He is Greater.....John 3:30 says He must become greater, I must become less"

 I started packing away the Christmas decorations today.  Anybody else?  Because I singularly take them out and set them up on whichever day I decide as the holiday begins (after Thanksgiving at my house)....it is also up to me to decide when to take them down.  I have never waited long enough for the people in my family to wonder out loud why they are still up.  Typically it happens around New Years holiday.  So I started today but I always pack them away in a certain order.  First I pack away everything that looks like Santa/Christmas tree/ stockings/ Merry Christmas.  We have a fresh tree from the tree farm so I leave that up and decorated as long as possible.....something about the twinkly lights is so lovely when it is dark for more that 12 hours a day.  Most years our city garbage service will pick them up the week after Christmas but Roger read somewhere they aren't doing that anymore so I may just leave it up until it starts to look dead and then throw it in the back yard t

 I was in my car a lot today, first for work and later driving Precious to and from Sioux Falls for volleyball.  Several times the radio station told me there are only 6 days until Christmas.  That is both fun and stressful is it not?  I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends and worshipping the Savior, turning my face to Him to remember what all the hullabaloo is for....it's for Jesus, not for us or for our kids.  The classic song Oh Come All ye Faithful tells us to come, let us adore Him...adore is a big word.  Adore means to worship, love greatly, honor highly and idolize...and to like very much...and to love with one's entire heart and soul, to regard with deep respect and affection... If I am to come and adore Jesus, I can't just passively wrap some gifts and bake some cookies....I can't even just show up for all the concerts and programs and parties....adore is a verb.  It requires action.  It demands intention and effort.  I find myself in th

 There is a mantra familiar to those who move in the circles of mental health.  It goes like this..... I can do hard things.   You say it over and over again and if you've had some therapy maybe you cross your arms over your chest and pat yourself rhythmically while you say, "I can do hard things". I find myself reciting it tonight....not because I am facing a giant of adversity, or a scary prospect....mostly just because I had a busy night caring for my family and it involved driving at night.  I don't like to drive at night.  Other people don't dim their bright lights anymore....and it is stressful....I have a rather short night and then have to get up early tomorrow and get kids up early and then go and give a presentation to some college kids first thing in the morning.  I need to act like I know what I am doing (which I do) and present well....but they are coming to "class" and I am not a teacher.  I am a nurse.  I can do hard things.   My daughter