baking, Christmas, death, grief

Candy and Gifts

I can still smell the aromas that came out of their kitchens. In fact, I think I gain five pounds just remembering all of the candies and goodies my mom and mamaw (grandmother) would bake for Christmas. They would slave for hours stirring the candy until the temperature was just right and it formed a little ball in the thick …

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Christmas lights, darkness

Thankful for the Darkness

There is something magical about Christmas lights. Ordinary homes transform into gumdrop houses. The outline of barren trees form graceful shapes against the darkness, and inside my home the lights from our tree cast a warm glow. I love to sit in their grace listening to the quiet and counting my blessings. But it struck me the other night that without the darkness, …

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Christmas, Jesus, Nativity scene

A Sweet Nativity

Lauren showed me this video last night. It’s one of the sweetest Nativity scenes I think I’ve seen. Brings back memories of one of my proudest moments when I was a little girl–the night I got to play Mary. I don’t remember who Joseph was. Funny what our brains remember and what they choose to forget. I do remember, however, that the …

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Gabriel, Mary of Nazareth, The Call

You Want Me to do WHAT?!

Another excerpt from A Mary Like Me today. I love Mary’s humility and her humanity. Mary’s humility is vividly painted with her reply to the angel. I imagine her face down before Gabriel, knees in the cold dirt. The King James translation of her acceptance of the assignment God had given her reads like this:  And Mary said, “Behold the …

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Christmas, Gabriel, John the Baptist, Miracles

Elizabeth’s Gift

Disclaimer: Remember how I used to get up every morning in the dark? Well, it’s not been happening this week. I thought Allie had me trained, but I guess my body needs sleep. So, forgive me for posting later than usual. I’m trusting in the Lord’s timing and thankful this is my blog, and I’m the boss! But I will try …

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