Merry Christmas, Everybody

Things have been a bustle here at the Legacy home. I know they have been for you, too. We're cooking and baking and crafting and decorating and...{sigh}...but believe it or not, it's been a fun and peaceful season. I have refused to let things get me in a tizzy or to make me so busy that I don't recognize the beauty of the season we're in. Nutshell: no stress.

It's been good.

We had company over the Thanksgiving week, which was a blast. That was the first time I've had a houseful over the whole week. Dinner was both beautiful and tasty, and very low stress with the extra help I had in the kitchen.

DH had the lights on the bushes outside before they got here. After they left town, we got our Christmas decorations up, tree included, and the Christmas movies began...starting with "White Christmas." We have been enjoying a family Christmas movie, most of them from the Hallmark channel, almost every night since.

One of our faves has been "The Christmas Choir" shown on Hallmark.

"A workaholic accountant (Jason Gedrick) is inspired to start a choir at a homeless shelter, allowing him to rediscover the "miracle of music" and learning that everyone deserves a second chance." Taken from Hallmark Channel website

My favorite thing about it is that it is based on a true story. I love stories like that. Like most of the original movies from Hallmark, this movie is as moving and irresistible as any I've seen. The next airing I could find is on December 20, so set your calendar...or your Tivo.

Another Hallmark movie we've really enjoyed this year was one called "The Christmas Card."

"Moved by an anonymous Christmas card sent to the front lines of Afghanistan, lonely career militarist Captain Cody Cullen travels to the small town of Nevada City to meet the card's sender, Faith Spelman. Stars Ed Asner, John Newton, and Alice Evans." Hallmark Channel's website

No, I'm not being paid by Hallmark to post this. They don't even know I'm writing this. I just really have enjoyed their shows, and want to share the love, m'kay?

Today is December 16, and I've already finished my Christmas cards, AND I'll be finishing my Christmas gifts and cookies to mail by the end of this week. Please hear my heart here...I'm not bragging; I'm celebrating.

The last two Christmas seasons have been, for me, a complete blur.

It was all about a race against time...being behind on cards, behind on wrapping gifts, behind on making gifts...yada yada yada.

I read a book once entitled "Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas" by Sharon Jaynes. She has created an A to Z plan of ideas to incorporate into our Christmas season to be sure we and our families do not miss the "Reason for the Season." I want to share with you her idea for the letter "K". I finally grasped this concept this year, and my Holy-day experience has been completely different for it.

"K" is for kitchen jars. The kitchen jars are to be a reminder of where my focus needs to be. One jar is filled with large, fist-sized rocks, and the other is about three-fourths filled with sand. Here's what Ms. Jaynes says about the jars:

"I've discovered that I can pour all the sand into the rock jar, with the grains filling in nicely around the rocks. However, if I try to wedge the rocks into the jar three-fourths full of sand, the rocks won't fit. As the innkeeper said, 'There is no room.'

"In my life, the large rocks represent the things that God wants me to do: spend time with Him each day...love and support my husband, and nurture and care for my child(ren) with whom God has blessed me.

"The sand represents my to-do list, which is as endless as the sand grains: decorating, baking, running errands, etc. If I begin my day with the rocks, then all the sand will fit into place. But if I start my day with the sand, somehow the rocks never seem to fit in."

I've found the same is true in my life. Big rocks in first. Wanna join me?

Fireproof Movie -- Let's Show 'Em!

Several weeks ago, I posted about my opportunity to get a sneak preview of the movie Fireproof. If you didn't read that post, please go back and read my review (no spoilers, I promise).

I wanted to post a quick reminder that the movie opens today, Friday the 26th in theaters everywhere.

I mentioned in that post that there is a high importance for God's people to show our support of this movie in the first week it's out. If a movie doesn't do well in its first week, it will be taken out of the theaters.

Let's show Hollywood that the public wants to support movies with wholesome messages, clean storytelling, and *gasp* even Godly influence!

Fireproof

Some of our adult Sunday School classes got a sneak preview of the movie "Fireproof" Friday night.

OH.MY.WORD.
First of all, if you are planning to see this movie (and I pray you are), I will NOT SPOIL anything on this post...it's safe to keep reading.

But can I just tell you this is the best movie I've seen in a looooooooooong time!


This movie was created by the same group of Georgians who created Facing the Giants (another of my all-time favorite movies). Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea play the leads, Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Holt.

Since great things seem to always come in threes, I have three words:

Believable.
Relevant.
Adept.

Believable because the story line, the characters, and the situations of those characters are all things that any of us might see either in our own families or in others directly around us if we had the capability to peer into the private lives of those families.

Relevant because the issues that the Holt couple faces are those that are, sadly, so common in our day and time. Many different levels of issues are presented that almost any couple would be able to relate to in some degree. And the only true Remedy to those issues is presented in a delicate and beautiful way.

Adept because the cast, directors, and all those involved in setting this movie did a ridiculously professional job. Kirk and Erin (notice how I address the stars of this movie, as if I know them personally) each capture the heart and draw you in to this movie with such a distinct magnetism.

Over 450 people showed up for this sneak preview, and I'm sure that every one of us laughed out loud, cried inside (if not outwardly), held our breath a time or two, and applauded heartily when it was over.

Every couple who doesn't have Jesus actively involved in their marriage needs to see this movie. Every couple who plans to be married needs to see this movie. Every married couple in America needs to see this movie.

The Gospel is presented very clearly in the course of circumstances. So much so that our Sunday School director provided an invitation at the end of the movie for anyone who wanted to come to know the Lord and be saved...and at least two responded.

HERE'S THE THING: This movie opens in theaters on Friday, September 26. As with any movie, the first week of ticket sales determines whether or not that movie stays in theaters. It is urgent that all who wish to see this movie see it the first week to ensure that it stays in the theaters as long as possible! This movie has the potential of greatly impacting not only families in our nation, but individual souls for eternity as well.

We really showed Hollywood that we would love and support a movie like "Facing the Giants" with its clean fun, godly message, and Biblical standards. "Fireproof" has all that and more.

I strongly encourage you to consider who you could invite to see this movie with you. We already have two couples in mind: one lined up to see it with them on opening night, and another couple we will present tickets to on opening week. Make a double date out of it! Dinner, movie, coffee and dessert afterwards. It could change your marriage...and your life.

September 26. Say "I do" to Fireproof.