It’s a busy time of year. Some people are rushing to the malls buying last minute Christmas gifts, while others are preparing to travel. It doesn’t matter whether you are packing suitcases for a flight, making sure the kids won’t be bored on that long road trip, frantically wrapping presents, getting the house ready for company, or preparing the Christmas day feast, it’s chaos!

It recently struck me that Mary and Joseph may have experienced similar chaos in their lives before the birth of Jesus. They were forced to travel to Bethlehem so they could register for the census. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Mary was pregnant, expecting her first child. The baby was due soon. It was no time to travel. Regardless, they had to embark on a week-long journey to another town. They must have been busy stocking up for the journey, rushing to buy things they needed for the trip, and packing — all while preparing for the birth of their son. It was chaos!

Upon arriving, they learned that all of the inns were full. Imagine being nine months pregnant and seeing only “no vacancy” signs posted at your destination city! I can’t imagine how concerned Mary and Joseph must have been when they were told the only place to take shelter was in a barn. There would be no bed, no privacy, and no comfort offered to them while in a dirty stable where animals were housed. I’m sure they were hoping the baby wouldn’t come while they were there. It couldn’t have been the experience Mary had dreamed about when imagining the miraculous birth of her first son. Modern women wouldn’t dream of having a child in those harsh conditions.

However, the baby had plans of his own. He had a prophecy to fulfill, and he wouldn’t wait for them to return to Nazareth. I can’t imagine how chaotic it must have been that night as Mary struggled to give birth far away from her home, in a strange place, in the middle of a barn. It had to be a scary experience for her and her husband, much different from what we see depicted in the peaceful, serene nativity scenes today. She had to question why: why now, why here, why like this?

It doesn’t seem to make sense, but in the middle of her chaos and confusion, something beautiful was born. In that moment when Jesus took his first breath, Mary must have felt that it was worth it all. From chaos came beauty and perfection.

During this Christmas season, you may be experiencing your own chaos. It may be uncomfortable. It may not be what you expected or what you’d desired, but take heart. Don’t be anxious; dont worry. God has His own plans, and maybe, just maybe He’s getting ready to deliver beauty in the midst of your chaos.

I’m a big fan of 24, the television show starring Keifer Sutherland, so when I saw this I just had to share it. It’s a video of Jack Bauer interrogating Santa. Hilarious!

The real show finally comes back in January, and I can’t wait! If you don’t watch it, you should. Go buy the season one DVD; it’d be a great gift for Christmas!

Each time I travel to Italy there’s one thing I seek out. The trip just isn’t the same without it. Gelato, Italy’s regional variant of ice cream, is a special treat I enjoy as much as I can while I’m there. I experienced gelato for the first time while in Rome. There were two shops conveniently located just outside the steps of our hotel. Each night when we would return from a fun-filled day of sightseeing, we’d grab a scoop, sit down, and gaze at the Pantheon.

An evening with the best companion, the best ice cream, and the best view = priceless!

Gelato differs from the ice cream we eat in the US. The flavors are richer, there is less fat, more sugar, and it has a different texture. It’s not just good; it’s great! Luckily, you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy to experience some for yourself. Paciugo serves authentic Italian gelato that’s made fresh daily in over 20 stores across the nation.

After apprenticing at a four-generation gelateria, the owners of Paciugo moved from Turin, Italy and started their first gelato cafè in Dallas in 2000. I’m not sure why anyone would want to move from Turin to Dallas, but I’m glad they did because I really enjoy having a little taste of Italy here in the US. The gelato doesn’t seem to be quite as good as the original, it’s pretty darn close. Either that, or I just think everything tastes better in Italy…haha!

Regardless, if you haven’t had a taste of gelato, you should check it out. Take a break from the frantic Christmas shopping this weekend, and give yourself a little treat. And, if you are near the Frisco location, take advantage of these special offers for some free gelato through Dec. 20th. Enjoy!

It’s been a few years since my piano was tuned. To keep it properly maintained, it should be tuned twice a year. I play it regularly, but I really didn’t notice how bad it had become until I heard the difference tonight. My Dad came to my house and tuned it, bringing back the glowing tonal quality it had begun to lose. The sound is now richer, more true, beautiful.

As I was enjoying the music, I thought about the importance of tuning — it’s not only significant for musical instruments, but it’s also important in our own lives. As we go through life, outside influences knock against us, throwing us off pitch. We listen to the voices of the media, absorb the opinions of the world, and feel that we’re pretty much in tune with those around us.

