has had to have two masses removed. We hope that this doesn't become a trend. She and her boyfriend bought a house this year. This is a huge move for her. We are just hoping now that Kyle will put a ring on her finger! They too got a new baby this year. They also got a Boston Terrier. Her name is Zoey! She is something else. Wired!!!!!! We all love her.
My beloved Georgia Bulldogs! What can I say? They blew out Hawaii in the Sugar bowl on Jan. 1st. We went into the 2008 season rated #1. We were on the cover of SI. Only to screw it up and finish the season with 3 big losses. The loss to Georgia Tech..........well, I can't even bring myself to even finish that thought. We'll get them next year! We lost our beloved Uga VI on June 28. Only thing to say about that is "Damn Good Dawg!" He served us well and will never be forgotten. We welcomed his son, Uga VII on Aug. 30 during pre-game ceremonies at the Georgia/Georgia Southern game. We are all so proud of him already! The Dawgs will play Michigan State tomorrow in the Captiol One Bowl. Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
Well, I guess that sums up 2008 for us. We hope that 2008 was good to you and your family and pray that 2009 will only bring you love and good times.
Until then.............

Laundry, Layouts And A New Laptop

Well, our Christmas vacation has come to an end. I can't tell ya how hard it is to leave home every year and head back to Champaign. As we back down the long driveway at my dad's house, I always get that huge lump in my throat and fight back the tears. I tend to be a bit weepy all the way to the Georgia/Tennessee line. But, I usually shake it off by the time we get to the the north side of Chattanooga. Reality hits me between the eyes by then!

With the end of vacation always comes the ominous mountain of laundry. You know, the dirty clothes always tend to make their way in with the clean. Just how does this happen? So, in order to make sure that you get ALL of the dirty clothes clean you realize that you MUST wash everything. Ugggggggg. Laundry and I tend to go round and round in a vicious circle.

Ryan got me a new laptop computer for Christmas so he has been transferring all of my STUFF from the other computer to the new. I didn't realize just how much STUFF I had on the other computer. Of course, I also have had to endure the lectures on how laptops work and all of that techie stuff that Ryan insists that I know. I just smile and say, yes Ryan you have already told me that like 10 times now. I get it!

As you can tell, I have changed the background of the blog. Out with the old and in with the new! Now I need to work on the music portion. I really don't think that you want to hear Christmas music going into the new year. I sure don't!

Well, better get back to the massive mountain of laundry. I think that I need a maid for 2009! RIGHT!

Oh what fun we are having in Atlanta. The weather has been warm, but misty. I can handle the misty part and I am LOVING the warm 70's and 60's. Makes a girl not want to go back to the frozen tundra.

I have to tell ya, I haven't laughed this much in a long time. My sisters crack me up. You just never know what is going to come out of their mouths sometimes. We were up really late last night just laughing. We watched the latest Dane Cook stand-up DVD and laughed until we all just about pee'd our britches. How the kids didn't wake up really surprises me because we were so loud.

Well, I got a new laptop computer for Christmas. I was totally not expecting that at all. I've told Ryan that I wanted one but only got the typical " Oh, we can't afford that right now" speech. I was so excited when I opened up the box. I love it!

Well, I better run for now. Need to jump in the shower and try to catch more of these awesome after Christmas sales. Not that I can buy anything else at this point, but it sure is fun to see what is out there!

Until later.............

Over The River And Through The Woods

Well, today is the day that we leave for Christmas vacation. We are going to my dad's house in Georgia. It is 6:47am and we are trying to get out the door. We have to tie up a few loose ends and then we are hitting the road.

This will be Jackson's first road trip. I just hope that he will sleep most of the way!

I can't wait to get there! Both of my sister's are there along with my Dad, my niece Hailey and my nephew Aiden.

Ok. Well, until I get a chance to chat again. Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus

Once upon a time, in about the third century, in the city of Myra in modern-day Turkey, there was a young man named Nicholas. As a lad, Nicholas loved God and at an early age showed signs of becoming a strong Christian leader. By the time he was a teenager, he was often called the "Boy Bishop" and was greatly loved by everyone in the community.

Nicholas's family was very wealthy, and from the moment he received his inheritance, Nicholas began to give it away to the poor and needy. He especially loved to give gifts to children, though he always did it secretly. The best-known tale of his generosity involves three young sisters who were too poor to pay their wedding dowries. Nicholas wanted to help, but he didn't want to receive any credit for the act of charity.

