The Life of Mrs. Miles

Ruby Christmas Kit
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I am going to be taking some time away from the computer over the holidays - time to be with my husband and family. I want to thank you, all my blog-family, for your friendship and encouragement over this past year. I want to thank you for taking an interest in my life, and allowing God to use my blog to share with you. I never dreamed of where He would lead me today. I've grown so close to many of you! Thank you for the many gifts you've given ME - your many kind comments and just being there for me. Thank you most of all for keeping me accountable.

Thank you to Gail and Kevin for 'holding down the fort' for us during the next little while.

Speaking about gifts, I was reading a bit about the gifts which were brought to baby Jesus when he was born - Gold I readily understand, but was not quite sure on Frankincense and Myrrh. Turns out they are both resinous gums, which ooze out which ooze out from shrub-like trees in the Near East and the Mediterranean. Oils are then extracted from the gum - and the purest oils are extracted using steam distillation.

As a gift for Jesus, Frankincense was included because it symbolized his priesthood, his stature as a spiritual leader and teacher. Myrrh was given as a gift to Jesus as a symbol that he was born to die. Myrrh is so very antibacterial it was often used for embalming the dead as well as being burned at funerals to honor the dead.

I must get on with my gift wrapping etc, but I want to leave you with the following thoughts.

List of Priceless Gifts to Give:

To your enemy - forgiveness;
To your opponent - tolerence;
To your friends - your heart;
To your child - a good example;
To your father - deference;
To your mother - conduct that will make her proud;
To yourself - respect;
To all men - charity.


Be thankful -

for the friends who have forgiven you,
for the enemies who keep you cautious,
for the difficulties which make you struggle,
for the emergencies which make you think,
for the hardships which make you strong,
for the disappointments which make you try harder.

Bonus: Digitally Hand-Painted Festive Winter Lamp
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Have a safe and wonderful holiday and I will check back in sometime AFTER my family has the best of my time... but before New Years!

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