Scripture and a Snapshot - Created For Good Works

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace though faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift ― not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

~Ephesians 2:4-10~

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WQ - Holiday Traditions

The holiday season is full of traditions ― Advent traditions, Christmas traditions, Hanukkah traditions, New Years traditions . . . and many of the traditions are beloved even if we don't quite remember the reasons they started. Sometimes knowing the origin of a tradition can make it even more meaningful, although I suppose there are times when it might make us wonder why we're still practicing that tradition!

Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends. ~Margaret Thatcher 

For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home. ~William Jewett Tucker

The tradition of decorating a tree for Christmas goes back to Germany sometime in the Middle Ages and the tradition came to America along with European settlers in the 19th century. Nowadays families have different traditions around when and how the tree is decorated. Many decorate at Thanksgiving (some even earlier!), while others decorate at the beginning of December, or at any time leading up to Christmas Day. Likewise there's a difference of opinion when the tree and decorations should be put away. Some folks pack it all up on December 26th, and it seems like most people are done with it by New Years. A few leave the tree and other decorations up until Epiphany on January 6th. That's because the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and end on Epiphany, which is the day we remember the wise men visiting the Christ Child.

The magi, as you know, were wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. ~O. Henry 

My family is in the camp that sets up the tree at Thanksgiving time, and we leave it up until Epiphany. 

Christmas is a box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family. ~Charles M. Schulz

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Bill Vaughan

I love hearing and singing traditional Christmas carols as well as modern holiday music.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

One thing I love about Christmas music is that it has a tradition of warmth. ~Zooey Deschanel

I'm sharing this on December 26th, Boxing Day, a traditional holiday that goes back to a custom in 17th century England of Christmas-boxes given to tradespeople as a gratuity for services rendered during the year. And that custom comes from an earlier tradition of household servants being given the day after Christmas to spend with their families, and employers would also give them a box of gifts, money, and food. During the Middle Ages, the Alms Boxes in churches were opened so priests could distribute the donations to the poor on the Feast of St Stephen, which just happens to be December 26th. Which tells you a little about why Good King Wenceslas was out tramping through the snow on that Feast Day.

There's a lot of gift-giving traditions throughout the Christmas season, isn't there? There are even different traditions about WHEN to open gifts. When I was growing up, we often opened gifts late on Christmas Eve which seems to be associated with German tradition. But most families open gifts on Christmas morning, and that's what we started doing once we had kids. There have been some years when we opened gifts on Christmas Eve because some family members were celebrating on Christmas Day with their signicant other family. No matter when we open gifts, our family has developed a goofy tradition to end the gift-giving part of our holiday celebration. After all the gifts are opened, we wad up the scraps of wrapping paper and have a paper (snow)ball war!

It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul. ~Caroline Kennedy

We're often in the middle of making new traditions, whether we realize it or not. Simple repeated actions that remind us of truth, shared values, or special memories can become traditions that are meaningful. 

We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Traditions are a gift. The gift of family identity and harmony. The gift of being connected to our heritage. The gift of continuing the best of that heritage. The gift of spiritual and family values. The gift of shared memories. ~Me, from The Gift of Traditions at Homeschool Coffee Break

And for more about the traditional roots of Boxing Day, see my Homeschool Coffee Break post: Happy Boxing Day!

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This post is linked at Wednesday Quotes co-hosted by Sadje at Keep It Alive and Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee. Visit the current post WQ - Traditions to find the linky and join us, to see the other posts, and to find the first theme for WQ in 2025.

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 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

 This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

WQ - Traditions

Merry Christmas!

Because Wednesday Quotes falls on Christmas Day, I am providing a couple of quotes and the linky today and will share and link another post later in the week. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday, whichever one you celebrate! May good gifts, loving company, and warm memories be yours today.

Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends. ~Margaret Thatcher

The magi, as you know, were wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. ~O. Henry

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

~Luke 2:10-14~

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Wednesday Quotes is a bi-weekly opportunity for bloggers to share their writing, poetry, photos, or stories inspired by our theme. We've chosen the themes as a starting point for your creativity, and the only requirement is that your post include at least one related quote. Feel free to combine or "double-dip" with other writing or photo challenges as well. Of course, we'd appreciate a link back to us, if you'd be so kind. Add your link and please visit others and leave a comment! The link is open for two weeks.

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Wednesday Quotes 2024 Themes

October 2 - Kindness

October 16 - Harvest

October 30 - Superstitions

November 13 - Confidence

November 27 - Helping Hands

December 11 - Natural Beauty

December 25 - Traditions

Wednesday Quotes 2025 Themes

January 8 - Planning Ahead

Watch for more information about upcoming themes for Wednesday Quotes next time! The next Wednesday Quotes link-up will be on January 8th, and the theme will be Planning Ahead.

