Tag Archives: Christmas

December 25, 2016 · 4:14 pm

I hate wet socks!

What do wet socks have to do with CHRISTmas? Well, a lot in our world. 🙂  God used a single wet sock to start the trail of details that showed us He is with us and cares about the small details of our lives! 🙂

It all started this morning before we were about to do our small Christmas.  Cleo – our calico kitty – played the part of the kids.  She started pawing at our door when she thought it was time for us to mosey out of bed. We abided.  Once up, we needed coffee.  Our simple routine kicked into gear.  Mike made the coffee and I threw Christmas cinnamon rolls in the oven.  It was at this point I decided we needed festive Christmas music. My wireless speaker was in the the garage in my car.  So off to the garage I trot so we can open presents.  Mike is so excited. He can’t wait for me to open my gifts.  🙂

This is when the story really started –  I stepped in water that had pooled from the rain off the car and hence the wet sock.  Something had to be done!  The sock came off and I walked back inside headed for the bedroom to get another sock.  I hate WET socks!

Mike stopped me and would not let me get another sock.  I argued I need a sock – one foot is bare and cold.  No! He wanted me to sit down and open one of my presents. So I humored him – so I could get my sock! As I ripped the paper I notice one of my old shoe boxes…hmmmm.  Then to my surprise I found a new pair of house shoes…with SOFT material! (I am a texture person – so I LOVE the fuzzy stuff!)

The wet sock opened the door for this perfect gift! Mike noticed I am always in socks or flip flops and didn’t have any house shoes! Love it! (But, inside I was a little curious why he was so excited about this gift – because he didn’t know I was going to have a wet sock! But, God did!)

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My new feet warmers – I already have great leg warmers!

So, now that I was thinking…hmmmmm…that is the gift he is so excited about – he grabs another one.  As he tries to hand it to me I run outside to take a photo of the sunrise. (Photography is the one thing I LOVE – and wish I made more time for it.)  Mike is curious about what I am doing – but he figures it out! (Because I run outside and take photos – A LOT!)

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In I come and he hands me the gift.  I soon find out that this is the one he is so excited about!  This gift is small but heavy. As I am holding it I am thinking “it is really small but I bet he added weight to the box.” 😉  Ripping the paper open I see a Nikon box.  I say “Is this a camera?…No, this isn’t a camera….Is this really a camera?…Noooo…this can’t be a camera!”  But guess what? It was a CAMERA! God is that good.  He paved the way yet again for a PERFECT open door to my next gift. I had just stepped outside to take a picture with my phone and now I am opening a camera that my phone can’t hold a candle to….wow!

Needless to say – I LOVE IT and I am soooo excited to get busy taking photographs!!!! (Those will come soon – we are making some adjustments to the new purchase!)

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Not the camera – just a representation of THE camera!

Now it was Mike’s turn to open a gift.  But, he was so excited about my camera he wanted to research more on it.  I stopped him. He only had one more gift.  He persisted in doing research.  I said – stop, open this gift.  So, he did. 🙂 And God once again had paved the way – it was a photo I took years ago of the old barn put on a canvas.

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So in God’s amazing fashion He showed us how He truly cares about the details.  On this day we celebrate Jesus’s birth – a detail that created eternity for us all – He shows up in the simple things.  He does it daily but most of the time we forget to look for Him.

Mike and I looked at each other as he opened the canvas and were in awe of how God had made His presence known in our simple Christmas at home – just the two of us.  He confirmed that the ultimate present of His son was a detail we will forever be grateful.

This season has proven to many that life is short and we only have one to live.  God sent Jesus on this day thousands of years ago to save us – a small, yet eternal detail we can not ignore.  All we have to do is add the detail of belief!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  

John 3.16

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”

Romans 10:9

With all of this being said – I hope you have some wet sock moments where you are able to see the hand of God in every detail of your life! He is there. He cares. He wants to be a detail in your life – He will if only you believe!

Merry CHRISTmas!  Trish

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December 28, 2013 · 1:46 pm

One phone call away…

As I was looking through our 2013 Taylor Christmas photos, music was playing in the background. The words “I guess we’re all one phone call from our knees” rang out. These words have so much meaning to our family this year. We experienced that phone call more than once!