Legend has it that Nicholas climbed onto the roof of their house and threw a gold coin down the chimney. The coin landed in the oldest girl's stocking as it was hanging beside the fireplace to dry. The second daughter's dowry was provided in the same mysterious way. So when the time came for the youngest girl to be married, her father hid himself on the roof and waited. Nicholas's secret was revealed, and he was loved even more than before.

Hundreds of years later, this good bishop was declared Saint Nicholas, pronounced Sinter Klass by the Dutch. Today, he is known far and wide as Santa Claus.

You may also have heard the name Kris Kringle. This comes from the Dutch work Christkindl, meaning "Christ child." Although this name is often used interchangeably with Santa Claus, it was originally created in an attempt to refocus people's attention on Jesus as the real gift-giver.

The truth is that Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, and Kris Kringle all reveal the giving heart of God, who is the original Father Christmas.

The Wise Men

Who ever said there were three of them? Or that they were at the stable with the shepherds? Or that they were even kings? A popular Christmas carol makes its vote clear: "We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts..." The Bible, however, never refers to the Mgi as kings, and they most likely journeyed from Persia rather than from what we now think of as the Orient.

Now, before you saw the crowns off your Nativity figurines, you should understand that certain Old Testament prophecies suggest this interpretation. However, when Matthew tells the story, he never calls them kings - and he doesn't call them by name, either.

The Gospel of Matthew refers to these travelers as "wise men" or "Magi," translated from the Greek word magoi - from which we get our word magician. But don't think card tricks and bunnies pulled from top hats here! These magicians were priests, powerful men of great wealth who counseled the kings of the Medo-Persian Empire.

So where did the "three wise men" story get started? That's likely a presumption based on the fact that three gifts were presented to Jesus. Which brings up yet another misconception. The Magi were not even present in the original manger scene. By the time they brought their baby shower gifts to the party, Jesus was probably close to two years old.

And what strange gifts they were!

Gold? Frankincense? Myrrh? A gold rattle, perhaps, or a little gold baby spoon. But who would bring spices to a toddler? Let's see if we can clear that one up.

Gold signified royalty and acknowledges Christ as the King of kings Frankincense was used in worship and denotes the deity of Jesus. Myrrh was most commonly used in preparation for burial and represents the death of the Son of Man, who would rise to sit at the right hand of the Father as the Son of God.

Who would give such strange gifts to a baby? Wise men would.

Nativity Scenes

The Nativity scene, also referred to as the creche, or crib, is the symbol of Christmas. It illustrates the night of Jesus' birth and the beginning of His-story. But we know that God wrote this story long before the first Christmas Eve.

From the moment when Adam and Eve sinned, mankind was seperated from God. This broke the Father's heart, and so immediately He set the plan in motion to send His Son, the Messiah, to restore the Father's relationship with His children - because this relationship is the reason He created us in the first place.
Like and father who has an extra-special present already wrapped and ready to give to his children, God could hardly wait to give the gift of His Son to the world. But just like the dreaded sticker reads, "Do not open 'til Christmas," God chose to wait until the fulfillment of time. That didn't mean He couldn't drop a few hints along the way. Throughout Scripture we see that God revealed bits and pieces of the big surprise to His children. Even not knowing all the details, they knew enough to get excited. Because of this, the children of Isreal knew that God was going to send the Messiah to redeem His people. The Scriptures revealed that the child would be born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and would be a decendant of their beloved King David. Some believed that other Old Testament passages may have pointed to the star of Bethlehem and the gifts of the Magi.
Can you see how many of the pieces in the nativity scene illustrates a fulfillment of prophecy? The stable in Bethlehem, Mary the virgin mother, Joseph the direct descendant of David, the star, the wise men bearing gifts from the East, and, of course , the baby Jesus.
The the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12, NKJV).

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane — a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Immunizations & Crazy Cold Weather

Sorry that I am posting so late this evening. I had to take my sweet little Jackson to the doctor today for his 6 month well-baby visit and immunizations. I just hate those days. I have dreaded it all weekend. There is just nothing more that can upset me than to see my sweet, happy smiling little boy happy one second and then the look of total pain and shock the next. I don't know who cried more, me or Jackson. I will say this, he didn't cry as long this time as he did his last set of shots. Dummy me, I forgot to give him Tylenol before we left for his appointment. By the time we got home this afternoon, you could just tell that he didn't feel well. Sweet baby is sleeping well at the moment. I just hope that he will sleep all night.

