Carl Larsson
I kindly ask you to join me musing about treasured Christmas memories. Adrienne Morris, an online kindred spirit, invited me to share on her blog today. Enjoy! ~
Category: Family
Monday Ponderings {December 3rd}
“It is said that the door to the stable where the Christ-child has been born is very low – and only those who kneel find access.”
~Celtic Daily Prayer
p. 228
{Happy December, friends! Thinking on this quote as we start our week.}
~
Monday Ponderings {November 26th}
“Nobody can know the full consequences of their actions and history is full of small acts that changed the world in surprising ways.” ~Rebecca Solnit
{Originally, I saw this on Myth & Moor blog and I’m thinking on it this week. It can be applied to so many areas of our lives. The antithesis of the whole idea of “go big, or go home.” I love the quiet, humility of this and how we all have an opportunity to love on others without having it to be something seen by the public eye. Yes, it’s harder and usually unappreciated, but that’s alright. It still matters. Remembering the beginning of the verse, Zechariah 4:10, not to despise the day of small things.}
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A Blessed Thanksgiving to You and Yours {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #9-10
MY heart in chiming gladness o’er and o’er
Sings on “GOD’S everlasting love! What
would’st Thou more?”
Yes, one thing more! To know it ours indeed,
To add the conscious joy of full possession! –
O tender grace that stoops to every need!
This everlasting love hath found expression
In loving-kindness which hath gently drawn
The heart that else astray too willingly had gone…
We thirst for GOD, our treasure is above;
Earth has no gift our one desire to meet,
And that desire is pledge of His own love.
~F.R. Havergal
The Cloud of Witness, p. 109
81. children using leftover pie dough for little cinnamon sugar creations
82. my husband snuggled on couch, wrapped in sleeping bag, children all around him, and sitting on his lap
83. all of us talking to the turkey like he is part of our family. He was taking a cold water bath and we kept poking him and conversing with him! Ha.
84. Kitchen Aid mixture is such a good friend at holiday time
85. lovely brunch conversation and my little children licking their fingers from the cinnamon rolls
86. a child seeing that I was cooking bacon and hollering for joy, “BACON!”
87. temperamental can opener working
88. talking books with oldest and pursing Goodreads and the local library online site
89. bed sheets flapping in the cold, crisp wind – they are going to smell so fresh
90. one daughter helping me cook bacon and scrambled eggs, another mixing OJ, and my son placing the cinnamon rolls on pan – those moments when cooking together is so fun
91. my fluffy mauve sweater
92. new light bulbs put in, the kitchen is a brand new space! Ha.
93. fabric purchased and waiting to be washed for a Christmas project. Crossing my fingers that I can finish something
94. a new refined to-do list for the next few weeks – not too bad
95. a Christmas gift arrived for my 9 yo daughter that I know she is going to LOVE and I’m pleased with it.
96. new, fresh day after a few rough ones, Tylenol and hot, delicious coffee helping me to get going
97. my 4 yo laughing at a funny part in the book The Napping House, his giggle is so darling
98. the sizzle of the turkey and the juicy, slicing of apples
99. the Narnia movie soundtrack
100. the way the children’s art flutters on our art line in the house, heat blowing up and in, warming the heart of our home
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So many tangible and intangible blessings all year round! ❤ Thanks for joining me this month, noticing our blessings ~
On the Eve {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #7-8
{Gulf of St. Lawrence/Atlantic, summer 2017, from near the East Point Lighthouse, P.E.I, Canada. This photo has a special meaning to me and I love it so much.}
61. the joyfulness in my children, so refreshing
62. anticipation of my family’s happiness over the big dinner planned for tomorrow
63. overhearing the walkie talkie conversations between my children and husband as they hunt –
64. new Elsa Beskow calendar for the new year
65. good price on bulk red potatoes and onions
66. seeing my sister and BIL’s new apartment, the blessing of them cooking a great meal for me, and spending time just chatting
67. someone at church kindly filling in for me in Sunday School
68. an invitation to a lovely couple’s home after church last Sunday, delicious home-cooked meal, a cooking break for me. The gentleman was an accomplished carpenter and my little children were so delighted by the beautiful wooden toys and marble run he built.
69. a little copper tea kettle I found thrifting that has brought so much delight to us through it’s beautiful sparkle and hours of pretend play
70. my 11 yo’s languages and codes that he’s been creating. He is so inspired by Tolkien’s Elvish
71. new pen pals from Oregon for two of my children
72. our dependable vehicles. My trusty Dodge Caravan gets me where I need to go and my husband’s Prius is wonderful for long commutes.