My family first experienced the phone call on April 15, 2013…The Boston Marathon! The second phone call was from dad on June 12, 2013 when mom had her brain bleed.  The third and hopefully final phone call of 2013 was on November 8 when Mike fell from the ladder and broke his shoulder and nose.  All of these things literally brought us to our knees! We cried out to our Lord and Savior for help, for comfort, for healing, for understanding and for peace!  To which He answered all of them in His perfect timing.

Romans 8.26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

 

These photos were taken by my very talented niece Lane Lewis of Laneybugphotos.  Check her work the rest of Christmas 2013 here:   http://laneybugphotos.smugmug.com/MyPhotos/2013/Christmas-2013/i-Fd6xdth  

She truly captured the overwhelming joy our family experienced this season.

This Christmas we celebrated life.  First, we celebrated Jesus’ birth and life!  His life and death assures us of eternal life and comfort on earth through the Holy Spirit.  We have felt His presence through the Holy Spirit with each phone call.  It baffles me how anyone can receive a phone call that brings you to your knees and not know, really know God.  How do they survive?  He is the only way I have survived and found peace and joy in ALL circumstances.

Jeremiah 29.11

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.

Then we celebrated our lives and being able to be together! We enjoyed quality time just being! This time of year we forget that…we forget to be still and just take it all in!  We celebrated sitting in a room with one another…conversing, laughing, reminiscing…being together in the moment.

Looking at the pictures brings us tears of joy just knowing how faithful God has been.  He never left us.  He held us together the whole time.  Mom is a miracle! Mike is alive and healing extremely well! Boston 2014 will bring closure to a bittersweet Boston 2013.  All of these things have taught us to live for Him in the moment.

We have learned this year that the moment will and can end.  We have no control of when that will happen.  But it will! Take this day and make it your best.  God gave us the best present next to His son – the PRESENT….we need to live in it and find the joy in the people around us!

Psalm 30.5

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

Matthew 6.25-34

 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

2014 will hopefully be a little less eventful.  BUT, if it is not and I receive yet another phone call…my knees is where you will find me. Why?Because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my Lord and Savior will be there to pick me up and help me take each step of whatever journey lay ahead.  How do I know? Because He has proven Himself over and over in 2013(and before!)  He is our Lord and He is our Savior…He is faithful and good ALL the time!

Romans 8.28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

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December 25, 2013 · 11:23 am

Merry CHRISTmas…from start to finish!

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Merry CHRISTmas!

Today’s post is about the whole CHRIST story from start to finish! Christ was born for a purpose to later be fulfilled in His death and resurrection for us – sinners who did not and do not deserve this AMAZING GRACE!

Merry CHRISTmas my friends and followers! May you know the true reason for this season…Jesus!

Be blessed this day as we celebrate the START of an amazing journey taken for us by the babe called Jesus…

The Characters…

Luke 1

31…Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 

 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The Setting…

Luke 2.11-14

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Plot…

John 3.16-17

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The Conflict…

Titus 3.3-8

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

The Theme…

Romans 10.9-10

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

christmasMay you feel His love for you on this day! He is the reason for this season and the key to a fulfilled life!

Merry CHRISTmas 2013!

 

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December 15, 2013 · 10:00 pm

Taking my ‘Breath of Heaven’…Boston 2014 training has officially started…

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Today it started! Boston 2014 training is now officially underway.  The first four miles of many are now logged en route to the 2014 Boston Marathon with Team Hoyt.  Yes, You Can! is Team Hoyt’s motto and the message they spread.  This training season I will rely on this mantra more than ever.

2013 has been very eventful to say the least.  Running has been good therapy but hard to do.  I have taken the last two weeks off and quite honestly I am ready to get started again.  The physical and emotional fatigue of the past year have taken a toll.  I know God gave me running as a ministry to reach others…but I also know He gave it to me as a form of worship and comfort.  This season will be one I try to find the joy the fatigue has taken.

