Christmas memories

Christmas has always been a special time for my family and I.
Looking back on the memories I smile at the little things that made each one special, somehow through adversity and poverty, every Christmas we scraped up enough to be together and to be jolly.

The picture of bob Cratchit coming home to that crammed and impoverished home that was rich in joy and thankfulness has a ghostly similitude to our own little home's crammed and lowly enough to resemble any memorable Dickens character's.
Ours was a home not rich in material wealth, what we had was something more wonderful that that. You see we were able to experience Christmas the way it should be. Simple and full of love. presents didn't matter, even though there was always something special under our "tree"We knew it wasn't about those tiny hard earned trinkets. But the blessings of being healthy and together. We were able to wholly focus on the greatest gift given to mankind. A Savior which is Christ the Lord.
I look back on the earliest ones I can remember, and there is a hazy sort of charm over those earliest of Christmas memories for me. And it wasn't Because of lights on the tree, it wasn't the shiny wrapped boxes, it wasn't the feast that took ages to prepare. (which back then we were hardly able to afford)
It was a smiling mother who rallied her troop's of little hands to the call of cheer and delight. Who out of necessity used every imaginable part of her brain to create some grand decor, even if it meant pinning sheets up on the blanketed windows, (we didn't have heat)  to look like curtains. and pulling every imaginable gift that the 60 acres we lived on provided, to create an atmosphere of Christmas.
And my sisters her two right hand sergeants, who were at the ready to charge and tackle any task. The eldest usually money, working jobs here and there and the younger with her; usually the younger would dream up some feast out of the simplest of ingredient's, and all three of them would be in the tiny kitchen cooking and singing carols. And my brothers who would always be cooking up some sort of mischief of happy playful hours to fill up the time we waited for the big day when everything would come together.
We never knew we had so little we were a band of jolly children with a mother who stood by and watched her chickens with joy and many a prayer for us all. Who kept us closely tied with her love and childlike faith.
Even though we are far better off now, the lessons are still the same.
Its the simplest of gifts that make a christmas great. Its not getting some grand present that you will remember, but the ones who you shared days and nights with in laughter and coziness.
Remember this in the next two days, cherish every moment spent with someone you love, for those are the ones worth storing up for someday.
Be thankful for the ones you hold dear, but be most grateful that they are near.

 Wishing you all my lovely followers a happy and lovely amazingly blessed Christmas.
Amid all the busy wonderfulness and the seasonal shenanigans lets try and remember why we celebrate.

One Small Child

                         One small child in the land of a thousand
                      One small dream of a savior tonight
               One small hand reaching out to the star light
           One small savior of life.
                                                                One small child, song written by David Meece. 


That tiny life that came, willingly given by His Father to a lost and dying world.In human flesh he came that concealed his wondrous glory, A tiny child. He came into this world as any other child does, but came for a purpose no other could understand, he had a destiny no other has had, and fulfilled that destiny no matter the pain for you, and me.

The hands that would be pierced, tiny and soft held by his mother, did she know the importance of this
 life she was entrusted with ? The face she kissed, as she held her child close did she know the pain He would endure ?

His purpose ? To bring life, everlasting life to you and me, that is what we celebrate at christmas.
Its not just the birthday of a child, but the birth of grace, pure love in the flesh that looked across the echoes of time and all the world all that ever was or would ever be, and came to a humble people in a humble form to be our propitiation for all sins ever committed for all time.
 Unmitigated love, that is what we celebrate at christmas, the pure love of a Father and the pure love and willingness of a Son.
So as we celebrate christmas this year, as we get caught up in the fun this season brings, remember the true and only gift that has ever really has mattered, Jesus the love that came down at christmas and the gift he has given to you and me.

For unto us a child is born,
 unto us a son is given
and his name will be called 
Wonderful Councilor, 
Mighty God , 
Everlasting Father, 
Prince of Peace. 
ISAIAH 9:6 

Happy christmas to all my blogging friends, may this christmas be the most wondrous one for you and your families, as we remember the wonderful gift we gave been given through His coming, His death, and HIs rising to life again.

The Road to Christmas

Pictures via Pintrest 

Ah, I love this season, the Christmas season that is, well any season is really on my list of favorites but christmas is one of the best.  This time of year holds a special kind of magic, don't you think ? the fireside evenings and warm moments shared with family. All of these bring a special kind of awe inspiring memories that, I'm sure we all have. I have fond memories of very special traditions and you'd probably think them quirky and weird if I told you about them all, so I'll refrain. Suffice it to say I love this time of year, most of the time, at lest right now at this moment, forget the last two doubting sentences. I love this time of year, but I must say does it seem that it came upon us rather quickly ? perhaps its just me but I feel that autumn was just here and it disappeared much too quickly.
I mean how does one comfortably cram thanksgiving and christmas and all that entails into two short months ? it seems impossible. It doesn't really matter though for my family, but I wont get into that, remember the quirky traditions, still refraining. How does one cram all the wonderful things to be done this time of year into two meager months and still leave time for that start of the year, I hope with out stress, isn't it sad when one sees individuals trudging through the christmas season waiting with bated breath for it to be over, such a shame. How do you deal with the ever shortening time ?
I hope you my blogging friends are having a wonderful winter, christmas season with your family.

I would love to know what your favorite thing about christmas or winter is, who knows I might just write a post about my favorite thing later on, well see.
have a wonderful UNSTRESSED rest of the week.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Close your eyes and remember, remember a time when everything held within its self a quality of enchantment. Remember the dreams, excitement, and charm of life seen through the eyes of a  unburdened  heart.

 

Every moment held an inexpressible characteristic of something, something that could not be described. Why, I ask my self is it that as we grow we lose that special quality to see the lighter things. Why do we become so absorbed in the things that "must be done" that we completely forget about the important things, things like magic and wonder and the beauty of things that are seemingly simple, but can because of some complex reason that I don't understand hold the most meaning to every one involved. 

 I implore you to remember to look at this Christmas season through the eyes of a child, try though it may be hard, to forget about the endless things that need doing, or the many things that are piling up, and be in the moment. Its easy to be overwhelmed at this time of year with parties, presents, family, and our own expectations to make things absolutely perfect. Just remember that the most important things rarely are the big things that we try to with strength and might to pull off, but are the tiny things that take nearly no planing or are the spontaneous and simple things that give us warm happy memories. Things like walks in the winter snow, or traditions that have been passed from generation to generation, I know that even these things take someone planing them to make them happen, and its easy to despise this season because of the work and planning that goes into it but please don't. This christmas look at everything as a child would and find yourself in a wonder world of inspiration and joy, because christmas isn't about all the things we get hung up on, but its about remembering the real reason we have to celebrate. The freedom we have because of one tiny child and the sacrifice that He would ultimately make for all of us.

           All photos via Pintrest