A Few Holiday Happenings

I haven't intended to not blog as much lately because this blog has turned into my journal through motherhood and I have tried to document it well, but my real life has required alot of me lately. I thought John Piper said it well in his recent tweet: There is a blessed neglect. "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

We all know the story, but I have tried this busy holiday season to be a Mary. 

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

    “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

Blessed neglect to me is really having fun with the kids, spending quality time with friends and family, truly NOT stressing about doing it all, and spending time in the word & in the Valley of Vision.

 Our church did an amazing sermon series from The Valley of Vision. If you have never heard of The Valley of Vision, here is one of the prayers:

The Gift of Gifts

O Source of all Good,
What shall I render to Thee for the gift of gifts,
Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
my Redeemer, Proxy, Surety, Substitute,
His self-emptying incomprehensible,
His infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders:
He came below to raise me above,
He was born like me that I might become like Him.

Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to Him He draws near on wings of grace,
to raise me to Himself.

Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
He united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created.

Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to Him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
He came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
and enlarge my mind;
let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father,
place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
and in Him account myself delivered from sin;
let me with Simeon clasp the new-born Child to my heart,
embrace Him with undying faith,
exulting that He is mine and I am His.

In Him Thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more.


Arthur Bennett, ed. Valley of Vision (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 16.

Despite trying to have "blessed neglect" there have been some fun holiday happenings around the Mezger household.

Luke and Joel headed to the Kidstuff Christmas Party. They were just wearing these sweaters for fun (it was not a tacky Christmas sweater party). I actually wore the sweater on the left to a 5th or 6th grade Christmas dance back in the day. I hope I didn't think I looked "cool"!?!

 Preschool Christmas party. Christmas cookie decorating #1.

Christmas Cookie Decorating #2.

Our old small group had a cookie decorating competition (thanks Daniel) and Luke took home the Best in Show, Manliest Cookie, and Most Original with this ankle high Hanes with leg hair cookie.

Mezger Homes had it's first Christmas Dinner.

 A good excuse for Luke, Blair, and I to get all dressed up!

We have also enjoyed our oranament Advent tree with Bailey! I am going to see if I can get a video of her telling the Christmas story.

And we are looking forward to a Tackett Christmas, the possibility of snow, cookie decorating event #3- baby Jesus fetus, and Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes with the other Mezgers at Frannys.