A Merry Little Christmas

Just so much joy and family and good food...
A very merry little Christmas was celebrated with family and friends and my heart is full and satisfied.

Christmas Eve-Eve at my nieces house,
A crackling fire, soup with the family and gifts for the little ones.
Excitement and noise and fun and laughter.

Christmas Eve so snowy and lovely
Watching skaters circle the ice rink downtown
under the festive lights in the winter dark.
Off to my sister's to sing carols around the piano
the flute and guitar chiming in.
German carols, English carols, goodies and tea.
A sweet Korean and Japanese girl joining in the fun and laughter.
Sharing stories, our homes and our hearts.

Christmas Day found me wrestling a big turkey into the oven at five am and then sneaking back to my cozy bed to finish sleeping while the house filled with the delicious aroma.
A sweet little breakfast with my dear daughter, Belgian Waffles and Chai Egg Nog Latte with a little gift exchange of love.  The most loving tiny Christmas card to warm my heart for many days to come.  I am loved and my heart is so full.

The long table is laid and the precious guests arrive bearing gifts and smiles and love.

So much goodness all circling one table, sixteen of us gathering to worship the King who came so long ago to save, deliver and redeem us.
Oh what a very great reason to gather, to remember and to celebrate.
To eat so much good food with exclamations of delight and thankfulness.

Making merry, the big gift exchange game, laughter and kids running here and there.  (my brother is so much fun as can be see by his antics above!)

In the midst of the merry making dear Alexia who had enjoyed excessive amounts of gravy and food with more gravy was feeling very ill and laying with her grandpa to recuperate.  Meanwhile little Luca had smacked his head on the rock fireplace and was being ministered to with an icepack.  Dear brother Nico was suffering the shame of "time out" due to his involvement with the head smacking.
Alexia lamented so sadly that there was no one to do their scavenger hunt due to all of the difficulties each of them was experiencing, but thankfully there was a miracle of restoration and resurrection and all the kids were prancing about once again.

Running here and there, finding clues and rejoicing with their found treasures.
The day felt complete and happiness reigned supreme once again.
Full hearts and hugs.
Farewells and everyone off to their respective cozy homes.

And for me the privilege of taking my loving brother and his wife to the airport, some sweet moments of reprieve to share our hearts before the final goodbye.

The drive home alone through the wintery stillness.
His presence filling the car and I, overwhelmed with His kindness, passion and
parts of His heart that He allows me to share and carry,
the tears, the intercession the hope and the glory.
Heaven came near.
Emmanuel in my car that night.
Emmanuel in my life.  Always and forever.
The hope and the glory.

Always clinging tightly
Always burning brightly...
My beautiful sister continues to overcome - her life such a sweet gift, a fragrant aroma.







And one last drive to be with precious friends
One last gift exchange, more laughter, more tea, more goodies,
Apples to apples and oh so much fun!

MORE LOVE!!
I am rich.  I am loved.
Daily I am, loaded with benefits.

This Sweet Season

It's snowy out there.
White and silent and cold.
So very lovely and otherworldly at night.
And inside we have twinkle lights and Christmas music.
Two tiny Christmas trees and two big stockings

One nativity where the manger is still empty, after all these years.
You'd think I'd have found a good baby Jesus by now
Since it's all about Him.
Funny that.
I purchased the nativity at a very discounted price because of the absence of the
main CHARACTER.
It doesn't really matter until Christmas Eve
Which is when he should be found in the manger.
I'll have to do something about that.
One of these years...

But we don't forget about Him.
And the big party is coming.
Family is gathering, but sadly there has been sickness
interfering with plans and visits, but we're all accounted for which is good.
We're making the best of things and hopefully we'll all be good by Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile I've been using my sick time at home to rest up.
And today I was well enough to get my yearly newsletters addressed and stamped.
Our story will wing it's way to mailboxes and into the warm hands and hearts of friends and family, far and wide.
Others will be sent by e-mail, messages of love and stories of the year.
And I in turn eagerly read the missives sent my way,
Happy to hear stories of the ones I love.

Gifts have been purchased and packaged.
Sweet anticipation of the gatherings of young and old.
Family and friends.

My beautiful Savior will be celebrated.
Not forgotten in the partying.
The old carols cause tears to well
The candles spill their light into the darkness,
Just as our Jesus came as a light into this world.

Oh what a glorious story.
The humble beginnings, the horrific climax, the magnificent miracle of resurrection and the soon and coming reunion.

magical snow day

It's just the loveliest day.
Snow gently falling, carols playing, lights shining.
Hot cups of tea.
Birds busily hovering around the feeders, so much life!
It's warm in here and I'm so grateful for a quiet December day.
Cleaning up remnants of a lovely Christmas gathering with dear friends from last night.
Resting, reading, praying.
Thankful.
Tonight we celebrate Dad's 87th birthday.
Let this be the day of favour of our God in his life.
Let this be the day of revelation and salvation.

