Moments of Love & Joy

Admission: The holidays have come and gone except for New Year’s, and with them all my good intentions of keeping focus on the Advent of Christ.

I am easily distracted by the smallest details. I am also often overwhelmed by larger difficulties.

Just like the new Christmas camera I’m still learning how to use, I have to make myself focus on memorable moments and blessings.

I had to trust that peace would creep into the crevices left empty with fleeting things and momentary circumstances good and bad.

Well, my friends, any lingering nostalgia for a better Christmas than before has been fulfilled as frequent whispered entreaties sent heavenward have found an answer in most unexpected ways.

I won’t go into detail here, but let’s just say Jesus sent messengers to lighten heavy loads.

No, things are not perfect as they may look to the undiscerning eye, but Help is on the way, and because that is where my hope lives, I am looking for peace in unexpected places, too.

I remember little clay vessels my grandma made for me when I was small. I never knew that we were poor because I spent countless hours filling them then pouring them for tiny company.

That’s exactly what I wanted for this Christmas, to be filled up to the point of spilling over.

I pray my loved ones felt the blessed overflow as we shared memories, spoke love into each other’s hearts and worshiped the Giver of all things.

Next year I’m thinking about boycotting any boughten Christmas all together, with all the stuff-and-stuff. I love it all, but I wonder what it would be like to keep it farmhouse rancho simple, with homemade gifts and handmade ornaments.

After all, the Greatest Gift cost greatly, but not a dime was spent.

And what if we focused on gathering just for the sake of communing together at the Christ-mas mesa? At the sacred more Christ table where we celebrate with intention and anticipation?

You might be wondering how to stay beautiful despite the brokenness of this temporary home.

Keep acknowledging our weaknesses, be transparent as a Christmas bulb, while claiming our free inheritance with the child-come-King upon the throne.

And in and through all the chaos that we make of Christmas and our lives remember this Greatest Gift given by Love:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9 NIV

Hope, yes.

Peace, maybe not yet, at least not from our limited perceptions.

Love first and always, eternal past and present.

And joy, the constant fruit of gratitude expressed.

Here are some photos of moments of hope, peace, love and joy from the past few weeks. Though poorly captured by my amateur eye, the people and the moments will live inside my heart where blessings really count.

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Some sweet sisters praying with me to find peace right before Christmas. Precious gift.

A 2nd tree I stuffed with everything, including wreaths, the angel and giant snowflakes. Good thing I don't have a pet..or in the tree they'd go!

A fun tree I stuffed with everything, including wreaths, the angel and giant snowflakes. Good thing I don’t have a pet..or in the tree they’d go! I also had fun making curtains out of burlap and brocade.

: Snowy outside, glowy inside.

: More glowiness.

: Flor de Nochebuena/ Poinsettia in full bloom

: The gift that brought me to tears, a wreath from Wiley Community Church.

: Starlight sparkle.

: Casita all dressed up for Christmas company

: Fun thrift finds for the coffee table…tic-tac-toe.

: My sweet Mexican nativity/nacimiento.

: Rustic warmth on my mantel.

: Homemade snowflake wreath

: This snowman from an old friend always makes me smile.

: He gets his own tree.

: A lovely going away gift from dear friends decorates sitting room.

: Elise & I made lots of things, including little scenes in glasses.

: More thriftstore finds..peace in unexpected places ;).

My favorite gifts of all time are these little collectibles. The small antiques were hand chosen by my children when they were small. Daddy took them to pick them out and they each chose something they knew I’d love. Perfect presents!