73. the Amish old-fashioned corn-shocks dotting the landscape
74. new book of Christmas stories to enjoy in December with some hot apple cinnamon tea
75. a sale on some shoes that I love! They are like a burnt orange (not my usual color choice), but they came and they fit perfectly and I love them
76. Pioneer Woman’s Pie Crust recipe. It’s my favorite and gets well used doing holidays and birthday seasons.
77. My SIL’s cranberry sauce recipe. She just blends up cranberries, a little sugar or honey, and an orange. Seriously, addicting stuff
78. My littlest son, who plays with pieces of cardboard, the broom, and an old bouquet of artificial flowers for hours. This kid is so unique, funny, and amazing.
79. sharing Thanksgiving poetry from anthologies with the family
80. the fast and furious snowflake shower today. Just so beautiful. The most beautiful part was seeing my 9yo out in it, just enjoying it, walking through it, and bending to look. She told me she was having a hard time seeing the snowflake patterns. I’m so grateful she wants to see them. Sigh
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Monday Ponderings {November 19th}
{a statue and poem that my oldest and I really loved from our summer travels}
“…Trample not on any; there may be some work of grace there, that thou knowest not of. The name of God may be written upon that soul thou treadest on; it may be a soul that Christ thought so much of as to give His precious blood for it; therefore, despise it not.”
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Celtic Daily Prayer, p.545
{thinking on this excerpt this morning. I believe ALL people are souls that Christ thought so much of and shed His blood for! I’m a bit more confidant than Mr. Coleridge in that. This is a beautiful and heavy thought as we go about our days with family, friends, neighbors, and a world full of people that need our love. Trampling is the norm in our culture, I want to be revolutionary like Christ and LOVE.}
~
Snowy {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #6
{a gorgeous restored church on Prince Edward Island, Canada}
51. lamp-lit dinner of buttery pancakes shared with two children who were at home with me last night. We listened to soft music as the flame flickered. So peaceful!
52. the sound of potatoes being grated. Juicy and a pleasant scraping. Hash browns for my husband! Opening deer hunting and an empty fridge had me scrambling to find some things for hungry bellies. The hunters seem to appreciate the few eggs, random turkey sausage (found deep in freezer), and hastily-made hash browns.
53. the sizzle of oil and smell of crispy potato.
54. the soft, top outline of snow on some forgotten laundry on line.
55. slowly attempting to paint the constellation Orion in my nature journal. It looks primitive, but I’m glad to capture the moments I’ve spent gazing at this imposing fellow in the sky.
56. fascinating essay here and quotes here on Myth & Moor, probably one of my favorite blogs. I suspect that the author and I are kindred spirits, hopefully, we could be friends even though we may differ in many of our core beliefs.
57. reading The Little Engine That Could over and over to my littlest as he just discovered it on our library shelf. I never realized until now that it’s sort of a retelling of the Good Samaritan.
58. Black-Capped Chickadees and a Male Cardinal at my feeders! We don’t have a lot of trees and I’ve really missed the variety of birds that we had at our former home.
59. pretty Christmas wrapping paper that I ordered. I usually wrap all my gifts in one print, the monochromatic scheme looks so pretty under the tree and frankly, it’s just easier.
60. I got a few things scribbled last night in my journal. Some writing actually down in ink and not floating around in my stuffed, spilling-over brain! I’ve really struggled with making the time, because it feels like I need so much mental space, of which I have zero right now. I’m finding I’m going to have to fit it in the margins of life or it won’t happen at all. How wonderful it is to just get down one page of words captured for just a little while.
~
Sick Days {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #5
We’ve been under a cold and upper respiratory fog that just will not go away. Thankfully, we seem to be slowly coming out the other side of the tunnel and I know there are things I was grateful for even in the midst of hard daily life circumstances.
41. extra soft Kleenex, big three pack, that my husband picked up for us
42. daughter who served me hot tea on a tray with a card and light candle, so cheerful and an unexpected blessing
43. fluffy duvet covers to snuggle under
44. the brilliant star-filled sky out of our big window in the upstairs hall. I’ve been up a lot with children, my own coughing, and I kept noticing it as I passed by.
45. I made a simple meal of meatballs and mash potatoes and my family was in raptures. Hallelujah for happy stomachs!
46. thick, soft socks
47. children who helped out with cooking while I was really sick
48. glorious orange sunrise this morning, shining through a purple and pale blue haze, so beautiful
49. sunlight has been rare lately, so when it visits, the shafts throughout the house are lifegiving
50. sharing the reading of our books together, cuddling under quilts, listening to music and watching Victorian Farm episode on Youtube. Flexibility to keep going when sick at a comfortable speed.
~
First Snow {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #4
We awoke to a thick, delicious, white frosting spread across the land. We are delighted and are celebrating by baking something to go with our hot drinks and books today.
