Tell Me A Story: Christmas Letters

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

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It's that time of year for

Christmas cards,

Christmas photos,

Christmas letters,

Christmas emails,

and facebook posts.

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LORD, help me keep it real.

Perfect people with perfect families

and perfect posts and letters are so irritating.

Nobody likes a show-off especially at Christmas.

As I prepare my own greetings to friends and family.

may my boasting acknowledge your favor in every victory,

and your abiding presence and comfort in each sorrow.

Sprinkle my words with humor.

May everything I say and do be pleasing to you,

and bring JOY to my family and friends.

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CLICK on image to ENLARGE. Christmas Letter 2009

Church Mice: Faith, Megan Sarah.

Broadcast News is one of my favorite movies. It's a romantic comedy/drama (1987) featuring the lives of three characters who work in television news. Holly Hunter plays the part of Jane Craig, a smart producer who has almost daily emotional breakdowns.

Broadcast News is filled with hilarious quotes. Here's one of my all-time favorites:

Tom Grunick (charismatic but intellectually limited anchor played by William Hurt) says to co-worker: "What do you do when your real life exceeds your dreams?"

Co-worker, Aaron Altman, (intelligent but prickly reporter played by Albert Brooks) replies: "Keep it to yourself."

Dear God,

Help me keep it real..in my speaking and my facebook posts and Christmas letters...so that my life will reflect your humility, love and wisdom.

Thank you for the gift of laughter.

In Jesus' Precious Name,

Amen

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THE MESSAGE BIBLE

Sometimes our humble hearts

can help us more than our proud minds.

1 Corinthians 8:2

Such things sound impressive

if said in a deep enough voice.

they even give the illusion

of being pious and humble and ascetic.

But they're just another way of showing off,

making yourselves look important.

Colossians 2:23

And what He gives in love is far better

than anything else you'll find.

It's common knowledge that

"God goes against the willful proud;

God gives grace to the willing humble."

James 4:6

Summing up:

Be agreeable,

be sympathetic,

be loving,

be compassionate,

be humble.

1 Peter 3:8

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LINK: http://www.americangothichouse.net/

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LINK: http://www.americangothichouse.net/

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LINK: http://www.americangothichouse.net/

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend.

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

CLICK on image to ENLARGE.

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

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JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS 2013

What's your favorite Christmas tradition?

Do you send Christmas cards either through snail mail - or email greetings and facebook postings?

I do all three, and not just because I'm a first-born-overachiever.

It's my heart's desire to reach out to as many people as possible with the Good News that God sent us a Savior.

What do you talk about in your Christmas letter?

Vacations?

Awards?

Promotions?

Problems?

Probably not.

Some people are lonely during the holidays. Some are overcome with sadness because of health struggles, family problems, job issues and loss of loved ones.

No one is immune.

We all need prayer,

and tangible demonstrations

of love and support.

Each year I create our family Christmas cards with family photos, my songs, and messages of what God has whispered to me throughout that year.

I love to give and receive Christmas cards.

Christmas Eve our family spreads the cards we have received on the floor under the Christmas tree.

We take turns reading each card aloud.

Some years this has taken one hour!

It's like all those who send cards and photos are with us on Christmas Eve.

JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS 2011. Editor: Marcia Norwood

Then we read or recite the Christmas Story, from The Holy Bible:
Luke, Chapter 2,
and finally we open gifts.

We celebrate the FUN Christmas (Santa Claus, Gift-giving, Elves, Snowmen, etc.) and the REAL Christmas: Jesus' Birthday.

Christmas 2007: Grandson Joshua's Baptism at Lake of the Ozarks. Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood Note: Pastor Joey (in this photo) went to Heaven this week. He'll spend Christmas 2013 in Heaven with Jesus.

Do you take family photos as a keepsake or for your holiday cards?

I make my children and grandchildren dress up in matching/coordinating outfits and pose for our Annual Family Photo Shoot. Sometimes - they even have fun!

Here are samples of our family photos that might inspire you to take some of your own photos, or confirm your convictions not to.

Christmas 2013

Theme: "What Does the Fox Say?"

Have you heard the song, "What Does the Fox Say?"

Did you see the stars dance to the song

on "Dancing With the Stars?"

I purchased berets and scarves

for a French "Joyeux Noel" photo shoot -

but my girls rejected that idea.

We compromised on the FOX theme.

Dancing With the STARS: "What Does the Fox Say?"

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http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KIo.CKN5FS3RgA9w77w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTByZWc0dGJtBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMQ--?p=dancing+with+the+stars+what+did+the+fox+say&vid=7f6fefe4e854130877f497f888334621&l=2%3A44&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4554629370806797%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5UZWPwzyWbM&tit=What+Does+The+Fox+Say+-+Dancing+With+The+Stars&c=0&sigr=11at7r6hc&sigt=11e5fqki2&pstcat=arts+culture+and+entertainment&age=0&&tt=b

Christmas 2012

Theme: "The Church Mouse"

According to the narration in the "Silent Mouse", the true story of the famous Christmas carol "Silent Night Holy Night" started in a little town in Austria where a chain of strange events happened on Christmas Eve. According to the story this carol was miraculously created by a poor church mouse when it walked over a blanked music sheet and its little paws imprinted their marks on the paper, thus the carol "Silent Night, Holy Night" was composed.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdcdXWBHJi4