Special Trees for Christmas

Samara’s Christmas Tree
by Katie Lewis
Noonday Collection played a huge role in helping bring Samara home. When we decided to adopt, I became a Noonday Collection ambassador to help cover adoption expenses. Noonday Collection, a fair-trade company that brings handmade goods from artisans around the world to American customers, actually started as an adoption fundraiser. Over the past ten years, many ambassadors have joined for the same reason — to help fund their adoption journeys. 

Throughout our adoption process, many of our friends and family hosted fundraisers through Noonday Collection to support us. Among the beautiful items in their winter line are holiday ornaments crafted by artisans in places like India, Thailand, Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico.
For Samara’s first Christmas, I decided to put a tree in her room and decorate it with these meaningful ornaments. This tree symbolizes the joy she brings to our family and the love shown to us by so many during our adoption journey. Recently, we added ornaments made by our friend Betty Kinchen, using fabric from Noonday jewelry bags left over from a quilt she made for us.

Each year, decorating this tree with Samara is a precious tradition, allowing us to share the story of its significance with her.

The Jesse Tree
by Charise Wilson

Each Christmas, during Advent, we read stories from The Storybook Bible, starting with creation and continuing to the birth of Christ. After each reading, we add an ornament to our Jesse Tree that corresponds to the day’s Bible story.

Timed Memories

‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you . . .’” Says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

On a recent trip to visit our grandchildren and to keep them for an over-nighter for their parents, it was my assignment to check homework and sign worksheets for the day’s work just completed. When I was handed a neat page of addition – rows of them – it catapulted me into my childhood. It screamed: SPEED DRILL!

The memories flooded over me with the same nauseating sensation. I could hear my fourth grade teacher’s voice:  “When I say go, turn over your math sheet and begin.” My hands grew sweaty as I reached for my yellow pencil. The winding of her timer meant there was no time to run and no place to hide. I wanted to tell her that I hated speed drills – that I considered them torture, but we couldn’t speak during tests. I wanted to raise my hand to go to the restroom, but you couldn’t leave your seat during speed drills. I wanted my mother or . . . a power outage . . or a tsunami! Where were those desk-shaking earthquakes when you needed them?

The timer was in place, and the sound of the guillotine crashed on my head. I grabbed my pencil and attacked the first row. Some were easy, but some required fingers. As I descended the rows, I needed fingers AND toes. Surely the timer had to be about to ring, but I wasn’t finished! But at least its ring meant that I could breathe and my heart would stop pounding – that is, until we exchanged papers and began checking our answers. The dreaded check marks could ruin the remainder of my day. Why couldn’t we check the ones we got right or circle the rows of correct answers?

I didn’t realize it them, but the speed drills and tests were just the beginning of life’s cycle of testing and sorting and grouping. Mankind has always found a way to “grade” whether by appearance, clothing labels, income, family tree, or any of an infinite number of classifications.

That’s why my discovery of God’s grace left me dumbfounded. One wonderful day I realized that there’s nothing I would ever do or not do that would make Him love me any more or any less. “But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.”Psalm 103:17.  A steadfast love – an everlasting love – what a love! He loves ME; He told me so – check marks or no check marks. 

Wonderful, Merciful Father, thank you seems much too small an expression for Your love to me. You see me, not as I am, but as I am to become. How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!! Amen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Camille Anding is a child of God since age 12.
• Wife of 53 years to Othel; mother to Tahya and Eli;l grandmother to seven grandchildren and two great-grands.
• Retired from photography business with Othel. Now carry cameras on their travel adventures.
• Freelance writer, regular contributor to Hometown magazines, and dedicated to living “my utmost for His highest.”

Remembering Cathy Jeffcoats

Dear First Baptist Jackson Family,

Last night our friend Cathy Jeffcoats won the race and entered Heaven. We will miss her smile, her laugh, her friendship, and her enthusiasm for sharing God’s love with everyone, but rejoice knowing that she is healed and in the arms of Jesus whom she loved so dearly.

Please continue to remember Pat, Christy, Amanda, and their families in your prayers in the days to come.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Arrangements:
Visitation: Friday, July 20, 5:00-8:00 p.m., First Baptist Jackson Sanctuary
Service: Saturday, July 21, Noon, First Baptist Jackson Sanctuary