Oasis Christmas

Christmas Day has passed.  It was beautiful and full of peace and joy for me this year.  I didn't accomplish all my goals, but I learned some lessons on the way and was braver than I might have been otherwise. If you want to share some of your Christmas victories with me, I'd love to hear them. 

 To summarize my adventure...  The first snowflake garland was finished and hung on the tree Christmas day.  I got nine of twelve things done from the kindness list I made.  I didn't sing carols every day, especially after I got a cold, but I didn't play piano some days which I haven't done in a long while.

I want to tell you about a beautiful gift that I couldn't tell you about before.  On the first day of Advent, my daughters gave me my Christmas gift.  It touched my heart deeply and I didn't even want to tell anyone.  It was like a special treasure that someone might ruin.  I think the thing that touched me the most was that they thought through what I would like - that they really "got" what was special to me.  They had ordered the advent wreath that Caleb made and were thoughtful enough in time enough to have it here early so we could enjoy using it with our devotional.  They included the candles that were needed and so we began.  Some days were better than others, but overall we slowed and took time to think about this greatest gift of Jesus.  It wasn't a hectic year.  It was a fairly deliberate year and though I forgot some things that I wish I hadn't, the pace was good.  Most of the time, my heart was full. 

I'm thankful for this gift of the wreath and especially the gift of this particular season of life.  Other years it wasn't full of peace and joy, and future years probably won't always be full.  I see friends who have lots of stress or sickness or grieving and I'm thankful for my oasis Christmas.  I'm tempted to feel guilty for enjoying it, but I don't think that is what would glorify God.  "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" is what the catechism says.  So I will smile and enjoy this grace gift.  I look forward to the joy ahead.  Somehow even though the journey may be hard, I believe there will be joy still.  He planted the seed in the depths and now it has blossomed. 

Perhaps you will join me for the next adventure.  I'll tell you about it next week.

Happy New Year!

PS - As a little side note, I did manage to make peanut butter balls, buckeyes, for the "mail place".  I am so glad I did, because in my thank-you note from them, I found out that they are closing their doors because the economy has been hard on them.  I will miss them much.  It was well timed that I took the time to show my appreciation once more while I still could.