This Little Light of Mine

As I gazed at the darkness out our window lit by an electric candle, I noticed a small sparkle on the porch roof below. I looked again. Did I just imagine it? No, there it was, that gentle twinkle of light on snow crystal. I moved slightly. More glitter appeared. Amazing! The world was dark but for a few small lights in windows, yet the snow shone with gentle brilliance as it caught the little light it could. One small light. Many snow crystals illumined.

That is what we who are in Christ are – small lives lit by the current of God's grace.  We shine ever so slightly in a vast darkness, yet we cause numberless glimmers of hope to spark in those around us. Hope in a pure Light. Hope in a Savior.

Go deeper:

Matthew 5:14-16

Philippians 2:12-16

Baby Showers

Three family showers and two church/community showers for little Joseph and his parents. This boy is blessed!

Not pictured:

Our "sister," Joey, requested family shower #1 to be an activity during her visit in July.

Not pictured:

Hannah and I were unable to attend church/community shower #1 due to illness, so we camped out at Maren and Jason's home and got a tour of the gifts when the expectant mother and our mother returned. 

Joseph's great aunts, cousins-once-removed and second cousins gathered for family shower #2 (Mom's side).

Relatives of all kinds were present at family shower #3 (Dad's side).

Church/shower #2 was made up of many special friends from Maren's childhood and pre-marraige years.

Rural Winter Roads

Meet Augusta

Hannah is our expert snowman maker, but I joined her in making Augusta.

Birthday Roses

For as long as I remember, Mom and we girls have received a rose bouquet from Dad for our birthdays. My earliest memories of this tradition include a single rose and baby's breath from a local florist bought on the nearest date Dad had errands in town. Then came Sam's Club and Costco and their packs of two dozen roses. At first we girls often shared a bouquet at some time throughout the year, but recently Dad has been spoiling us with large bouquets of our own. Since these stores aren't a part of our weekly or even monthly routine, we sometimes don't receive our roses for a few months. This year brought  Dad to Costco on December 18, one day after my birthday. More than a week later I was still soaking up the beauty of these fading blooms and the fatherly love they represent. 

From Last Sunday's Walk

Three of Six

One week ago we gathered with family and friends to remember the life of my uncle, Dad's brother. This picture makes me happy and sad - happy to be blessed with this Dad, aunt and uncle, sad to miss Mary Ellen (the aunt I never knew), Dorothy (an aunt-child to me) and Wayne (a quietly caring uncle). May we all meet in heaven praising our Father who makes us family forever!

Tradition

Grandma R. was a woman of many traditions, each of which brought beauty and a sense of care to those she loved and served. One tradition was to bring out her beautiful hand made dish towels every holiday for post-feast clean up. Now we have a few towels from her set and have begun carrying on her holiday tradition in our home.

Christmas Morning