Here are the welcome messages from December 1997.

	December 1, 1997
	December 8, 1997
	December 15, 1997
	December 22, 1997
	December 27, 1997

December 1, 1997
Praise God! Both of my older sons will be home for Christmas this year for the first time in a long time! I'm so excited! I've got to hurry up and get everything done so I will have time to spend with them!
Ack! It's December already! Tick, tick, tick. Is time flying, or what?? Whatever I do, I better be sure I make banana nut bread!! One year I didn't make any and my sons had a fit! How was I to know I had created the tradition of banana nut bread for breakfast on Christmas morning??? I just happened to have some every year! Nobody told me it was a tradition! Good grief!
Link to the 12/1/97 Bible study.

December 8, 1997
I'm putting up my Christmas decorations today. Didn't I just put them all away? It sure seems like it! No time to chat--busy, busy--see you next week!
Link to the 12/8/97 Bible study.

December 15, 1997
Praise God! Both of my older sons will be home for Christmas this year for the first time in a long time! I'm so excited! I've got to hurry up and get everything done so I will have time to spend with them! My oldest will be here Friday morning! My middle son will be here the Tuesday before Christmas.
I got my idea for my Bible Study from the sermon this Sunday. I know my pastor won't mind.
I am still running around here like a chicken with my head cut off! I have a list that is longer than the number of days I have to complete it! You know, I sure am glad God isn't like us! When He has something to do He ALWAYS gets it done. He doesn't just get it done, but done very well!
Link to the 12/15/97 Bible study.

December 22, 1997
J.J. is here with us and Jeremy is coming in tomorrow! God is so good!
My prayer for you is that you have a blessed Christmas and that in 1998 you learn more about Jesus and learn how to abide in him. Remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. The gift God gave us is not just to be remembered at Christmas, but is available year-round. God has things for us that we can't even imagine. He has a checking account of joy, peace, love, and more for us that we don't even write checks on! Let's all dedicate ourselves to seeking and finding the things laid up in store for us. Let's pray for each other since we are all parts of the same body and are brothers and sisters in Christ! Again, have a blessed Christmas!
Link to the 12/22/97 Bible study.

December 27, 1997
My Christmas was wonderful! I had all three of my sons here. What a blessing! I have them here until the 3rd and 5th of January. I am trying to spend as much time as I can with them without being obnoxious! They are both so grown up! I am blessed to have such good looking, intelligent, wonderful sons! (Am I prejudiced? Absolutely!) Question: What do (most) mothers and God have in common? Answer: Unconditional love for their children!
The new year is coming. What does it hold in store for you? A portion is under your control. You have the choice to draw closer to God. You have the choice to read your Bible more and spend more time in prayer and praise. It isn't like that would be pouring effort into an empty hole. . .the more time you spend with Him, the more He will bless you. Is it a good thing to be blessed? Is it worth the effort? ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, AND YOU'D BE CRAZY NOT TO! Time just seems to fly by, however, and many good intentions fly out the window. I, for one, am going to try something different. I am going to designate a specific time to spend with the Lord. It isn't easy to take those first few steps in a new endeavor such as that one, but once taken are worth the taking.
Link to the 12/27/97 Bible study.