Wednesday 6 December 2017

This time of year . . .

 

I don't mind that the month of December opens the windows of the year to another wintertime . . . with it's wind and cold, rain, sleet, snow . . . December brings to me a spark of love and faith, for it heralds the Christmas Season, my favourite season of the year.

I am still a big child at heart, and there isn't anything about Christmas I don't love. The decorations, the carols, the sights, the smells, the sounds . . . I find great joy and excitement in all of these things. The way I choose to live my life helps to keep me close to the joy of yuletide, the real meaning of Christmas, and the hope and trust that come to one whose faith is based on the birth of the Christchild in Bethlehem. I choose not to surround myself the commerciality of the urban centres, and . . . .  if I didn't need to go into town for anything . . .  I would not see any of it at all, especially if I chose not to turn on my television during this time of year.  However, there are too many good Christmas films, etc. on and I love them to no end  . . .


I have my favourites to be sure  . . . 

 In one tiny corner of the livingroom stands the tree. I wish that it was a real one, with all of its evergreen smell, but it's an artificial one, and a tiny one this year due to lack of space. It was actually much harder to decorate than a large one is . . .  mostly because I had to be really choosy about what I wanted to put onto it.  So many memories had to be left off . . . .  memories that I have built over my years here in the UK . . . ornaments that I have bought and still others that have been gifts from loving friends.  As small as it is however, and however few the ornaments, it is still a tree filled with memories and love and I feel really good sitting in my chair and gazing at it's branches laden with these special treasures, the colours of it's sparkling lights gleaming in the winter twilight. 

In the back garden, the hedge which surrounds us on all sides, is ablaze with the red berries of the Holly, it's waxy green leaves shining and beckoning me to clip some, placing it around our tiny home, adorning it with some medieval tradition that I know nothing about, but yearn to embrace. What would Christmas be without holly . . . 


 We don't have any snow. That is one thing I do miss at Christmas time here in the UK. The countryside covered in a blanket of pristine white, and shining like diamonds in the winter sun . . . glowing and sparkling when touched by the light of the stars high in the heavens. Back home, it almost always snows on Christmas Eve, big, white, fluffy flakes falling down from the heavens like feathers, adding to the magic of that special night. But there is beauty anyways in the frozen ground over here and the frost that begins to gild the trees and hedgerows with their own special frosting on these colder winter mornings . . . 

Bells and carols spread love and joy . . .  and add to the true spirit of Christmastime. I have an extensive library of Christmas music and I love to put it on during these December days and evenings, playing it low in the background, providing a wonderfully familial backdrop to all my activities as I putter here and putter there. As the winter birds visit the feeders outside my kitchen window,  I hear this holy season of love in the songs that they sing. I believe that the Robin is prettiest at this time of year, it's rosy red little breast puffed up against the cold as it hops along our garden pathways seeking crumbs, it's beautiful song filling the cold crisp air . . . a most welcome garden visitor. 


 I need no other gifts so long as I have my small loving family, Mitzie and Todd  . . . my chosen family of friends, and all this beauty and song around me. I meditate and dream. Yes . . . of Christmas's gone past and but also of Christmas present. My memories of Christmastime continue to point the way to the birth of our Saviour who promised eternal life for those who believe, and so I believe . . . this is the season of love. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *.˛.°
  Christmas is not a time, nor a season,
but a state of mind. To cherish peace
and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy,
is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
~Calvin Coolidge  •。★★ 。* 。 


 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's reading - 2 Nephi 9:1-14 
Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? What is your favourite title for Jesus Christ and why?  
 
My Thoughts - Death and hell are the two deaths Jacob speaks of. Physical death where our bodies are buried, and spiritual where those who died without a knowledge of the gospel, or who does in their sins are taught the gospel in hell or spirit prison. It is because of the wonderful plan of our redeemer, that we can rise pure and clean and stand before our maker, after using the wonderful gift of the atonement to sanctify, cleanse and purify ourselves before Him. Then, we will no longer have faith, but will be at a state of perfect knowledge. And we will have a perfect knowledge of our deeds and be judged accordingly. I love the last sentence, "the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness." I want to be numbered among those.
 
 Saviour. Redeemer. Advocate. Deliverer. Counsellor. Shepherd. Creator. Exemplar. Prince of Peace. King of Kings  . . .  every title of Jesus Christ has meaning for me personally. Its been really humbling to reflect on this today. 
 