31. my daughter’s little whispy bits of hair blowing in the warm, wood-pellet stove air
32. banana and walnut go together so very well, do they not?
33. a lovely time with four mothers, a passel of children, books, beauty, and delightful conversations
34. impromptu date with my middle two, listening to their dreams, ideas, and having lots of laughs together
35. first holiday party of the season tomorrow, a chance to listen and encourage, and wash a few dishes 😉
36. little hands peeling mandarins, fresh, sweet citrus-y smell
37. wood smoke curling out of all the Amish schools, yards full of little carts, recesses of little, black-clad children running around. Crowds of them walking along the roadside, brightly colored lunch coolers banging against their legs
38. anticipating the 200 bulbs the little children and I planted last month. Spring will be glorious thanks to those little gems tucked away
39. tea with honey. I’m a coffee person, but in autumn and winter, “lashings of tea” is the way to go!
40. The only Christmas-y thing I’ve began early is Bing Crosby. Swoon, so cheerful and comforting
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Forever – is composed of Nows {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #3
by Emily DickinsonForever – is composed of Nows –‘Tis not a different time –Except for Infiniteness –And Latitude of Home –From this – experienced Here –Remove the Dates – to These –Let Months dissolve in further Months –And Years – exhale in Years –Without Debate – or Pause –Or Celebrated Days –No different Our Years would beFrom Anno Dominies –
{Wow. Thinking on this poem today. Isn’t it lovely and full of food for thought?}
21. a little boy that says “blue” for glue. “Can you blue this for me?” Be still my heart.
22. sound of rain on the windshield.
23. simple dates over spicy sandwiches, no place to be, just laughing and catching up.
24. that the voting ads are going to now stop filling up our mailbox. Ha. Today is election day in the US.
25. enjoying listening to Shakespeare’s Henry V with my older children, the film adaptation with Kenneth Branaugh has some inspiring scenes. We’ve had some fantastic discussions, laughs, and love the, “Once more until the breach dear friends, once more” speech.
26. my daughter’s hamster face sticking out of our wooden play castle!
27. four, fluffy, new deep purple bath towels.
28. listening and dancing to different soundtracks.
29. reading Green Eggs and Ham for the first time again.
30. my biggest boy sitting in front of fire, sketching a trebuchet.
~
Monday Ponderings {November 5th}
If any strain of my “broken music” make a child’s eyes flash, or his mother’s grow for a moment dim, my labour will not have been in vain.
~ George MacDonald, “The Fantastic Imagination”
{This quote came to my attention via the lovely Instagram account _bryana_joy and I found it very intriguing. I searched around for it online and found the complete essay. I highly recommend it for writers, artists, any creatives, but also for mothers as it gives an interesting perspective of childlike wonder and an inside-out view of children. Just asking ourselves the question of what is already inherently inside our child (who is made in the image of God), just waiting, faithfully sowing, and spreading beauty that kindles that spark of wonder. We are not molding them from the outside-in and that is such a huge relief. This essay is not a super easy read, and I’m still reflecting on it, and think it’s worth reading.}
~
Saturday ~ {One Hundred Bits of Gratitude by Thanksgiving} #2
WHO is the honest man?
He that doth still and strongly good pursue, –
To GOD, his Neighbour, and himself most true;
Whom neither force nor fawning can
Unpin, or wrench from giving all their Due…
Who rides his sure and even trot,
While the world now rides by, now lags behind;..
A being brought into a sum,
What Place or Person calls for,-he doth pay…
Who, when he is to treat
With sick folks, women, those whom passions sway,-
Allows for that, and keeps his constant way:
Whom others’ faults do no defeat;
But though men fail him, yet his part doth play!
Whom nothing can procure,
When the wide world runs bias from his will,
To wreathe his limbs, and share, not mend the ill.
This is the marksman, safe and sure,
Who still is right, and prays to be so still.
~Herbert
The Cloud of Witness, p. 454
I thinking on that poem this morning and here are some things I’m thankful for right now!
11. little board bridge children made across trench husband is working on. Then offering to hold my hand across.
12. light swaying of clothing on the clothesline.
13. new-to-us table lamps adding so much warm glow to our living room.
14. a whole day ahead, no major responsibilities, ripe in possibilities.
15. my son’s little overalls.
16. Scripture that promises that God will be strong in my weaknesses.
17. creamy chocolate milk.
18. Voxer, a walkie talkie type app, so I can chat away with my friends.
19. a couple of Christmas surprises I have on the way. I always feel better if I don’t wait till the last minute.
20. first lines in a new book, the anticipation of what is to come.
~
