A Happy and Blessed New Year to You and Yours
I really mean it when I say: “Happy and Blessed New Year!” Oh that I were a wise prophet promising that 2022 is going to be a banner year of multiplied blessings for all. I’m not a prophet, but I assure you that God promised an abundant life to us (John 10:10), so we might…
Timing is Everything
Countdown to midnight! It’s New Year’s Eve! Timing will be everything when that ginormous Times Square ball signals 2022 has begun. 2021 is almost ready to be wrapped and put away. Now, the great expectations and hopes for 2022 are for it to be one of our best, most blessed years ever. With optimism, we…
Our Christmas Cross
This was my fourth year of celebrating Christmas with my family using a Christmas symbol as inspiration. First year, the cardinal; second year, joy; third year, peace. And this year was the greatest of all symbols – the cross. What? No, at this time of year, it should be the manger – not the cross!…
Do We Look and Smell Like Heaven?
On Sunday, my Austin family and I headed to one of their favorite destinations, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I am so grateful to ride this wave with them. As I type this, I am on the patio smelling bacon cooking “en la casa” by our mayordomo. Oh, the food and floral scents that are so…
Inconvenienced?
My Austin family and I were inconvenienced yesterday as we had to stand in a long security line so we could travel aboard a 737 jet, wearing facemasks, lugging around suitcases, sitting in tight seats a couple of hours, only to have to gather our luggage, go through customs, and then lug our luggage around…
Merry Christmas to You and Yours
Happy Birthday, Jesus! Joy to the world the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Many joys and blessings to my dear, encouraging, and supportive, friends and family! Up and at ‘em is the full-of-life-and-joy kiddos this morning. Maybe the rest of us are moving at a slower pace, seeking just a few…
I Can Hardly Wait
I know parents of young children are hearing those words repeatedly said today. Santa just can’t get here fast enough. On the other hand, parents of those young and older children still have so much on their to-do lists that they wouldn’t mind at all if Santa held off for several more days! In just…
Deck the Homes with Boughs of Inflatables
Casually sitting with a group at breakfast, one of the guys was bursting with pride to share about his young grandson’s (now, 8) Christmas spirit. When he was just 4-years-old he started asking for blow up Christmas decorations as gifts. Four years later, that’s all he still asks for again. He handles everything about the…
I’m Having a Blue Christmas
Only because I chose to forego all my red Christmas decor that was always my Christmas color of choice. This year, I loved my navy blue and white decor so I blended in the blues and whites into my Christmas decor. There’s something about it that feels holy and still and peaceful. You can see…
Child Like Faith is Born
One of my fondest memories, as a child, was memorizing a Christmas poem for my church’s Children’s Christmas Program. It may have been the simplest of words “Christmas is a time of joy. It started with a baby boy. He came to save us from our sins. Won’t you let him be your friend?” But…