It’s not until we commune with our heavenly Father that we realize just how wrong we are. The farther we get away from Him, the more out of tune we can become. That’s why it’s important to keep up with the proper maintenance activities — going to church, reading the Bible, and taking time to pray.

God’s word, the Bible, is like a tuning fork. It gives us the proper pitch to which we can align our lives and our priorities. Prayer and inspired preaching help ensure we are in tune with God and not the world.

So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had a “tune up,” head over to your church this Sunday or dust off your Bible and delve into some of the New Testament passages where you can read the teachings of Jesus. It’s the best way to regain the proper pitch in your life.

I saw a something on Facebook tonight that made me stop and reminisce for a few minutes. The post asked people to “Tell me what God has done for you in 2009.” Of course, I could rattle off the standard responses: amazing spouse, loving family, rewarding career, true friends, and a church that I absolutely love. These blessings are more than I deserve, and I’m truly thankful for each and every one of them.

However, those things aren’t what made me pause when I read the statement. 2009 brought many challenges into my life. Unanswered questions, frustration, unfathomable stress, and intermittent health issues plagued me like never before. At times, it seemed like I was drowning, barely able to keep my head above water, but through it all I had a confidante, someone who was always standing by just waiting to be the source of strength that I needed. Through the good and the bad, He was always there. In fact, I can honestly say I’ve never felt closer to Him in my entire life.

Through the struggles of 2009, I somehow managed to develop a deeper, more intimate, more passionate relationship with God. It’s difficult to articulate. One of the only ways I can explain it is to say that I feel like I’m starving for Him. Maybe the feeling was initially born out of the desire to find the guidance I desperately needed during a stressful time in my life, but even afterwards it remains. The more I’m around Him, the more I want Him. His love overwhelms me. I can’t get enough, and I wish everyone could experience what I feel. It’s truly amazing. Some might even say life-changing.

I’d be lying if I said I was thankful for the challenges in my life. I’m not. I wish my job was easy. I wish I didn’t have ulcerative colitis. I wish I had answers to all of the questions floating around in my mind. I wish I knew God’s ultimate plan. Yes, I know that these challenges force me to grow, teach me to rely on Him instead of myself, and ultimately make me stronger. Even so, I don’t like them.

If I had to experience these challenges to get to this point in my relationship with God, then it was worth it. I know I still have a long way to go. He’s working on me, challenging me to change my priorities, which I’m finding is easy to say you’re going to do, but terribly difficult to actually do it. He’s also challenging me to do something more significant. I’m not exactly sure what it is yet, but I’m following Him in faith and anxiously awaiting His guidance as I look ahead to 2010.

It’s a horrendously long answer to what should have been a simple question. However, God changed me this year. He disrupted my life in a beautiful way, and I just couldn’t explain that in a 10-15 word comment on Facebook.

How about you? Think beyond the obvious, ask yourself what God has really done for you in 2009, and then take a few minutes to give Him thanks. It’s the best gift He could get during this Christmas season.

If you missed the popular Perseid meteor shower this year, don’t fret. According to experts at NASA, the best meteor shower of 2009 is about to fall over North America. In the middle of December, it may be a cold night, but the possibility of viewing up to 140 meteors per hour could be worth it. So, dress warm, make some hot cocoa, and get ready for the light show.

The Geminid meteor shower is expected to peak on Dec. 13th and 14th under ideal viewing conditions. A new Moon will keep skies dark for the display and maximum activity should occur around 12:10 a.m. EST on Dec. 14th. No telescope is necessary, just try to find a dark place with little light pollution and then start scanning the sky.

NASA says the “Geminids are pieces of debris from a strange object called 3200 Phaethon. Long thought to be an asteroid, Phaethon is now classified as an extinct comet. It is, basically, the rocky skeleton of a comet that lost its ice after too many close encounters with the sun. Earth runs into a stream of debris from 3200 Phaethon every year in mid-December, causing meteors to fly from the constellation Gemini.”

Astronomers believe the intensity is increasing every year, which means the show just keeps getting better. Mark your calendar now, and don’t miss out on the best meteor shower of the year!

I love Christmas decorating as much as the average person, maybe even more. Yes, I have three Christmas trees and decorations in all of the main rooms in my house, but there’s a big difference between healthy, normal decorating and obsession. I saw a video tonight featuring a women who starts decorating her house in July! Yes, July. No, she’s not celebrating Christmas in July; she’s decorating for Christmas in December. Her entire house is overrun with decorations.

