Karla's Korner

A New Year... A New Beginning

Here I sit at the airport with about one and a half hours before I board… first to Dallas and then onto St. Louis where my sweet niece-in-love, Melissa, will pick me up for the drive to Quincy... the town I grew up in.  I am blessed to be able to make this journey as my nephew Matt so graciously provided the tickets with his air miles… otherwise I would not be able to be there to celebrate my sister Margie’s, 60th birthday on January 1st.

With the New Year beginning in only two days, I can’t help but consider what adventures 2008 will hold. One thing that is certain is that Michael and I have decided to sell our house! I know... it was a painful decision... but I'll talk more about that later. We will hopefully have it ready to put on the market around March 1st. We are considering several options… a smaller house, a motor home or maybe even a fifth wheel. I know to some folks that might think that seems absurd but Michael and I have always been known to take the road less traveled and we’re feeling the itch to do it again.  I’ll keep you posted as this adventure continues to unfold.

Another known adventure for this coming year is refining my focus on speaking. I have finally decided to quit arguing with God and fully surrender to this call on my life. He opened opportunities this last fall that spoke deeply to my soul, including giving the Sunday morning message at my church with response that could not have happened apart from God’s anointing. So I will spend January completing my Speakers Packet and Video as well as listing my contact information with organizations I am already associated with... as well as pursuing listings with others. As you know... many of God’s promises are provisional… throughout the Bible we see where God says “you do this and then I’ll do that”… and I believe He has said if I will step out in faith and do my part in this, He will do His by opening the perfect opportunities for me to proclaim His heart to today’s woman.

I have a few other irons in the fire but I am learning that I cannot multi-task like I used to so I need to continue to seek the Lord to know which irons I need to leave in the fire and which ones to let go of!

One thing is for sure… there is no such thing as boredom with God as our Way, Truth and Life!  May we all be encouraged to seek God day by day as the new year begins…to learn to walk by faith and not by sight… trusting in a God who loves us more deeply than we can even begin to comprehend.

Lots of Catching Up to Do!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Like many of you... I got caught up in the blessing and busyness of the season and that's my only excuse for being out of touch for soooo long... but a good excuse I'm sure you'd agree!  The last few weeks have been full of family and friend gatherings, decorating and now undecorating, finishing up end of the year speaking and business stuff and dreaming, planning and preparing for the new year to come!

Here are some photos from the past few weeks... welcome to my world!

For those of you who have heard my tinsel story... this is my sweet hubby helping me decorate by placing the star on top of our beautiful tree!

This is the first time in many years that I did not place the fun and family ornaments on the tree. I had a desire for simple so only used red and white with a touch of silver. I love the candlestick lights and the berries add a touch of fun and elegance.

I couldn't stand not having any family ornaments out though... so I decorated a small tree and had it on the island in the kitchen... it was the perfect place for it as everyone who hovered around the food throughout the season also enjoyed looking at some very old and very handmade family ornaments!

After just a little bit... I began to miss my snowpeople so I took inspiration from my daughter Michelle and attached all my wonderful snowpeople to a wreath and I LOVE it!!  It is so festive and fun!

 This year I hosted an ornament party to celebrate the women God has blessed my life with. As expected this time of year, not all of them could come... but for those who came...we had a blast. We played a game "Name That Christmas Carol" and I surprised them by having them stand up every few songs according to the stars on their name tags and sing the carol whose name we just guessed. They were awesome!!

We are so grateful that we live so close to Michelle and Gary and the girls and even more blessed that they invite us over early every Christmas morning to be a part of their family Christmas. It is so much fun to watch the girls open their gifts and love on one another! Lex bought this doll for Jess and it was the only doll she got... she was thrilled with it!

Then it was back to our house for the family gathering. This is Mike's sister Cindy with the girls and one of the beautiful quilts she made... one for each of the girls! She is amazing! She and her husband Kerry and their daughter Monica were here along with his other sister Debbie, below, with her friend Lyle. They drove down from Hood River about 80 miles... we were so glad to have them!

I leave early tomorrow morning to fly back to Illinois to celebrate my sister Margie's 60th birthday. I'll try to fit in a few minutes to blog and keep in touch while I'm there... we can only wait and see!

Thank you to all of you who continued to check back while I was away... you bless my heart. I believe God has great things in store for us all in the coming year ahead. I look forward to sharing some of where He's taking me as we journey into 2008 together!

Heavenly Father,
The photos show the celebration of the blessings you've given me here on earth but they don't show the celebration of my heart for the greatest blessing of all... and that would be Jesus! Thank You for the opportunities you give us during this season and all year long to proclaim your Name and the reality that You did come to earth and walked among us so we could know You... and that You died on the cross so we could have relationship with You... and You rose from the dead so we could be born again and live with You into eternity! Thank You God for the Gift of Jesus!

Sweet Shopping Success!