Breathing, praying, tears, joy, gratefulness, longing.
It's all tangled together in this thing called life.

But there is more...

Twins... Sisters?

Sometimes something can be really great for someone and that very same thing not so great for someone else.

Well, it's like this.
I was 28, almost 29 when I gave birth to the most precious daughter God could have given me.
At this point in time I was ginormous next to her sweet smallness and I revelled in being her momma and everything wonderful that comes with that calling.  I had no problem with people recognizing me to be the older one in the equation.
It was right and good.

The years passed and she grew in wisdom and stature and I continued to remain the familiar matriarchal figure.  (hopefully not growing in stature, but very desirous and prayerful about growing in wisdom as this is a quality much desired as ones children strain towards those tumultuous teenage years)
We survived these years and the beautiful daughter reached her 20th year.

I recall the very store we were shopping in when I was first asked if she was my sister.
My SISTER!!
I was ecstatic!!
I took the whole thing in stride though, realizing that the one who asked this question was quite a distance away from us and was probably unable to see my aging complexion and grey roots.
It was still a major boost for me though, as I have often been confused as the older one when it comes to my sister and I when she is in fact 5 years older than I am.
I did not take this as a compliment.
My sister (who is not only very pretty, but also very youthful looking) would try to console me by telling me that this was because I had led a very hard life.

Since that first innocent query from a stranger my daughter and I have been asked more times than I can remember if we are sisters.
In fact, many times the sincere question is "twins, right?"
These people all immediately become my new best friend.

I cannot help but feel extremely sorry for my daughter, as she is lovely and young. Perhaps because I am permanently sitting it adds a youthful flair to my appearance?
Actually there is no good explanation because I really do not look young, but the long hair, face shape and similar mouth seems to trigger people to ask that question that is now really beginning to annoy my girl.
She is so over it.
But it just keeps happening.

Can't say I blame her but it has been an immense boost to my self esteem.
Immense.
This probably won't be happening for too much longer so I'm just going to enjoy the novelty and feel as young as possible now that I'm fifty.
Smile.

First Advent

Early morning darkness
Drops of rain pelting on my window
Fighting a migraine and medicating myself AGAIN. (fifth time this week!)
Crawling back into bed and luxuriating in the thought of my imminent rescue from pain and in the warmth of my cozy quilt and dear doggie.
And VOILA ... the medication worked...
A resurrection rescue of sorts.
A leisurely shower was taken and my Sunday began.
My plans to attend the Anglican Church will wait for another time.

Dropped something off for my dear friend in Istanbul -
a little Christmas treat that will be hand delivered to her!
Happy Thought that is!

Since it was First Advent and I know that is important to my  mama I arranged to meet my son there for lunch. (his lovely wife is in Vancouver)
Opa had the food ready and we shared a delicious meal of chicken and potatoes in the dining room on the nice plates when Oma got home from church.
Ah these sweet blessed traditions and familiar routines.
I am blessed beyond measure!

Decorations were hauled out and dear Daniel with his remarkable height happily put the familiar and warm Christmas decor on the walls and tables.
Apparently the tree had gone missing. Ha - one of my Dad's hobbies and passions is ridding the home of anything deemed unnecessary!
I guess I'll be dropping another little tree off to brighten their living room and if I declare the tree to be mine, on loan to Oma, hopefully it will not disappear.

Somehow with Oma moving more slowly and painfully now it just comforts my heart to know her home looks cheerful and there is little decorating work for her to do.
This progressive slowing of function and increase of pain is difficult to watch,
I realize I am adapting to the transition with some difficulty as she is much more resigned to the losses and narrower lifestyle that result.
She has learned to be content and radiates a sweet spirit despite the difficulties.

I dropped her off at a German Christmas Carol program, happy that she would be amongst her peers and doing what she loves on this First Advent.

I drove off, treating myself to a $1 mocha and a drive through the beautifully sun drenched valley.
Nothing felt like winter as the day was warm and I felt simply spoiled to have the privilege of taking myself on the scenic drive.

The sun sunk over the hills so early in the day
I was tucked into my warm home, pulling out a tiny tree, excited about the twinkly lights that would add to this season of Advent.
A perfect season to be celebrating the coming King of Light

My little tiny tree is now sparkling with lights in the living room and a tiny stocking stocking is hung.
Tradition.

I am so glad this dark cold season is liberally sprinkled with so much light.
Colorful displays are appearing all over the city
It makes my heart happy and I know how badly I need light.
I am so glad He came into my dark world and shone that light of healing into my heart.
He is the Light of the world.
And of my world.

Hallelujah - Amen!