Let It Snow! and Miracles ...

The older grandchildren (the "Country Cousins") played last night at the Florida Flywheelers' Christmas village, and all the family came out, along with about 15 of our homeschooling friends. It was a nice place to play and sing, an old barn in the village. The children did a great job interacting with the audience (mostly "snowbirds" who have left their grandchildren behind and love to see polite, cheerful children who respect their elders).

For the second set, they played and sang "White Christmas", which of course got the audience singing along. I always sit in the front to keep the performance on track and hold up their cue cards, and somehow, my seat was the one selected -- as the song began, a "snowstorm" of fake flakes descended on my head and my husband's!! Oh, the children loved it, as did the audience! I am still picking styrofoam out of my frizzy hairsprayed hair this morning!

After the performance, we went to a restaurant for late supper and fellowship (the one place in town that could handle 42 of us!). I am afraid this particular place is becoming known as a workplace for kindred spirits of the "alternative" lifestyle. The spirit in the air was almost palpable -- when you bring several large families who have chosen life in Christ into a place where those who have chosen death hold sway, it is no wonder.

Immediately, silent prayers began. The children, littles and teens, lived up to their upbringing, showing themselves to be friendly, cheerful, helpful, and . . . normal! We weren't quite sure what to make of an older couple continuing to stare at the group, until they got up to leave and the lady told us she grew up aas one of 15, and our family reminded her of her good childhood.

Whereas the restaurant staff was irritable and irritated when we came in, they became friendly and helpful. When we left, I heard one of the servers tell the older boys, "Y'all stay polite, okay?" The boys later said he apologized to them for using questionable language when they asked him not to.

One thing we have tried to emphasize with our children is that, yes, the Lord instructs us to avoid the very appearance of evil, and to use prudence in our relationships, etc., but His Word also gives us this principle, ". . . where sin abounded, grace did much more abound". When we find ourselves in spiritually challenging situations, His grace will be there enabling us to live victoriously. It was a visible miracle to me that we had a lovely fellowship time and left a real life testimony to His grace.