The weather is CRAZY cold! Yesterday we could go outside without a jacket, today it is below freakin zero with the windchill. I can't wait until Sunday so that we can drive south and thaw! I'm really hoping that Atlanta has nice weather while we are there. After enduring the last few winters here in the frozen tundra, we deserve some warm weather at Christmas. Ryan says that we should warm up to the upper 30's by Thursday. Thanks! Nice heat wave!

Well, better run. Need to finish up a few things before it is time for bed. I promise more Christmas meanings to come............Stay tuned!

Christmas Dinner

Jesus was always inviting Himself over for a meal - and what a dinner guest He was! You never knew quite what to expect when He stepped through the door. You might witness a miracle between the first course and the second. You might hear, for better or worse, surprising truths about yourself. You might find yourself serving a ragtag cast of characters from the other side of the tracks. One time Jesus even provided the wine - 180 gallons of it!

One of His last acts before He died was to break bread with the people closest to Him. Today we remember His death on the cross for our sins when we drink the cup and eat the bread of Communion.

Knowing all this about Jesus, we shouldn't be surprised that the first celebration of His birth was a feast - specifically, the Feast of the Nativity, which originated in Rome during the fourth century. Although there are no records of such a feast in the early church, and you won't find it in the Bible, it isn't out of character with either. The Old Testament brims with feasts designed by God and given to His people. And as we've seen in the New Testament accounts of His life, Jesus loved to eat with His friends. (Sounds like a pretty good endorsement for feasting to me.)

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us that the great banquet will be one of the first things we experience together in heaven. As one angel put it, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). Do you know how to get invited to the party? Jesus said, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends" (Revelation 3:20).

As you sit at the table for Christmas dinner and thank God for the food, remember Jesus. If you've invited Him to step through the door and be Lord of your life, what better time to do it than at Christmas? It's His birthday, and - from then on and forever - it will be your, too.

~ (Here is an all time favorite drink at the Springer's house at Christmas)

I can't imagine that Wassail was not served at the very first Feast of the Nativity. Even if it wasn't, we can still serve it at our Christmas feast.

CHRISTMAS WASSAIL

1 gal. apple cider

1 tsp. ground allspice

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 6oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 6oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Combine 2 cups of the apple cider with the allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a large Dutch oven or Crock Pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining cider, brown sugar, lemonade, and orange juice to the hot mixture, stirring well to dissolve the sugar, heat until very hot (do not boil). Makes 41/2 quarts.

Enjoy! :)

The 12 Days of Christmas

I know you've heard of Chrismas cookies and Christmas carols, but have you ever heard of Christmas code? It just may be that the song "The Tweleve Days of Christmas" is really about more than partridges and golden rings.
For nearly three hundred years, it was against the law in England to be a member of the Catholic church. Well, that didn't keep Catholic parents from wanting to teach their children about God, but in order to do so they had to be creative.
And here, once again, is where we leave the world of certain history and move into the misty realms of legend. As the story goes, several of these concerned parents got together and wrote "The Twelve Days of Christmas." They used a secret code hidden in the song to teach their children about the things of God. Let me crack the code for you!
"My true love" represents God, who gives all the gifts listed in the song.
"A partridge in a pear tree" is Jesus, who gave His life on a tree (the cross).
"Two turtle doves" symbolizes the Old and New Testaments.
"Three French Hens" are faith, hope, and love.
"Four calling birds" speak of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
"Five golden rings: correspond to the first five books of the Bible, also-known as the Pentateuch.
"Six geese a-laying" stand for the six days of creation.
"Seven swans a-swimming" are the seven gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12:6-8).
"Eight maids a-milking" point to the eight beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3-10).
"Nine ladies dancing" signify the nine fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
"Ten lords a-leaping" represent the Ten Commandments.
"Eleven pipers piping" are the eleven faithful disciples. And finally.....
"Twelve drummers drumming" call to mind the twelve points of the Apostle's Creed.
Learning this song would help the children remember some important facts about Christianity. Best of all, they could sing it publicly! When they did they declaired their allegiance to the King of kings.