Sunday 22 December 2019

On our way home . . .


(source)


On our way home . . . we are more often than not led along the strangest ways. Unexpected turnings often take us back to days long gone and in the past. Suddenly we've gone astray, even though the track we chose to take seemed straight . . . and we find we've stumbled upon the road of the forgotten years.

It could be the snatch of a song heard on the wind when passing down a narrow street . . . or we may come across a poem, some long ago memorised lines . . . foolish but sweet . . .

Sometimes the bells which ring out loud and clear on Sunday mornings can be the impetus that takes us on that backwards journey . . . or Toby jugs, or blue willow plates . . .



Door knockers . . . made of brass and shining, laid out against an old wooden door, painted black . . . Hollyhocks which grow against a brick garden wall . . . small wicker gates . . . the creak and snap of a screen door . . .

These things are the stuff that memories are made of . . . a tiny glimpse and the doorway opens wide and we are taken back as our thoughts fly to distant days already lived . . . down the long, long lane of all the dreams that never die . . . the way home for a weary heart.




The way home to peace and rest at the journey's end . . . the good things and the best. Looking back we see it was the hardship, not the ease . . . that taught us most of our life's philosophy. the hurts, the stabs, the stings . . . the things that brought us to our knees, bringing us wisdom from calamity.

A glance behind us and we can clearly see that it was failure . . . not success, which goaded us to fight against despair. Looking back . . . we see that it was pain, not happiness, which led us . . . groping and hoping . . . to knees bent down and hands folded in prayer, and each year it is the same, our lives a mix of pain and pleasure. 



Was it worth it . . . ahhh . . . yes it was . . . yes it was.

Just my thoughts as the year winds down and we stand on the precipice of a brand new page, clean and fresh and ready for us to write upon. 



My Christmas grocery order came yesterday morning, nothing was substituted (thank goodness) but I had ordered two small single trifles just so Todd and I could have a taste and they were out of stock. I did get this tin of choccies for us.  It is the cutest tin, only 8 inches across and about 4 inches deep. Designed by Olivia Burton for Cadbury's.  It would make the cutest sewing tin.  A few years ago I started creating sewing tins to sell and got side tracked. I think I might take it up again. We'll see.  

Had a joy-filled facetime with our Doug and his family yesterday. The boys are filled to overflowing with Christmas excitement!  It was simply lovely.  I am so grateful that our Doug is still with us. Things could have ended so differently.  Praise God for tender mercies.

So anyways, everything is all in for Christmas now, just the turkey which will arrive today.  It wasn't supposed to until tomorrow, but for some reason they want to deliver it today. They are worried about highway chaos I guess and it is coming from Devon.  Anyways, I will be at church and they know that, so I have given a safe spot for it to be delivered to if I am not back in time. 

I am looking forward to church this morning, it will be a special Christmas service centred on the Saviour. I always love the Christmas service.  There is always a really tender spirit in attendance.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
If you won't let the past die
then it won't let you live.
~Unknown•。★★ 。* 。 


 Christmas Gingerbread Roll 


In The English Kitchen today, could this be a contender for Christmas Dinner Dessert?  Or maybe Christmas Eve?  Possibly.  Gingerbread Roll.  Its delicious, tender and fragrant, nicely spiced with a lush lemon cream filling.  Soooooo good! 

Have a wonderfully blessed Sunday!  Don't forget! 


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And I do too! 

 

11 comments:

  1. Hi Marie, you write so beautifully. I've really enjoyed reading this post and your previous one. Ah, memories! What would we do without them? Wih all this talk about porch pirates, I hope your turkey will be safe if you're not back in time. Your Christmas service sounds lovely. There is no mid-night mass at our church on Christmas eve anymore. Instead we go to the 5:00 service. That way we are home early enough to enjoy Christmas eve. We have our tourtière and mince tarts for dinner. There is just the two of us on Christmas day and we have actually grown used to the relative peace and quiet of a day spent preparing a nice meal, listening to the Queen's speech , opening our gifts and perhaps even taking a nap. After the hustle and bustle of the last few weeks, it is bliss. We do get a few phone calls, too. On boxing day, two of my friends are going shopping early. I meet them for lunch and they come back to my house for "our" Christmas. Your gingerbread log would be lovely to serve them. Enjoy your Sunday with Todd and Mitzie. Hugs, Elaine

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    1. We have a carol service at ours at 6pm on Christmas Eve also Elaine, but we will stay home and watch the carols on the television. I have some tasty eats for us to enjoy and it will be cosy, I hope! Same with Christmas Day. Quiet and just us. I like that. Its all I want to do this year. Happy Christmas Elaine. Love and hugs and blessings to you always! xoxo

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  2. Memories created in love, remembered with love and treasured forever.

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  3. You do write so beautifully!
    And your buche is fabulous.
    And Doug and his family bring you so much joy I feel like I know them:)
    Bonne journée:)

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    1. Thanks Monique! Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family also! xoxo

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  4. This was a lovely post that I needed today. I am also looking forward to church today, then maybe going to see the lights on Temple Square tonight. Merry Christmas, my blogging friend!

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    1. Oh I would love to see the lights on Temple Square Deb! Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family! xoxo

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  5. Sending love and warm thoughts to you Marie...hope your holiday will be sweet even if just the 2 of you. Yesterday we celebrated with our 2 girls and the 2 grandkids here. It was a sweet time of good food and gifts to each other. The dessert looks so good...I will gain weight just looking at it!!
    HUGS, Elizabeth xoxo

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    1. How wonderful Elizabeth! I wish you and your husband a very Merry Christmas! xoxo

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  6. I loved reading this one as always. You have such a way with words. I still want you to write a book of all your wisdom. This was beautifully written.
    I love that you had a facetime chat with your precious family.
    I hope you and your sweet husband have the best of precious moments in all that you do this Christmas season. Sending loving Christmas thoughts and hugs your way!

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