Many years ago Randy and I decided to find a way to further embarrass our kids and came up with a phone recording (back in the day when we had phone recorders) that went something like this: “Hi you’ve reached Frosty and Noel. We aren’t home right now. Frosty’s at the mall and I’m baking cookies, when he gets home we’ll give you a call.” the kids use to call our house and tell us not to answer the phone so they could show their friends how weird we were! So we have been Frosty and Noel for probably 25 plus years to friends and family. Our Christmas cards were even Signed like that and most of the cards we received were addressed to Frosty & Noel. We have carried a sign from house to house that we had made.

Forward to today and David Jeremiah has been writing devotions for the December weekends that centers on the word NOEL.

His first Dec weekend stated that the N should stand for “giving to the needy” The O stood for opening up your home to others. Todays was the E which stood for evangelize, and that we should take every possible opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ birth and what it meant for us! Can’t wait to read what the L will stand for. It was just this morning that it downed on me that because the Word was such a special word to me that it will be an easy way to remember all year through what I should be doing. Admitting that the N and the O come easy to me (giving and opening my home ) but not so much the E…..why is it that something that means so much to us as Christians; the gift of Jesus and that He has forgiven all our sins when we trust in Him and promised us eternal life, why do we not get excited and burdened to share with others that great gift more than we do? I don’t have a good answer other than maybe we don’t want to make others feel awkward or maybe we feel “oh they won’t listen to what I want to tell them” or maybe we feel inadequate knowing that they might have know us before we accepted Christ and we are afraid they will think “oh I knew them when”! Whatever the reason, may 2025 be the year we quit being afraid to share The Gospel and allow God to use us for the reason he leaves us here! Maybe this year NOEL (Trudy) will remember, not just in December, what her name means, but to use it to share what Christ has done for me and…

Romans 1:15-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

December 1st and “the most wonderful time of the year” is here once again! December came so quickly as it does every year! As we sit at our table every morning looking back and forth between seeing the beautiful blue skies, so many trees that line the street below us and the many Christmas themed decorations that we carry from house to house through the years, we want to hold on to the memories of some of the special pieces that adorn our new place that we so appreciate the Lord giving to us. Some of the pillows that lean on the couch were made by my mom! Some of the Santa’s were special to my dad and for that reason they are now special to me. One of my favorite things is a manger Randys mom passed on to us! It was Randys when he was a young boy and every year when I unwrap the small pieces that are a part of the manger, I can’t help but wonder what Randy was like as a little boy and did he have that mischievous streak then that he has even to this day! If you have read any of the blog stories in Chocolatecastles.com, you know what I’m talking about.

As I have walked past several pieces given to us from dear friends, it is so great to just think of each and the year that we received the gift. So many precious friends who have been so special to both Randy and I. Yes, we have moved A LOT and have had many different houses in many different parts of Dallas, CA and AZ! But the memories and special items we always carry with us has helped us feel at home quickly no matter where we lived. Just like certain taste make us remember certain special events or people, special items can also contribute to times we want to always remember! When I was a young mom and wife, I remember thinking that it would be so great to have money to just go out and buy beautiful Christmas decorations instead of having to use the “old stuff” my mom had passed on to me. Now, I’d give anything to have some of that “old stuff” that was given away to make room for new decorations! Why does it take most of us (I hope I’m not the only one who it took years to appreciate family pieces more than just more Hobby Lobby items added to the collection). Don’t get me wrong. I love HL but I love the old pieces more, the older I get!

Maybe this year as we walk past pieces that may not look like they fit in with the latest trend of decorations, think of the giver when you hold or look at a certain piece! If the giver is still living, offer a prayer for them and ask the Lord to bless them this Christmas season! Drop them a note to express how much they mean to you! Gifts of love and thankfulness to others should be at the top of our Gift giving list! Not only to others but to the Greatest gift giver ever…The Lord God who gave His son for us that we might allow Him to become our Savior.

Not only at Christmas, but all through the year….give thanks with a grateful heart!

They are a prized possession I have so enjoyed every year since then.