December 2006 – The Welcome Home

To all the whosoever’s

It’s amazing to me tonight to consider that ten years have passed since I held my newborn in my arms. I smiled this morning as Wes read the “Christmas story” account from the book of Luke. How incredible it must’ve been for Mary to ponder in her heart all that she had heard and had now seen. I gave birth to our baby Naomi in the comfort and warmth of our home on Christmas night ten years ago. I had the protection, comfort and loving attention of my precious husband and our caring midwife. Our children were safe and warm –satisfied with good things and Christmas treats.

It truly was calm and bright that night. The snowstorm had not yet come. I enjoyed soft blankets, candlelight and a warm bath following her birth. I had a soft bed and fluffy pillows and hot tea, and a warmth from the wood heat. The baby’s blankets, diaper and gown were soft and clean and warm. What a contrast to the way and to the place of the birth of my precious LORD and Saviour.

I recall feeling that no mother in all the world could ever have loved a baby as I loved Naomi that night. But Mary. But Mary and all the other mothers who’ve swaddled their baby and held them close and kissed their little fingers and stroked their little foreheads.

But Mary… who held the baby —the LORD Jesus— and had none of the luxuries I was given for the birth of our baby that night.

But for all that love and all that compassion for the helpless little babe, tonight I’m awestruck that that love pales to nothing in comparison with the love the Father has for each one of us: that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

So, to all the whosoever’s: Happy Christmas! For unto us a child is born. To all the whosoever’s peace has come to earth and there is great joy in heaven.

Happy Christmas

And the angel said unto them, Fear not:
for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2.10-14

more hmmmm….

Some are watching and some simply pass on and follow. www.christianitytoday.com/

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

♫ It’s the most wonderful time of the year… ♪ It’s the happ–iest season of alllllll… ♪

I was baking cookies and making fudge last night while listening from time to time to the music in the background. I think that song came on a half dozen times and I got to thinking about some of the words to that song and then to another: I’ll be home for Christmas… You can count on me… I’ll be home for Christmas… if on-ly ♪ in my dreams. My cynical side piped in: O, yes, you can *count on me!* -if only in my dreams. What a definite, sure: maybe.

As the night went on and I continued to make and bake and stir and pour, I thought of the different songs… the different sentiments… hundreds of memories and, O, yes… the job at hand. I thought about that first song. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” and thought, well, yes and the most dangerous one, too. It’s the time of year we all read the ads and see not so much what we think we want, but all the glamour and abundance reminds us of our lack and then occasionally our “meet-my-wants, feed-my-(perceived)-needs” engine get revved up and our dissatisfaction mode takes over and it’s no longer the ♫ “hap-happiest time of the year!” I’m re-reminded that we need to guard our minds (2Corinthians 10.5), guard our heart and thoughts. This hap-piest time of the year can also be the most dangerous to the mind, dangerous to the eyes, and certainly most dangerous to the thighs.

I allowed myself a taste of each thing I was making—not each phase of the making and baking, but a taste of the product. I knew that a taste could lead to a few and a few could lead to a dish and a dish could lead to a bowl and a bowl could lead to a few more. So, a taste. And then the items had to be double wrapped and put away. Some mommy’s put stuff away so the children don’t sneak snatches of treats. This mommy puts stuff away so the mommy doesn’t sneak snatches of treats. Isn’t it funny how we think we’re “sneaking” a treat. We think no one will know or notice. But they have eyes! And we have mirrors and scales. Sneaking treats? No matter what it seems, it’s not possible to keep that hidden. I think of 2Timothy3.6 Some indulgences in life cannot be hidden — even black dresses don’t hide overindulgence.

O, so… ♫ I’ll be home for Christmas… I was thinking about that again this morning and am determined today to miss the days for the what was or what should have been’s. I want to make home be home for Christmas. I want to make sure everyone’s glad to be home and that the days, tastes, sights, sounds and thoughts will be sweet. Especially mama’s. Sort of the “Be here now” motto and not allow myself the sinful luxury of being somewhere else or doing things because other people do them or in ways I think might seem best to others. Instead… I’ll be home for Christmas… really.

celebrating the blessings of Christmas

We celebrate so many things this year… the blessing of the gift, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our LORD and Saviour. How how great is the love of the Father that He lavishes us daily with gifts and joy unspeakable. We celebrate the birth of our Saviour and praise the God of Heaven and earth for His goodness and mercy. As each day passes, we are more profoundly aware of how little we can fathom the love of God. So… all we can do is take the gift of salvation and say: Thank You, LORD… thank You.

naomi

We celebrate the gift of our 9th child, the precious little gift born in our home on Christmas Night ten years ago.

Today’s slice…

Each day there are tremendously encouraging or insightful blog entries that I wish I had time to link and share and, in addition, we receive emails each day from brothers and sisters in many different places and walks of life, along with an entry or two in our guestbook on our website each day and I wish I could share them all. From time to time I highlight a guest’s website so that others can also enjoy what we’re seeing and be blessed by other people’s efforts. Today was no exception. Two , in particular, stood out today. One, as always, Barbara links to the most pertinent or informative things!

I had seen this Dove piece a few weeks ago and thought how sad it is that ideals are less than skin deep. And it is because of these ideals that women come to a point of hating themselves because they never match up—never—and they never will because the ideals are a figment of someone’s imagination–the imagination at the end of an airbrush. Take a look at Barbara’s blog posting here.

