Here Comes the Sun

Photo by Susan Burston

The Creative Process--in Process

Our 3 granddaughters each received a spiral bound note book as one of their Christmas gifts. How well I remember the sheer anticipation of a new book with pristine pages; I still love to start a new journal.
Since they got them, the pages of their books have been filling with drawings and stories!
Last night Victoria got stuck in a story she was writing about some animals who lived in a medieval castle (just like the one her sister got for Christmas). In the nearby forest lived a monster. I wondered if the monster might actually not be as scary as everyone thought, but really lonely. Victoria's writer's block was over--her pencil was busy already!
Later, she came upstairs to read her story out loud at the kitchen table. This is that moment. A beautiful moment to share.

Garden Angel

Photograph by Susan Burston

Christmas Eve

Two of our God children; Summer and Jacob, with hair of flame and brown eyes as tender as their hearts.

Our tradition is to spend Christmas Eve with them and their parents, who are our dear friends, and their little sister Eden Belle.

Sleigh Dog!

Molson has been my shadow at home while Brenda has been away doing Christmas visiting. Wherever I go, he follows, with sleigh bells (a gift from our friend Susan) jingling.

The house was already fragrant with the scent of simmering split pea and ham soup and Nasi Goreng--Indonesian Fried Rice was the destination of the remaining ham. I was chopping the leeks for this dish and was compelled to share their beauty!

A Slight Delay

Due to confusion at the rental company there was only a compact model left and the wise men were two years late in arriving!

Magnetic Manger!

A few years ago I bought a magnetic nativity set. When it appears each year in its ziploc storage bag, the children are excited. They love sticking the stable, manger, star, donkey, Mary, Joseph and Jesus on the fridge, along with a shepherd, a sheep and an angel unfurling a scroll.

Finding space on my fridge is another thing!

The Trees Clap Their Hands

"They are the promise of the coming spring - naked limbs reaching out in hope and waiting as patiently as they can for the warmth of spring to return with their summer clothes. Sometimes, they wait in stillness, in silence. Sometimes, as the wind whips up about them, they clap their hands together. But they wait." Susan Stewart

Camouflage

The beautiful colours of these cattle stood out against the snow, but blended with the old stone foundation of this barn. Camouflage!

Wintery Wood

Sepia Day

Line upon line, they stood, holding up their branches to the moist and misty air.

The Jewels on My Window Ledge This Morning

My friends and I have been talking and writing much about grace these last few days as readers of Whatever He Says will know. Snow covers the world as God's grace covers our sin. We are all so grateful.

The Gift

"It's done!" said 8 year old Victoria, placing the gift bag under our Christmas tree.

"But ," she added, wagging her finger at me,"you can't open it until Christmas."

Yes, it's for me; the tag says, "To Omie from Victoria," and I know what lies within those tissue paper folds--a 22 page book that she wrote for me. I believe it's called The Two Bunnies. I can't wait!

The Homecoming

This photo was taken December 4th, when Paul returned from a harrowing drive north with two friends, to a First Nations reserve over 2000 kilometers north of where we live. They drove home through a bad snow storm and when he walked throught the door that evening, I was never more happy to see anyone. He dropped his sleeping bag and other bags, and a small pile of gifts brought home, in the hallway.

On a week when many will be returning home to be with their families, the photo symbolizes what it means to be with those we love. I pray that those who see it will cherish each other and time together. And may God give your loved ones angels to watch over them on their journey home.

This was taken on this day last year, at The Flower Mill, in Alvechurch, where Brenda and I had gone to celebrate Mum's 80th birthday.

A house dressed in its Christmas best--and looking just like it is waiting for guests!