My speaking season has come to a close for this year and I've closed the door to my webstore until after the first of the year so now it's time to rest and play and celebrate the Reason for Season! And that's just what I did yesterday!  The highlight of the day was taking Jessica Christmas shopping. Her list was only four names long but including time out for dinner, it still took us five hours!  Okay... I did a little shopping of my own and she did have to take time to try on the cutest pj's ever with little skier monkeys on them which were so fitting!  We had to buy them of course. Our time together was delightful... and successful!!  We managed to get the perfect gifts for everyone on her list! And at the end of the day we were both tired but filled with happy memories.

Another highlight was the music that filled the air!  Did you realize that this is the only time of year you can hear the Name of Jesus sung over the PA systems in public places?  Not everywhere you go but some stores still include traditional Christmas carols and even it's just music with no words... we still know the words and it can lift our hearts and remind us of the Reason for the Season and why we're even out there shopping! It's an awesome feeling when you pause long enough to listen to the background noise and discover that they're singing "Joy to the World the Lord has Come" or "Away in the Manger".

The angel said to them... "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

Heavenly Father... sometimes we lose our focus and our joy in the midst of the busyness of this season and we're asking You today to guard our thoughts and hearts... to use the sights and symbolism of the season to remind us of the good news of our Saviors birth and the great joy that is ours in celebrating His birth into this world and in our hearts! Amen.

Announcing November's Contest Winner... and Catching Up on the Week!

I can hardly believe it's already December 14!  I have had a phenomenal season so far... very full but very blessed. The highlights of this week (and why I haven't been able to post again) included speaking for the Hinson Baptist MOPS in Portland on Tuesday and then for the Laurelwood Baptist MOPS in Vancouver just yesterday. Both groups were awesome... and we were mutually encouraged... encouraged to keep Jesus as the center of all their Christmas activities. And we all need that reminder, don't we?

Sandwiched between these two events was Wednesday and I had so much fun spending the day with my twelve year old granddaughter Alexis!  She is going to an all night Christmas Costume Party at church and we worked together to make a gingerbread man costume for her to wear. We had such a great time together and, even though I didn't have a clue what I was doing, the costume actually turned out quite cute.

Today I'm off to help my daughter with a project she's working on but I told her I have to be done with her by 3:00 because my younger granddaughter, who is seven, called me last night and asked me if I could pick her up from school and take her Christmas shopping. Now how can I pass that up? So I'm meeting her at the flag pole at 3:15 and we're going to go have a fun time together!

So now... the moment we've all been waiting for... including myself... the winners of last months contest is... by a random draw... Jen Jahromi from North of Baltimore!  Congratulations!!  Yippee!!  Yeah!  I love contests and love picking winners!!  Jen, you are the winner!  I decided to have two winners for this contest since it's too late to do a new contest for December so the second winner of last months contest is... Kasie and I'm not sure where she lives but what is fascinating is that both of these gals are artists! Take a minute to go check them out... they both love God and love glorifying Him with their art!  Please email me with your addresses and I will send you each a Thanksgiving/Christmas Package on Monday filled with goodies from my heart and home to yours!

Well... gotta run... full day ahead!  But as you and I are busy with Christmas and the business of everyday life... I simply pray...

Heavenly Father... may the words of our lips and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing... and glorifying... to You!  Fill our mouths with praises to You... and with words of blessing to all those who cross our paths... our families, friends and even the strangers we encounter on the roads and in the stores as we go about our Christmas business!  Praise you Jesus!

Grasping for Grace!

I think time flies faster during the holiday season then any other time of the year... wouldn't you agree?  And for me... with speaking at Christmas events, having my studio sale last weekend and trying to stay on top of increased holiday shopping on my webstore... I think time flapped its winsome wings and flew away!

I'm not complaining though... I love this season and almost everything about it... especially the increased opportunities I have to share Christ and the joy of Christmas everywhere I go!  My Christmas message this year is about looking in all the wrong places for Christmas joy, when the joy we seek the most... during the holidays and all year long...  is found only in Christ Jesus.  And the joy He gives us lasts long after the tree comes down and the cookies are all eaten.  I pray for you to have this joy throughout the rest of the Christmas season... but it's yours only by keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the Reason for the Season... taking the time to worship and adore Him!

Also... I was SO BLESSED by all of you who listed your Thanksgiving lists and can only ask for grace as I know you are still waiting to know who won! I have been going almost non-stop for over two weeks now and have only a moment tonight to share and then I'm off in the morning to Pendleton, OR to speak for a Christmas Tea there... adorned with over 200 wonderful women!  So... my priority on Monday is to catch up on all the Thanksgiving postings and choose the winner... maybe even two!  You guys are awesome!

Okay... I have so many things I want to share with you and catch up on... please don't give up on me yet!  I'll be back!

Christmas blessings and hugs to you all!

Joy to the world the Lord has come!

Heavenly Father... thank you for filling the stores this time of year with Christmas carols that proclaim the Name of Jesus to the world and declare the tidings of comfort and joy you came to give us all through your Son.  Fill us with joy Lord that we might stand out as lights in the darkness this holiday season... shining brightly for you!  Bless you Lord.