Pine Tree Crosses

Last April on a Sunday we took one of our “nowhere” drives, my husband was quietly driving a back road. I was occupied in the front passenger seat watching the scenery. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my husband was straining to look out my window. This startled me, since his eyes should be on the road in front of him. I asked him what he was looking at out the windows, and he quietly replied, “Nothing.” His eyes went back to the road in front of him.

After a few minutes, I looked over at my husband and noticed a tear running down his cheek. I asked him what was wrong. This time he told me, “I was just thinking about Pop and a story he had once told me.” Of course, because it had to do with his Pop I wanted to know the story, so I asked him to share it with me.

He said, “When I was about 8 years old, Pop and I were out fishing and that’s when he told me that the Pine trees know when it is Easter.” I had no idea what he meant by that, so I pressed him for more information. He continued on… “The Pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter — if you look at the tops of the Pine trees two weeks before, you will see the yellow shoots. As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the Pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots.”

I turned to look out the window and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a week before Easter, and you could see all of the trees with the tall yellow shoots stretching to Heaven. The tallest ones shone in the sunlight like rows of tiny golden crosses.

Click here for the original posting of “The Pine Tree Knows It’s Easter.”

As the song ended and I moved to  another tab opened on my computer, the song began to play again. As I listened intently to each word, it gave me cold chills and a message of hope. How often do we put too much emphasis on the things of Christmas rather than the reason for Christmas? Sometimes, we fail to even recall the reason we celebrate the Christmas season.

“Where’s the Line to See Jesus” was inspired by a 4 year old who was at the mall and saw the line waiting to see Santa. As he was waiting, he innocently asked, “Where’s the line to see Jesus?”  This child had obviously been taught not only the reason that we celebrate the Christmas season but to love Christ as well — to make Him the focus of your life. This makes me question what I taught my daughter as she was growing up. Oh, I did teach her about Jesus’ birthday, but I know that we focused too much on the things of Christmas rather than the meaning of Christmas.

Even though I shared this video a few days ago, I felt inspired to share it again today. This time I hope that you listen to the words and it touches your heart as it has mine. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all. May God bless you this Christmas season.

GOLD, COMMON SENSE, AND FUR

My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) five years but hadn’t been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, He blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter. My husband thought we’d been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me,’If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella.’

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn’t want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn’t keep my promise to be a perfect mother – I didn’t even come close, I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to ‘wash up’ Jesus, too.

Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his ‘last wife.’

My proudest moment came during the children’s Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, ‘We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.’ But he was nervous and said,’The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes.’

My four-year-old ‘Mary’ said, ‘That’s not ‘wrinkled clothes,’ silly. That’s dirty, rotten clothes.’ A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.

I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, ‘Mama-mama.’ Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.

My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, ‘We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold common sense and fur.’

The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. ‘I’ve never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one,’ laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. ‘For the rest of my life, I’ll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur..’

‘My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing,’ I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.

An original song performed by father and daughter, Steve Haupt and Becky Kelley. It was inspired by grandson, Spencer Reijgers. The video by was created by Bobbie Haupt and Greg Haupt.

Below is the story behind the song, as told by Steve Haupt:

“While at the mall last year, my 4 year old grandson saw kids lined up excitedly to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of God’s son, with the innocence of a child, he asked his mom, “Where’s the line to see Jesus”? If Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, why don’t we see Him more? As his grandpa, I was so happy that little Spencer understood the meaning of Christmas at such a tender age, and then the words for a song were jotted down in just a few minutes. The song was inspired by my grandson, and the message was inspired by my Savior. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer’s observation and our song will cause people to reflect on the love of Jesus, and the certainty that one day we will all stand in line to see Jesus. Merry Christmas everyone.”

This is a very moving story and song. I would like to thank all of those responsible for making this song possible. It is the most beautiful Christmas song I have ever heard. When I think that this song was inspired by Spencer Reijgers,  a 4 year old child, it makes the song even more beautiful if that is even possible.

Thank you, Spencer!!!

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

½ cup shortening

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup mashed bananas

¾ cup chopped pecans

¼ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups sifted flour

¾ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. baking powder

Directions:

1. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add bananas.

2. Sift flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk to which vanilla has been added.

3. Stir in pecans.

4. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

What child doesn’t want to be the star of a video — especially a video featuring the North Pole with Santa. If you are a parent or a grandparent, you may be interested in knowing about. Portable North Pole. Be sure that the little ones that you know receive a personalized video message from Santa Claus. Let your child or your grandchild be the star of your holiday video. Don’t hesitate to check it out!!!

Visit Portable North Pole Now!!!

As we were finishing our meal, we were sitting there quietly talking and I noticed the lady standing at the counter talking to someone with the children nearby. As the little boy stood waiting, he was inspired to begin wishing others a Merry Christmas. He very quietly and discreetly would move from table to table as he would  gain eye contact and wish Merry Christmas to each one he greeted. He did not tarry but was absolutely precious as he moved so innocently about the restaurant. It was obvious that no one had told him to greet everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas. His approach was so innocent as he reached out to others and the sparkle in his eyes, the smile on his face, as well as the soft-spoken words were an inspiration to everyone he greeted.

As we gather together, we each bring a dish to share with others. We always have a great variety and we always eat a little too much. I guess as long as we don’t do this every day from now til Christmas, we can enjoy it. But, even so, we need to remember the reason that we are gathering and focus on the love and friendship rather than focusing on the food. Sometimes our intentions are good but we still get too caught up in the goodies.

As you continue to celebrate this Christmas season, I challenge you to try to focus on the love and friendship of others and make this a Christmas to remember. It’s not about how many parties we attend or how fancy the parties are; it’s not about how expensive the gifts are that we give or the number of gifts that we give;  but rather the love and friendship that we share with others at each.

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope you enjoy this music video by Mariah Carey.