Last week God provided me with encouragement through song once again.   I was asked to share my story with my church’s women’s group at our Christmas banquet this past Saturday.  While preparing my testimony I heard Amy Grant singing Breath of Heaven on Pandora.

The song took on new meaning to me in regards to the year I have experienced.  The words flowed over me like a calm.  God showed me He was there helping me with the load I was carrying and He would surround me with His breath of Heaven.  Now, I don’t compare myself to Mary at all!!! Her role is a very special one ordained by God.  But, I do believe we all have our own loads that scare us…cause us to feel alone…make us feel as if we are in the dark…and make us feel weak when we need to be strong.  This song cries out to the Lord and asks for light, strength and HELP! The words ‘breath of Heaven, hold me together…’ have been and will continue to be my prayer.   I too want to ‘offer all I am’ and have you ‘Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy!’

Then His breath of Heaven hit me again today as I was finishing my first four miles of many, many more…I know I have already stated this…but I had to state it again! This is the beginning!  He showed me He will be my strength when I feel as if I am falling apart.  He will help me be strong.  He will light the path and HIS breath will surround me every step I run, walk or jog.  His strength is made GREAT in my weakness…

Isaiah 40.29

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

2 Corinthians 12.9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Listen and let His breath cover you and all you may be going through this season:  He will be your strength and breath!

Breath of Heaven – Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, You have come
And chosen me now to carry Your Son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven

Stay tuned for more tales from the Boston 2014 journey!

You can be a part of the journey with your tax deductible donation to the Hoyt Foundation here:

http://www.crowdrise.com/trishnewsom

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December 25, 2012 · 8:46 pm

My Christmas Mailbox – 1500 miles accomplished!

My Christmas Mailbox – 1500 miles accomplished!

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Jeremiah 29.11

11 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.

At the beginning of the year I committed to trying to get 1000 miles this year.  I knew with my marathon training it would be possible.  I had no idea 1500 would be until about 3 months ago.  Once I saw that it would actually be doable…I was all for it.  I had it planned to finish up on my new year’s eve run.  But God had a different plan.  He knew I would start my new marathon training plan 2 weeks ago.  He knew my beautiful 1500 would come today on Christmas Day. He also knew I would be out there with my training buddy and dear friend, Yoli.

What an incredible feeling it was knowing that the past year I have been able to run for HIM the distance from Dallas, Texas through Los Angeles, California almost getting to Santa Barbara, California.  I have driven that route at least 4 times in my life and it amazes me to know I have now run that far…wow! I know it was only with HIS strength that I had the stamina and the discipline to conquer such a feat.  My miles were prayed over by many, especially my dear husband who celebrates and encourages every step of the way.  Thanks to all of you who are my prayer warriors!!!

There were ups and downs.  There were straight stretches and bends.  All of these came on the road and in life.  But, with Jesus, He made everything beautiful!

“You Make Everything Beautiful!” – Rebecca St. James

Grant me serenity to accept things
The things I cannot change
Grant me the courage, Lord, to change what I can
Wisdom to know the difference
In my weakness You can shine
In Your strength I can fly and

You make everything, everything beautiful
You make everything, everything new
You make everything, everything beautiful
In its time, in Your time
It’s beautiful

Grant me serenity, Lord, and patience
For things will take time
Grant me freedom to walk a new path
And let me feel Your love
In my weakness You can shine
In Your strength I can fly and

Lifting open hands to You my Savior
Beautify my soul
Knowing You redeem my pain and failure
Purify my soul
Beautify my soul!

Praying He helps me lean on HIM in 2013 – and to not forget the 12 most important words –

A Savior Has Been Born To You. He is Christ the LORD! 

Praying He helps me spread the news of His birth and His death – saving us from sin through His Grace and Truth because we need a Savior from the mess of this world.  He does make everything beautiful!!! Do you know the 12 words? Have they become flesh to you? Have they made your life beautiful even in the ashes?  He can and is waiting!

This is my prayer for us all in 2013 – that we have a year of the Lord’s favor! (while also doing our part!)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor – Isaiah 61.1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

bendintheroad

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