Thanks to Marsha at Always Write for introducing us to the Wednesday Quotes challenge, and for passing the hosting duties along so we can continue sharing great quotes! Wednesday Quotes is co-hosted by Sadje at Keep It Alive and Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee. 

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 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Twenty-Six Lists - Holiday Movies and Music

Welcome to Twenty-Six Lists! I hope you'll join me in this simple link-up, where I share a writing prompt for some kind of list, and invite you to share what's on your list. Your list can be very simple or include lots of explanation; short or long; a bullet point list or essay style. Interpret the list prompts however you like, depending on how much time you have to spend, and how much background you'd like to share. 

For this final list in the series, please share your favorite moview and music for the holiday season!

Holiday Movies and Music

My must-see holiday movies include:

It's a Wonderful Life - probably my all-time favorite Christmas movie! The story is just so good and it's full of loveable characters and quotable lines. I wrote an article about it for my homeschool blog a few years ago: It's A Wonderful Story

White Christmas - very close second, if we're keeping score. I love the music and dancing, and the scene where Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye do the "Sisters" song is just the best. Again, loveable characters, fun shenanigans, and nothing matches the elegance of performance from this era.

A Christmas Carol - Our favorite version is the one with Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. We watch it every year, either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I also enjoy some of the retellings, such as An American Christmas Carol starring Henry Winkler, and Scrooged with Bill Murray. 

The Santa Clause (along with the sequels, and the series) - We love this entertaining take on Santa's magic and how he is still in business after so many generations. It's family oriented and so funny, making it an annual movie night during the holidays.

Elf - This became a favorite for the funny lines and for being just downright silly. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - The ridiculous characters and antics have made this a comedy classic for the holidays, and we watch it - and quote it! - every year.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The Dr Seuss original animated special is the only Grinch movie we need. We've seen the Jim Carrey one but the original animated show is still the superior version. 

All the animated specials from back in the day, and other movies like The Polar Express and Four Christmases make it into our rotation regularly as well.

Now music . . . this is a lot harder to narrow down because I love all the traditional Christmas carols and almost all the "classic" holiday songs; and I find it hard to say which is my favorite version or artist rendition of a song that may have been done by dozens of recording artists. How about I list a few favorite Christmas albums . . .

Favorite Christmas albums:

Trans Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve

Trans Siberian Orchestra - The Christmas Attic

Trans Siberian Orchestra - Ghosts of Christmas Eve

Trans Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories

Amy Grant - A Christmas Album

Amy Grant - Home for Christmas

Amy Grant - A Christmas To Remember

David Crowder Band - Oh For Joy

I could keep listing these forever and I truly don't have time! 

What are your favorite holiday movies and songs? Please share.

This final link-up is open for two weeks, and I thank you so much for joining me over the past year! 

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This concludes the 2024 Edition of Twenty-Six Lists on A Fresh Cup of Coffee! If you're curious, the year started here: Twenty-Six Lists - Accomplishments and Goals. I don't plan to do the Twenty-Six Lists link-up in 2025, but maybe sometime down the road I'll bring it back. Thanks to everyone that has read, commented, and linked up at some point during the year.

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 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. 

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Scripture and a Snapshot - This Is Love (Advent IV)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.

~Luke 1:26-35, 38~

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

~I John 4:7-12~

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

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I also link up at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Grace-Filled Moments

With Christmas and Hanukkah just a few days away, many of us will be changing up our blogging schedule as we celebrate the holidays. I plan to have the final Twenty-Six Lists link-up of the year scheduled for Tuesday, December 24th, and the Wednesday Quotes link-up scheduled for Wednesday, December 25th. The theme for WQ this time is "Traditions". If you plan to participate in either or both of those (and I hope you will!), the link parties remain open for two weeks so you have lots of time!

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©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

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Monthly Musings: Getting Ready for the Holidays

Holly at Pink Lady and Patty at Good Better Best co-host this monthly sharing of tips, tricks, and conversation starters. We're nearing the very busiest part of the holiday season, and the questions we're considering are all about the last minute holiday tips and getting ready for a New Year.

1. What do you do about last minute gifts you forgot to buy?

I don't think I've ever completely forgotten gifts, but I have procrastinated for various reasons. Gift cards are the fallback plan if I've waited too long or just can't come up with a great gift idea.

2. Favorite last minute holiday recipe?

Honestly, I can't think of anything, and since I need to get to bed, I guess I'll have to skip this one!

3. Favorite part of the holiday season so far?

I think my favorite thing so far this year was last Saturday. We went with a group from our 55+ group at church to a dinner theater to see a stage production of Holiday Inn. We all rode together so we got to visit some on the bus, and my husband and I really enjoyed the conversation over lunch with the couple we sat with. The food was fantastic and the show was very well done and fun. Then in the evening, I subbed bass in a quartet with friends and had a fun time singing Christmas songs at a museum holiday open house.

4. Best stocking stuffer/small gift?

It really depends on the person! But almost everyone on my list would be happy with a small dollar value gift card to a favorite fast food place, or with some of their favorite chocolate or candy.

