Grandma Flossie's Table

I love how the sun streams through my dining room window onto my grandma's table. I'm rarely home this time of day, so when I am, I love it!

I remember sitting at this table as a little girl. I remember thinking it must have seated 20 people! But decades later when I got to bring it to my home, I realized 8 is about the max. Funny how things seem so much bigger when you're small.

Who Would've Thought

Who would've thought that at the age of 53, my living room would still look like this four days after Christmas. I always thought that by this age, I would have a beautiful Victorian Christmas tree or something with matching gifts placed neatly and strategically beneath it--more for asthetics than actual gifts.

But, here we are, raising our little munchkin. Celebrating Jesus' birthday like we years ago the first time around. And, even though the mess bugs me, I couldn't even consider the alternative.

Maybe I'll have a Victorian Christmas tree in heaven.

Sun Above Detroit

Christmas is Hope

 

There’s a hole in our Christmas… Maybe there’s one in yours too.

We are missing several key members of our family. Our hearts ache for them a little more at Christmas time when we are reminded more intensely that they’re missing.

But Christmas is worth celebrating. It’s about so much more than being a big happy family. So we choose to celebrate… and hope… because that is what Christmas is about.

As Ann Voscamp says, “His Glory in the Highest always runs down to meet us who are in our lowest.”

We’ll rejoice in the anticipation that, because of Christmas, we’ll see those deceased loved ones again. Because “Christmas is the beginning of the story where death itself gets killed.” And we’ll hope in the anticipation that the one who is still living, yet absent, will find his way.

Because that is what Christmas is all about…

     …Joy

         … Hope

               …Anticipation

That’s why He came…

     …In the midst of a genocide

          …As a homeless refugee                 

               …Poor and powerless

That’s how the King of the Universe entered our world.

He has turned our HOLE into HOPE! So we grieve and believe. We rejoice in hope and anticipation.

Merry belated Christmas

and a Hope-filled 2015 to you!

The Bavarian Inn Through the Covered Bridge

My quiet place

Christmas Eve 2014

Project 365

Since I seem to be stuck when it comes to writing, I'm trying a new creative outlet. I am a total novice, but I'm joining Project 365, taking a photo every day for a year. I'm hoping it will help me become a better photographer, and maybe even a better journaler.

I think I'll start on Christmas Eve, so I can document our family's Christmas, 2014. Christmas is a difficult time for me, and maybe by starting here, I can work through some of my grief, and not just "suck it up and get through" the holidays.

This will definitely be a challenge and I'm notorious for starting things and not finishing them, but I'm going to give it my best shot!