Paper Dog Bones.

Words to my favorite Christmas song are:

What can I give Him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a Lamb.
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.
So what can I give Him?
Give Him my heart.

Translation: To:Mommy

Mommy, I love you. I hope you have a very good Christmas.

My Christmas tree is filling up underneath. And I haven't even bought one gift for my family. It's filling up with little crayon covered packages: paper dog bones for Shadow, along with paper collars, little cards and paper jewelry for siblings, and fishing poles and glasses for their elves. 

The gift making is more fun than the gift getting. And to spend whole afternoons cutting and pasting seems so much more pleasant than writing out long lists to Santa. We've been so busy making gifts around here that we've neglected the most important gift giving. Today we will gather and ask what it is we will give to Jesus this Christmas. The wise men brought gifts for a King to a little babe in a manger. But Jesus doesn't have lists drawn up asking for gold, frankincense and myrrh. He simply asks for our hearts to be opened to Him and our lives to be lived for Him. I hope that is my intention throughout Christmas. I hope not to get frazzled about writing Christmas cards, and finishing lavender scented, rice-filled owls for everyone and their mother. And one for my mother too. That is not the gift giving He's asking for. In fact, He's not asking for more of me at all. He is offering all of Himself. He is the ultimate gift. And the greatest gift we can give to Him is accepting His tremendous gift to us. The best gifts don't come from under the tree at all. They come from a manger.

Today I see His love in the gift of Himself. He is here: offering peace in busy days, joy in the little moments cherished with my children, and unconditional love, such as can only be given by Him.

Together in Grace, 

Amy

Unexpected Gifts.

Christmas errands involve unexpected stops to the mall. And unexpected cash-only train rides. I dig through my purse to find only enough change for 2 and a half children, and the older two willingly watch their younger sister and brother line up for tickets. Then the ticket lady slips me four and says, "Merry Christmas." Happy smiles all around from this unexpected gift.

Some gifts are expected. His coming was expected. But no less miraculous. I love both kinds. But today I see His love in the many unexpected gifts He has given.

Together in Grace,

Amy

When He Comes.

Our little stable brings its story slowly. Each day, one more piece arrives until the full crescendo of the beautiful moment of His birth is pictured. Sometimes we only have part of the picture. Sometimes we live with that. But when He comes, fullness comes.

Anticipation and Naughty Elves.

We're awaiting Christmas under the watchful eyes of four mischievous elves named: Tinsel, Ginger, Sugarplum and Rowan. (Yes, he's his own favorite name.)

They are tricky elves...

I've never anticipated anything so much as my four sweet baby arrivals. I can only imagine the anticipation of generations awaiting our King. I am thankful to have already seen His birth announcement penned across pages of His Word. In this season, the anticipation of His birthday is bound up with joy at our house. 

Today His love is shown to me in laughter where there could be silence, in light where there could be darkness, and joy where I could have known only sadness.

Together in Grace,

Amy

If You Were Born in a Stable, Welcome to my House.

Jesus was born in a stable. So I presume He would be willing to visit my house, even on days like today.  I ventured from my bed once today, long enough to capture the stable-like-similarities I saw. After a 10 day bout of taking care of sick kids, I knew my turn was coming. And it has. In a bad way. I am a little horrified of my children run house right now. In fact, this would theoretically be the perfect day for a Christmas miracle, aka: someone to come by and watch my kids, cook, put laundry away, make me soup and bring me lots and lots of fever reducing tylenol. Did I mention wash the dishes? But I would not let anyone through my door to do it. Even if there was such a willing soul. I do that to Jesus too. I only want Him to see the parts of me that aren’t a mess. But I need Him the most where I am falling apart. And it’s not as if He can’t already see the piles of dishes; they are mounting like the tower of Babel. Only, the amazing thing about this stable born King is His willingness to enter our world in manure filled stables, eat with tax collectors and bathe men's stinky feet. He is willing to cross my home and my heart’s threshold too, no matter how bad it looks like inside.

 

My December Photo Project is summed up today by this last one.

I see His love today in His acceptance of me, of my mess, and in the enormity of His grace.  And also, just like Mary leaned on Joseph in her time of need, my husband has fed children, gotten them all to bed, and tackled a load of dishes armed in my purple dish gloves. How great is that?

Together in Grace,

Amy

Christmas is For Living.

I want them to experience it up close. I want it to be their own, embraced like faith. I want Christmas to be as real and reachable as He is.

 

Christmas was for the shepherds to gather in His presence. Christmas was and is for all because Jesus came for all. I want my children to live all that He is. So I bring Christmas as close as I can to them: let them finger the pages of His Christmas story, sing the carols playing, rearrange the chippy nativity scene, have trees filled with their own pieces of Christmas glowing by their beds. For joy is in the drawing near to Him. That is Christmastime.  

Today I see His love in their faces of joy. He is that joy.

Luke 2

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

  ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and

 praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, 

as it was told them.

Together in grace,

Amy