Sunday Sunshine: Christmas Edition

Practicing contentment by remembering thegraces of the week and practicing gratitude through giving.


Christmas is here.  My life is so full of blessings that are too numerous to count.  The ones that really mean the most during this season are (mostly) the ones that can't be purchased.  


:: The friends who are as close as family and the family who are friends.  Our fall has been filled with these wonderful people and they all mean so much to me.  


:: For our health and our [growing] family.


:: For medical professionals who have great bedside manner and personalities and truly love their work.


:: For a warm house, hot showers and food on the table.


:: For the simplicity of a three-year-old's wonder at the Christmas season.  The tree pictured (although with no snow) is our Christmas tree this year and G proudly tells folks "our Cwissmas twee Ou-SIDE!"  I absolutely love it!  She did point out that it needed a star


:: The flexibility of traditions while children are young.  (Stockings don't HAVE to be opened as soon as you wake up, they can become road trip entertainment!)


:: The JOY that come through contentment during this season that can so easily be overwrought with despair and wants.

Wishing you and yours a very contented, 

JOYFUL Christmas Day!

Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” (James 1:16 -The Message) May the light of the Father brighten your week!

Sunday Sunshine

Practicing contentment by remembering thegraces of the week and practicing gratitude through giving.


I am having so much fun this Christmas season, seeing all of the little wonders of of the season through the eyes of my favorite three year old.  From the "Mommy, Cwissmiss wights!" every time we're out after dark to the excitement when she examines each and every Christmas tree she sees.  She's not made the Santa connection at all, and we're not pushing it.  


This season also brings lights to  our "Christmas tree" and as snow settles on top, it is one of my favorite winter scenes.  


Fresh peanut brittle, homemade caramels and lunch with friends were also highlights of this week.  I'm so thankful for doctors we like and access to good medical care.  Both are such a blessing.


I was also blessed to be part of our Christ's Bounty program at our church.  We provided 90 families with food boxes and the parents of about 50 kids with gently used clothes and toys to help out with their Christmases.  The many volunteers and donations from around the country make this event possible and the recipients were so thankful.  


It has been a week full of blessings.  I hope the joy and peace of the Christmas season surround you this coming week and that you can count your blessings among the busyness of the season.


Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” (James 1:16 -The Message) May the light of the Father brighten your week!

God Gave Us Two

I have really enjoyed being part of the Blogging for Books program.  It's pretty simple, I go through the list and pick a book (or ebook), read it, review it and then pick a new one.  This last time it was time to pick a book, I was skimming the childrens' books because I really wasn't sure how much reading time I'd have between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

One of the children's books available was God Gave Us Two by Lisa Tawn Bergren and Laura J. Bryant.  Since we had just found out we were expecting our "Number Two" it was a perfect pick!  It sat on the shelf for a couple weeks as we waited to tell GTot that she was going to be a big sister.

God Gave Us Two is a beautifully illustrated story of a polar bear family expecting their "Two".  The older child wonders what life with the baby will be like and the theme that children are a blessing from God runs strong through the story.  The big sister asks the questions that I think most kids ask: What if I don't like the baby?  What if the baby doesn't like me?  What if the baby cries too much?  Each question is answered gently and kindly with reiteration of the blessing of a new child.  The illustrations are beautifully done and can tell much of the story on their own.

This is a great story to share with your young children the idea of a new member of the family on the way.  I know we're enjoying it!

December Musings

Life has been full.  I thought things would calm down once the dust settled from the flood this fall.  It didn't.  It only seemed to speed up.  November brought precious family moments and time with friends and visits from some of GTot's aunts, uncles, and grandma.  Thanksgiving rushed upon us and I did precious little cooking for Thanksgiving - I let HandyMan and his brother and do most of it.  It was quite a break - and a treat.

The beginning of Advent came right on heels of Thanksgiving, as it always does, and so begins our Christmas season.  I've begun making Christmas candies- good news!  Now they have to last until Christmas - bad news!   I'm working on the post to share the recipe for some amazing praline caramels that I made on Monday. I'm also working on a book review of a precious children's book that has become a regular in our reading list. 

Life is full.  We are blessed.  May joy, peace and love fill your Advent season.