The sun coming out after a long winter of clouds, cold, snow—and more snow—is such a welcome sight! It’s amazing how much better it makes me feel. I didn’t necessarily feel like I was “down” before, but my spirits get a definite lift when the sky is blue and the sun is bright. I am […]
Only Good News, Please I think there should be a rule that you can only have good news during December and only good things can happen in December—in honor of Christmas, of course! But that is just not the way life works. Things that aren’t so good happen in December too. People get in car […]
This is it! The last weekend before Christmas. The final push! The countdown to Christmas Eve. Is all your wrapping done? Three Days till Christmas … ! All my shopping is done, even for stockings, but I still have a lot of wrapping to do. Today. After I play for a children’s Christmas program practice […]
Christmas Shopping! Sometimes I feel like the worst “one for you, one for me” Christmas shopper ever! I get home and there are a number of small items for me mixed in with my gifts for other people. Nothing big and nothing on my Christmas list, of course. But if it’s something I need and […]
Christmas lights, Christmas music, the smells of pine trees outside and cookies baking inside. The beauty of Christmas decorations and presents under the tree – we take a deep breath and sigh, “Ah, Christmas!” Red and green everywhere, bell ringers at the mall, holiday parties – so many things evoke feelings we associate with Christmas. […]
One of the greatest gifts we can give this Christmas is the beautifully wrapped gift of forgiveness. If we’re willing to do the work of giving this gift, both the giver and receiver can be set free. In this post, I’m not talking primarily about forgiving people for offenses that come up in our everyday […]
Last December 26th, I wrote myself a note. I put it in my Christmas card box and marked it, “Christmas Note to Self ~ Read on December 1st!” Then I put a reminder in my calendar for December 1st to read said note. I pulled it out this morning. It began like this: My Holiday […]
Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. A time to get together with family and friends—and feast! I mean, give thanks. The Bountiful Life The lavish Thanksgiving table that most of us indulge in symbolizes to me the bountiful life that we have. We have so much! So much food, so many material possessions. Truly, we […]
I have really been looking forward to February this year. Not sure why. There wasn’t anything wrong with January, but I really like Valentine’s Day. I found myself anticipating February 1st so I could put away the snowmen and decorate for Valentine’s—which I did, promptly on the 1st—smiling all the way. Love It! Yep, I […]
I’m privileged to sing a wonderful song this weekend for our Christmas choir production. It’s called “Emmanuel.” One of the most beautiful words ever – Emmanuel. It’s one of the names of Jesus and it means “God with us.” Indeed. Jesus came to be God with us, God among us. He came to in every […]