The other link was one we received in the guestbook. Not only the modesty article, but also the weblog here. I must say, I was first intrigued by the name of the website alone: the Conservative Brunette. It’s name doesn’t correlate with a political group or fashion industry… quite the opposite, really. I love the fresh enthusiasm of younger sisters… I’ve much to learn from them as I walk along becoming too familiar with the path and forget to be eager and enthusiastic about the road ahead.
Time’s up… table linens await and are calling my name. And there’s that very important task of getting the Christmas letters and cards in the mail… yes, paper, envelopes and stamps! ~smile~ Old fashioned things are sweet!

a brief update

I’m happy to share that the list service that helped me with The Welcome Home messages in the past will also be helping me with the new: Letters To My Sisters email letter subscriptions.

This, from our website…
letters header small

More Information here.
Letters To My Sisters will be much like The Welcome Home
messages I used to send to subscribers.

And as for our friend’s wedding… well, it was so beautiful… more on that later! This morning found us sort of dragging and slow. After the mountain of table linens and towels is conquered, I’ll post a note and some pictures. I’m grateful for the many who prayed us through the week, through the baking, through the storm and electrical outage… and then for all who helped us with the wedding and reception. God is so faithful and careful with us – each one.

link for spanish to english translator

If your spanish (or other language, for that matter) skills are not sharp and if you need to have something translated, click this link: http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

I received a letter this morning and wanted to be sure of the precise translation. Now, it’s a word-for-word translation and so doesn’t “read well” but you’ll get the gist of the matter. I only say this for impersonal letters… getting the gist of something is not the same as getting the literal intended meaning. Many things get lost in “translation.”

This wasn’t intended to veer toward Bible translations or interpretations or paraphrases… but I see some similarities and the extreme liberties taken these days.

upcoming subscriber letters

Dear Sisters
Are you feeling alone and in need of inspiration for the task the LORD has given you as a wife, mother and handmaiden of the LORD? Are you in a place that seems difficult, without mentors or encouragement for the narrow path ahead? Perhaps you are what might be called a “first generation Christian” and perhaps you’ve had few role models or godly examples of just how to be a loving mother, how to live and dress modestly, how to care for and love your children or what it is to be a keeper at home. You simply may be looking for some sweet kindred fellowship from someone who’s walking along the same narrow path and can share in the joys and laughter, tears and sorrows, highlights and low-points of marriage, motherhood and homemaking and keeping. That’s the reason for the writing and sending of Letters To My Sisters. I know I sure need inspiration and encouragement for the tasks at hand and I pray the LORD will use experiences and inspiration to be that for others.

If you received TheWelcomeHome messages I used to write and send to subscribers in the past, these letters will be in much the same format.

If you would like to receive Letters To My Sisters, you may subscribe and the letters will come by email to your inbox.

To *subscribe, please email http://freegroups.net/groups/letterstomysisters/

blessings,

a few slices

This has been a week where things just don’t go how I thought they might, or how I hoped they wouldn’t (yes, I thought about that wording ~wink~). Things are actually coming together so nicely. Wedding cakes are baked and frozen… ready and waiting for me to frost on Friday and assemble on Saturday. As the wedding day for our friends draws near and we’re making much ado about everything — it seems like just yesterday this wedding was a long, long way off.

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, Wes and I made a quick run up to Canada today to see our new friend in the dental business and ~~lavished him with spending money for Christmas~~ had more dental work done — more stuff that can’t be seen but mattered a lot and bcz we drive so far, I make two appointments and sometimes more for the same day (yes, 6 fillings — I’m a glutton for punishment!). One phrase I don’t know if I like hearing… it goes something like this: “At your age, old fillings begin to fail and crowns, too.” They went on to tell me this is the best time to have them replaced. You know… I was thinking: You’re right. What was I thinking. This is exactly what I want to be doing right about now. So.. drill away! In the end… I was happy to know I could say: see you next year!

When we returned home, our children had lots of cleaning and decorating surprises for us. I’ll just say that it’s been many, many years since we’ve had traditional decorations—some years, very few decorations at all—well, by comparison, we sure do, now! It’s really quite fun and a neat change of pace. What’s most important, and the best part of all, is that *they* are sooo pleased and enthusiastic! So… nothing’s the same and everything’s better and the days are sweet around here. This is what I want them to remember and treasure in their hearts… that home is/was sweet.

This next bit came from Jenny… very funny and, like her, I laughed out loud at #9. I’m pretty sure I often fit in that category.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE DISTURBED

1. Schizophrenia — Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder — We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia — I Think I’ll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic — Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic — Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and…..
6. Paranoid — Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder — Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder — You Better Watch Out, I’m Gonna Cry, I’m Gonna Pout, Maybe I’ll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder — Silent night, Holy – oooh look at the kitty – can I have a chocolate – why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells , Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…

O, and one more neat thing…

The aprons we’ll be selling in our “soon to be launched” online store have come in and they are wonderful! We’re closer by the day to linking TheWelcomeHome.com store. Also… several women have signed up to receive the weekly online letters that I’ll begin sending in January… sort of like the Welcome Home letters I used to send. So… bizzy, bizzy, bizzy — and joyful, too!