A Simple Christmas ....

Good Day After Christmas ..to all my Kindred Friends.

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It was a truly wonderful Christmas here at our home. " A Simple Christmas " ... I'm calling it this year. At first I was a little hesitant to how a "Simple Christmas" was going to feel ..But now that I have been through it ..I must say it was ever so refreshing !

It was just the three of us this year ..My parents and myself. We decided on No decorating outdoors ..because we have an impending move this spring and felt it may be to overwhelming. I had all the plans though to decorate inside ..and well I ended up with three little table top trees by my computer. However I never had the feeling that it wasn't Christmas.

The week leading up to Christmas ..Mom and I kept thinking of things we could do to celebrate Christmas in a different way this year .. We considered taking a trip up north for a few days ..but that seemed like such a lot of hub bub. Then we talked about a trip to Disneyland ..we haven't been there in over 20 year ..but ..something just wasn't grabbing us with that idea ..so we thought and thought and thought ..then Mom mentioned that there was a Christmas Eve service at a church we dearly love that's a 2 hour drive from us ..and that we might enjoy that ..I agreed ..it really focused on the reason for Christmas ..but being such a long drive ..it seemed we should come up with something else to do. Several days earlier I had received my AAA magazine and Chart House a restaurant I went to a few times as a little girl was advertised in it. I mentioned it was on the way ..and wouldn't that make a Beautiful Christmas Eve Dinner and then Church service afterwards ....

So our minds we made up and that's just what we did. Note: Chart house sits on the ocean ..we arrived early enought to ask for seating by the windows overlooking the break rock and the seaside. And we arrived just in time to enjoy and savor our dinner while the sun set ..

I don't think any Christmas Eve could have been more perfect ...eating a Lovely dinner and overlooking God's Beautiful and Perfect creation.

Spent with 2 people (my parents) God's gift to me. A memory made with them I shall never forget and will cherish forever.

As we were sitting and watching the sun go down ..off in the distance ..I saw a spray come out of the ocean ..then a few seconds later ....a large body arched out of the ocean and once again a large spray arose ...it was a Whale passing by ...I'm sure on it's journey to warm waters. I had to stop a moment and think ..and glory and God's creation ..what marvelous ideas he had and what a creator he was ..I'm so glad I love to create ..It draws me closer to my creator.

As the sun went down ..the beautiful glow of the horizon was left behind the clouds ...

I had to share a little of our dinner with you ...on the menu they had Fried Macaroni and Cheese ...O.k. I admit I am a fan of mac and cheese ..and once on the Food Network .."Ham on the Street" did a deep fried segment and one of the items was Mac and Cheese ..I had always wanted to try that ...Soooooo Here it is .. Not your normal Mac and Cheese though ... this mac and cheese was made with a smokey cheddar cheese ..onions and deep fried in a panko crust ...At first bite your expecting Mom's mac and cheese fried ..so your brain and palette are not sure what to think ..but after that initial taste ...you begin to taste the goodness. I must admit I enjoyed it the day after even more ..!!!

Our last bit was ended with a yummy volcano cake ..drenched in chocolate ..vanilla ice cream and heath bar crunch ... we said good bye ..to a wonderful almost end of the day ...but Christmas Eve service still lyed ahead of us.

We arrived at the church ...and it was beautifully decorated inside and out.

There is one thing about this Church that I rarely have felt in others ...and that is without a doubt the prescence of Christ ... Church is just not a building but a place where God says he dwells and will meet you there ..and This Beautiufl Christmas Eve ...he did not fail ..and met us there.

I had never been to the candle light service on Christmas Eve ..and was anticipating what it would entail. First off ..there were instumentalists ..that came and played Beautiful Christmas songs ..that lulled you to a sweet peace.

Then Dr. Jeremiah ...came out and filled us in on the do's and dont's of lighting candles and such ..and the service began ...it was beautiful ...between Christmas songs representing our Lord Jesus ...we would read the Christmas Story out loud ..Men some parts ..women others and then some sections all together ..

It was truly a Glorious evening and put the spotlight right where it should be ..On Christ the Saviours Birth ....on Christmas Day ! The service filled me with Peace, Joy and gratefullness, sorrow, and kindness, and above all ....Love ..

The service ended on a Very Simple yet Very Powerful Lighting of the candles ..representing the light being born into the darkness of the world ...the lights in the church were dimmed ..a procession of candle bearers ..walked to the alter ..and Dr. Jeremiah ...lighted each of their candles ...they in turn began lighting the candle of the person sitting at the end of each pew ..and in turn we each lit our candle off the other. Within moments what was a very dark Chruch was alight with hundreds of candles ..it was not just light ...but a warm glowing light ..that filled you with the sense of what our Dear Lord is ...Warm and Welcoming .. He is always there for us ..waiting on some ..welcoming others ...and a warm place for his children to come.

As the last Candles was lit ...the Piano began to play ..."Simply" ... "This Little Light of Mine" ...

The words to this song are so simple yet so powerful ...

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This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Shine all over


I'm gonna let it shineShine all over


I'm gonna let it shineShine all over

I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

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After we sang this song ...and the service was coming to an end ...Dr. Jeremiah spoke one last time ...saying that we as Christians have a light to shine... and that in this last year our world has grown darker ...and that as this new year approached ...to Let our "Light Shine"

I challenge you ...to let your "light Shine" too. This world needs the Love of Christ more than ever ...and to know God is to Know Love ..and to follow God is to spread Love. "Love is the Greatest thing" .

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My Hope is that you too had a Very Merry Christmas ..and even if like me it wasn't filled with lots of family ...or friends ..or spent buying and recieving gifts ...but it was simple and quiet ..that you reflected on what it was all about ..not what the world has made it for themselves ..but what Beautiful Gift ...an "Eternal Gift" ..that was given us ...long ago. No one person ..family or friend ..could have bought or provided you a gift so wonderful ....We are so very blessed !

As the New Year approaches ...May God's Blessings Be on each one of My Kindred Friends ..May his love be shown to them and may it radiate from the. Bringing the light of the world to banish the darkness ...

Wishing you all Warm Winter Blessings ...

Your Kindred Friend ...Sara