5. Favorite holiday sweet treat?

Oh I love all of them! I guess shortbread cookies are my favorite since we rarely have shortbread during the rest of the year.

6. Will you make a New Year's Resolution?

I'm sure I'll make goals, choose a Word of the Year, or even make a "25 in '25" list, but I don't typically make resolutions. Even though the beginning of a new calendar year is certainly a great time to start a new healthy habit or start working on a new self-improvement goal.

7. Do you use a planner? Paper or electronic?

So . . . I love planners, but I usually fizzle out and don't continue using them consistently. I work with a combination of paper and electronic. I have the Remember The Milk app to help me keep track of all the things on my various to-do lists and I have been using that for many years. (I still prefer the old web version to the updated website or app though) I also keep a small size paper calendar/agenda planner and make tons of checklists on scrap paper or in a spiral notebook for all sorts of things. A to-do list before vacation. A packing list. Shopping lists. Gift lists. I love lists and checking things off lists!

8. Stay up until midnight or sound asleep when the ball drops?

Oh I'll be up to ring in the new year at midnight! I'm a night owl so I'm seldom asleep before midnight, and certainly not on New Years Eve.

9. What do you do on New Year's Day?

Sleep late! Usually we have a big brunch with breakfast casserole or Waffles and Awesome Sauce. After that it really depends who is with us for the day. Last year our son and his family stayed overnight on New Years Eve but went home after our big brunch, so it was just my husband and me. We just relaxed and later went over to one of the nearby metro parks and walked in the woods. I suspect we'll do something quite similar this year.

On New Year's Day, I love having 'Niejoashe Koake' (Low German for 'New Years Cookies'). This was a favorite treat of mine when I was a kid, and although I don't make them every year, it's still a special treat when I do! It's pretty much the same as Porzelchen (High German), Oliebollen (Dutch), and very similar to Croustillon (French), or Dutchies (English). They are simply sweet fritters with raisins. No one really knows why they're associated with New Years either!

10. Are you taking time off in December?

Yes, we both get Christmas Eve off anyway, and since we'll be traveling to Maryland, we're also taking the 26th and 27th off. We're looking forward to a few days with family and being able to see some friends! We'll head back home after church on the 29th so we can be back to work on Monday. 

Have you got any great last minute holiday advice? Leave a comment and let me know!

I'm linking up with Monthly Musings hosted by Holly at Pink Lady and Patty at Good Better Best.

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 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation.

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 

Wrapping Up The Hodgepodge Year

A hodgepodge is a jumble or assortment of things that might not appear to belong together. Joyce at From This Side of the Pond hosts a weekly link-up called Wednesday Hodgepodge that is a little collection of questions for bloggers to answer just for fun and to get to know each other. I always look forward to chatting with friends over coffee, so pour a cup of your favorite and let's visit for a few minutes!

Here are this week's questions - and my answers - for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  What's one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year?

 

Get my desk and all its piles cleaned up so I am in a better position to stay organized in 2025. Of course there are lots and lots of things I want and need to do, but this was the first one that popped into my head as I sit here at my extremely untidy desk! 

 

 

2. What's something that brought a smile to your face this year?

 

There were so many things! I think having all the family together for a summer vacation was the best. Also spending time with all the kids and the grands while my parents were here. I'm so glad we will all be together for Christmas this year!

 

 3. What do you like on a cracker? Do you have a favorite cracker variety?

 Just cheese. Cheese and salami or pepperoni. Cream cheese and pepper jelly. Peanut butter. My favorite crackers are Ritz crackers. 

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year?

 Not sure, because we haven't nailed down exactly what we're doing with family, but my husband and I are seriously considering going to the Blue Jackets game on New Years Eve. We hear they have fireworks after the game! But we'll still have time to get home well before midnight, depending on traffic, I guess. Last year our son's family came over for New Years Eve and stayed for the night and for New Years Day brunch, so maybe we'll do that again.

Not only am I typically awake at midnight on New Years Eve, I'm typically awake at midnight almost every night of the year.  

 

5.  What are three words that describe your 2024?

 

 Work. Sing. Hope.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

As I was getting this ready late on Tuesday, I asked myself if I'd ever gone back to comment on the previous week's Hodgepodge participants, and I hadn't! YIkes!! So I'll have to catch up on a few of those, and promise to do better this week and in the new year.

One day this week when I opened up the YouVersion website to look for a Bible passage rather than looking at my reading plans, I was surprised to find that my default language had changed to this:

 Is it Nepali? I know it's a southeast Asian language but why it had changed to this I couldn't say. It looks beautiful anyway. But I guess I don't have the gift of reading in tongues so I figured out how to change it back to English! 

Are you ready for Christmas or Hanukkah or the holiday you celebrate? Leave a comment and let me know!

I'm sharing in this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.

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 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

 This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.