I was eight months pregnant with my second of four babies. I had stayed up late one night to paint our master bedroom, that made more sense being a playroom. I fell in love with a simple motif on the curtains I had purchased for the room — primary color squares with childlike drawings of animals and letters. I wish I had a picture to show you, but it was during the era of 35mm film.
I endeavored to re-create the squares as a border around the room by hand-painting them. It was a more tedious job than I imagined, and took much longer than I thought to hand-paint a drawing in each one.
Continue Reading »
It’s the beginning of a new year…the time when many of us think of changes we want to make…big changes.
We start out strong, energetic, and ready to make things happen.
And then it gets harder. We get sick. Tired. The unexpected happens and throws us off course. We’re so busy that we don’t have the time or energy to figure out how to do things differently.
And we feel like giving up.
Before throwing in the towel, I invite you to back up for a moment and start again. But this time, start small.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin… Zechariah 4:10 NLT
I’m learning to set smaller goals to work toward with shorter time frames.
Continue Reading »
Happy New Year! Well, almost. I cannot believe that 2012 is coming to an end and a new season is about to unfold, a season full of hope and promise. Over the last few days, I have spent much time in reflection.
As Christmas drew near, I reflected on the sacrifice that Jesus made, leaving the comforts of His heavenly home and coming to earth, to be born as a babe in humble fashion, just because of His love for me!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believesin him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Continue Reading »
We have so many traditions in our family. Some silly. Some tender. All special. Traditions that feel safe and good and right – like anchors of joy in the midst of sometimes turbulent and unpredictable waters.
But what about when your traditions get toppled? When one of the ones who helped make those traditions so special is no longer there?
My father passed away very suddenly when I was 18 years old. Our light detangler, our baker of sausage balls, our professional “get the real tree standing straight and put the star on top” father – gone.
I remember our first Christmas without him; we could not bear to be at home.
Continue Reading »
Written on
December 20, 2012 by
Kris in
Blog
It is without pride that I am able to confess, that I know my way around a plate of cookies. At Christmas time, my Mom always makes butter cookies in various holiday shapes, which, when I lived at home, we’d ice and sprinkle and then consume by the palm-full. My Grandfather always had a plate of brownies on the counter for our Sunday visits, and with my Granny, I treasure years of kitchen memories making her beloved ‘Face Cookies”.
There’s something familiar and comforting about a plate of fresh baked treats, in my family, these plates were edible love letters.
The first year I was married I baked somewhere around 8 dozen cookies the week before Christmas.What
Continue Reading »
It’s the beginning of December when they start making their appearance. First as a slow trickle, but then two by two they march into my mailbox – Christmas cards.
In recent years, the majority are picture greetings. With giddy excitement, I tear open each one, eager to see the creative cards and read well wishes. Every year I display them across my kitchen cabinets, smiling faces greeting me as I cook and help with homework.
For years, I struggled with what to do with them at the end of the season. It seemed a crime to toss the beautiful glossies of the families I loved in the trash.
Continue Reading »
I come from a music-loving family. We regularly sang around the piano together and quite often met up with church members to sing hymns at retirement homes. On one occasion I remember singing a solo while my mom accompanied me on the piano:
“there’s something quite peculiar about this world of ours,
sometimes we live in sunshine bright,
sometimes we live in showers,
but if you would keep happy when things are looking bad,
just lift the corners of your mouth and make believe you’re glad!
and smile! smile! smile! and keep right on a smiling…”
I remember exaggerating my smile while I sang.
Continue Reading »
Christmas can so easily become one big swirl of commercialism and hype. I know that we all fall into the trap of the lists of gifts, parties, deadlines, baking, etc becoming THE focus. In fact, while I am typing right now, I am also feverishly trying to work on a knit scarf for my oldest son. I love the opportunity to give this time of year. As much as I love the hustle and bustle of the season, if I am not purposeful I can lose vision for what this season is really about – Jesus. I have found that even with my best intentions, it is so easy to slip into making Christmas about me and those I love instead of about Him.
Continue Reading »