 Jesus my 'exemplar' has to be one of my favourites. 💛 His example shows me how to love, serve, teach, and to obey my Heavenly Father. I love all of His perfect attributes. He is my example in all things. When I look to the Lord, my desire to do good and to be good grows. I am so grateful I can receive the Saviour's help and be given His ability to develop His attributes and live like Him. 
 
Tomorrow's Reading (Day 48) - 2 Nephi 9:15-30 
Question -What have you learnt from the reading today? How does it help you to know that The Lord's words will be fulfilled? 
 
 
 
Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Spicy Sausage, Peppers & Rice.  Quick, easy and tasty! 
 
Have a lovely Wednesday.  Don't forget along the way of your day!
 
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And I do too! 
 
  
 
 

7 comments:

  1. Hi Marie, what a lovely Christmassy post! I love Christmas too, its definitely my favourite season. With downsizing the tree I had three enormous bags of baubles and decorations which I took to the charity shop. Still got about a thousand on the smaller tree though! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm fairly organised this year with the presents and cards etc. You feel so much better if you're not sressed out over these things. I know their not the important things of Christmas but it makes for a more peaceful time if your stress free!

    I got the date for my foot op, its 8th January. I'm pleased with this date as I won't be able to walk on it for two weeks and then its a lot of resting it for six weeks after that. It'll be cold anyway so I won't want to go out. Might even be snowed in by then!! We might actually get some the end of this week as its coming from the Arctic! Wrap up well! Lot's of love xxx

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  2. I bet everything looks wonderful Marie..happy this season is just so right for you and your childlike wonder of everything:)

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  3. I had to check out your recipe for today and I think it's hit the spot as I have some pepper in the fridge that need using up. It's busy days here and I need something quick and easy to make. There is everything to love about the Christmas season I agree.

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  4. Happy you have a date for your op Kate! Which hospital are you having it in? How long will you be in hospital? Let me know if I can do anything for you during that time! The thought of being snowed in is kind of pleasant at the moment! Love and hugs! xoxo

    The child in me really comes out at Christmas Monique! I wish I felt like this all year round! xoxo

    Oh, I hope you enjoy it Pam! I love it when people can use what I post! xoxo

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  5. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get in last couple of nights...but here I am tonight having been able to read three...days news.....I to love the feelings that Christmas brings. I have spent last two days writing Christmas cards my own plus marys I counted when I stopped this afternoon and Mary has to buy 100 second class stamps tomorrow if she gets to the post office....I love writing cards. I know it's expensive ...well in my case it's Mary who pays for the stamps and I buy the cards...I think I come out best as I can buy cheap cards after Christmas and only have my charity cards to buy at this time.....it's taken me two days to get them all done. I do admit to having to write a wee note in a lot of them, again I never mind as its a nice way of keeping in touch with folks we have perhaps not seen for a long time....Indeed one I write to is to the wife of the surgeon who operated on my mother and saved her life a few times over 35 years ago now. Ian McLeod always wrote ...in green ink...at Xmas when we moved south to keep in touch with us. He died a few years ago but still his wife Gill writes a short message on a card to me always interested to hear what I have been doing....that I think is real friendship just what our beloved Jesus came to ask us to be, kind and good to others...oh I do love Christmas.....sorry I have gone on a bit long!!....hope you are going to avoid the gales and snow we seem to have been promised over the weekend....night night. God bless. Xxx

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  6. I do love Christmas too Marie! I love putting up the Christmas trees and decorations. Listening to the Christmas music and watching the movies too. Making all the favorites plus trying out a few new ones. Fun!
    What I don't like is wrapping presents. I always try to get someone else to do it. Lol.
    I also don't like to shovel. I'm real scared of driving on black ice and sliding across the street. I've had that happen a few times too. The last time I slid I was going to the store and didn't think it was that slippery. I went down a little hill and slid into the snow bank! Thank God there was no cars around! I put my car in reverse and went home. Lol.
    Big hugs xo

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  7. Sybil, I am so behind this year and have not written one card yet. I don't know what the problem is. My time just keeps evaporating! I do love to put a little note in each one if I can as well, but most years my time won't allow much of a note at all. Love and hugs to you and Mary. xoxo

    I have had some pretty scary drives as well Jan! Winter driving is not for sissies for sure! Love and hugs. xoxo

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