Is it too much Christmas? Check out the video below and decide for yourself.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com/video.

Are you still looking for ways to save money during the holiday season? Even better, do you want to help others save money? If so, I have a treat for you! Restaurant.com’s “Feed it Forward” program gives you the opportunity to help give away up to $30 million in free restaurant gift certificates. Over the next 16 days, you can give up to thirty $10 gift certificates per day to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, strangers, or anyone else you think would like to have one. How’s that for the spirit of giving?

Restaurant.com is a website that connects restaurants and diners nationwide. They offer savings at more than 13,000 restaurants nationwide and to various online retailers with more than 20,000 gift certificate options. You can find participating restaurants using their search engine, and learn more about each restaurant by viewing their Web site featuring menus, driving directions, and more.

There are two ways to give. You can sign-up on the Feed It Forward website or participate through their page on Facebook. It’s simple. To send a gift, just enter your name and email address, as well as the name and email address for each recipient—as many as thirty people every single day. You can share your reason for giving with the person who is receiving the gift certificate, and you can also post it on the Feed It Forward site if you choose. People who receive gift certificates also will be given the opportunity to join the giving effort and “feed it forward.”

For more information on how it works, check out the FAQ and start giving today! If you don’t want to give (bah humbug), but you want to receive, send me your email address. I’ll send you a $10 gift certificate anyway!

One of the most difficult things about Christmas can be figuring out what to buy for the person who seems to have everything. Sometimes, it’s even difficult to come up with a list of gifts that you want others to purchase for you. Personally, I prefer cash because it can be used anytime, anywhere for whatever you want, but it’s not always the most creative gift option.

If you need help picking out a gift, I recommend Gifts.com. They provide customized gift suggestions for popular holidays and better yet, for age, gender, interests, or personalities of the recipient. You can even find ideas for stocking stuffers or secret Santa gifts. My favorite is the “Personality Profiler” which allows you to answer questions about the recipient to help identify their personality. Once the gift “personality” is determined, then you see a list of options matching that personality. I tested it last night, and it works pretty well. I found a few items that may get added to my Christmas wish list this year.

One of the other things I like about Gifts.com is that they don’t sell products directly, so they can provide unbiased gift recommendations and offer lots of variety. Their staff of “gift gurus” hand pick presents year round, and while they have some of the same standard faire options found on other gift websites, they also have some creative options like hot air balloon rides, framed stock certificates from Fortune 500 companies, and more.

Visit Gifts.com to check it out and find some new gift ideas today!

I was cleaning my eye glasses earlier this week when, without warning, the frame split into two pieces. It was a shocking moment because one minute there was nothing wrong with my glasses (other than a few smudges on the lenses), and the next minute, I was staring at the remains in my hands, dumbfounded. Glasses are very important in my life, even though most people seldom see me wearing them. If I don’t have my glasses, I can’t spend much time on a computer without getting a severe, debilitating migraine. And considering the fact that my entire work day (and much of my evening) is spent working on the computer, I must have them daily.

I ran downstairs, pulled out the superglue and tried to piece them back together. After repeated attempts and some “nerd tape”, I was finally able to get them in a somewhat usable condition. So, now I’m sitting here wearing my glasses, typing on the computer, and looking like a nerd with tape across the bridge of my glasses. It’s hilarious and humiliating all at the same time! But, it won’t last long. I visited my optometrist today (Dr. Naidoo), got an eye exam, and ordered two (yes, two) pairs of new glasses. Now, if something happens to one pair, I have a back-up (yay). Plus, I couldn’t decide which style I liked best, so now I can choose to wear whichever pair fits my mood for the day.

While we were waiting for my eye exam to begin, Gary snapped a quick shot of me in “the chair.” By the way, if you need an optometrist in the Dallas area, check out Focused Eye Care and Dr. Samantha Naidoo. She’s awesome!

After the eye exam, we picked up my nephew and then met up with the One Life (young married’s) and Collide (singles) groups from our church for an evening at Six Flag’s Holiday in the Park. It was a blast!

Our first ride of the evening, the oldie, but goodie…conquistador

The guys preparing to get their ride on

In the cave ride…much warmer than outside

Having fun in the Runaway Mountain line

Gary and Terry — the two “aery’s”

It was a frigid evening, but SF had fires set up throughout the park where you could warm up. They were quite popular even though we didn’t use them much

The gang riding the Superman, Tower of Power ride

Fun, fun, fun!!