A Midnight Clear

Merry Christmas, dear ones!

I hope this day is full of great joy, sweet peace, and coveted rest.

Here are sweet words written by someone much more poetic than I:

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

My prayer for us today is that we could take a deep long breath of grace, that we'd rest beside the weary road and listen. The God who sent angels to sing of His Son's birth sings songs over you, did you know? Now, if that's not a reason for merriment this Christmas, I certainly can't think of one.

Much love to you and merry, merry Christmas!



Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you...
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

I'm well aware I'm not Oprah, though I'd appreciate it if people started referring to me only by my first name. Madonna, Cher, Oprah, Kimberly. No, you know, that doesn't work, does it? I need a name that's a bit more unique. Like....Gaga only more wholesome.

Gigi?

GooGoo?

GeeGee?

GollyGolly?

Think about that, will you, and get back to me in 2011?

In the meantime, I, like Oprah, have some favorite things from 2010. Some of them I can't really pass along to you, like the new baskets I have to store all my husband's winter gear. (That is correct: basketS plural.) Or my new earrings that a fantastic girl named Jessica made for me after I stopped by her booth at a craft fair. I would like to share these with you but I cannot because there are only two and I need them to look cute.

But I would like to tell you about a few things I liked this year and that have given me great joy.

NUMERO UNO:
Sara Groves.



I love this woman. I've had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times and let me assure you, she is all that and at least six bags of chips. If you have not already, please buy her Christmas CD and listen to it without ceasing for the next week. Her voice is beautiful and haunting and human and everything you'd want to hear on any given day.



Also, she sings a hilarious song called "Toy Packaging" that should give all parents everywhere great comfort in these trying days.

NUMERO DOS:
Books. I read them, every now and then I write them and I want to tell you all when I find one that needs to be read. For example, have you read The Help by Kathryn Stockett?



You probably should. I drank it up like a good cup of coffee and was sad when it ended. What about Peace Like A River by Leif Enger? Fabulous. Sarah's Key by de Rosnay and Havah by Tosca Lee were doozys in the best sense of the word. I also ate up Love Focused by the Hughes duo, though I'm warning you to get ready to hunker down. You will probably need a stiff drink by the end when you realize you have a SERIOUS control problem and you have been loving yourself more than all the other people you should love.

There are plenty of others that I loved this year but I will refrain from specific titles as some of them contain naughty words and I don't want to irritate people who don't read naughty words. I DO irritate AND I read naughty words so it's a wonder you're all still here.

NUMERO TRES:

Lindt Lindor Truffles. Marc bought these for me recently and I'm telling you, only one little square in and I was professing my undying love for him. I am suspicious he knew this would happen.



What about you? Favorite things? Hurry! We only have a few days left to influence buying patterns in our homes! What did you love in 2010?