The Simplicity of Christmas

When I found this picture that the children had taken of our cat,

I immediately thought of the Christmas verse:

"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light:

 

"...and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death,



Light has dawned!"

The above Christmas ornament is a cutout from a Christmas card we received. I like simple, homemade ornaments. Ones with meaning.

In my family growing up, we never had a Christmas tree. My mom felt that as a girl, she worshipped the Christmas tree, and my parents, basing their feelings on the chapter in Jeremiah where it talks about cutting down a tree and decorating it and turning it into an idol, felt that they should not have a Christmas tree.

But we couldn't help liking the beauty of most of the Christmas trees we saw. And we would sometimes drive around looking at Christmas decorations.

After marrying Jonathan, I felt that he should be head of the home, and since he wanted a tree, we have had trees.

But the part I kept from my childhood was that I wanted everything about Christmas, even the tree if we had to have one, to point to Christ.



I was thinking about getting a few new decorations this year, but when I asked Jonathan about it, and he told me that he didn't have work beyond the middle of next week, I quickly decided that we did not need new decorations! Jonathan had brought home some evergreen boughs from a job where trees were being trimmed, so we cut some pieces, and the girls made these simple but charming decorations.

The pinecones in the canister are ones we gathered while on a hike a while back. I find tremendous satisfaction in simplicity--in not having to spend money in order to make a happy home.

Plus I believe it helps a husband to know his wife will do what she can to make ends meet instead of wasting money on frivolities when he is staring at being out of work within days. 

Frivolities,

when what really matters is

Jesus.

To my dismay, after taking the picture, I realized the figures were not all quite centered or arranged well...

But then I realized that the way they were crowding around gave the distinct impression

that the focus was on Jesus.

Do we too often worry about what we look like to others, when what really matters is

looking to Jesus?



Below are a couple more of the ornaments that are my favorite: one handmade by one of the children (and needing buttons glued back on--just like our clothes, always needing mending. And maybe like our hearts, too. Sometimes in need of mending.

Hanging in there.

Buttonless. (Or did you just push my button, and now it's gone!!)



Hangin' in there,

And asking God's angels to minister where there are hearts seeking for joy,

where there is brokenness or missing parts...

(This moose head came from Jonathan's sister Barbara when she was still in Alaska. The angel is one I bought just after we were married.)



Just today we had a church friend from back east, Tonya Sickler, out for lunch since she is to be moving to Kansas in a few days. We will really miss her. She has been such a blessing to us, teaching Sunday School alternately with me, and every once in a while coming out and spending time with our family or the children. Always bringing smiles and laughter and cheer and showing an interest in everything we do, and sharing good ideas to help out our worn-out brains....

and not minding a photo with the Lucas ladies!

T

We made fruit pizzas for the occasion.

I wrote it down in my "One Thousand Gifts Journal"--

# 121- "Fresh farm eggs in Christmas-colors hat."

Danny brought the eggs in like this yesterday.

Can you resist taking a picture?

Could it get more Christmasy?

One of those moments just ripe for a photo!

Sammy unwrapping a new western shirt we got him for his birthday.

Why wear a Sunday shirt when a western one will do?

Danny watches big brother do his arithmetic--by the poinsettia.

And when we can't go to interesting things, interesting things come to us!

The children came shouting that there were three gliders out there right over the fields near us!

And before I forget--

within days, after prayer and trusting the Lord,

work came gliding in for Jonathan !

Thank you, Lord!

Stop at Fish Hatchery on Way Home from Illinois

To break up the trip home from Illinois, having left about 5:10 in the morning, we stopped partway through Kansas a few miles off the interstate at Milford Lake Fish Hatchery.

 

We watched thousands of young fish gather at the feeder.

Indoors was a nature center, with aquariums with turtles, fish, and even a rattlesnake. It was well worth the stop for a unique 45 minute break in the middle of Kansas!

Christmas Music at Thanksgiving

Craig and Joella's family practiced their Christmas bell songs for us while we were there.

 

They do string quartets.

The families listening...(including new friends we just met)

 

Carrie and Susanna holding the two babies there that night.

 

After the Thanksgiving Meal

What a blessing to have warm weather on Thanksgiving Day! The children played dodge ball and Mother-May-I. I just love pictures like this right in the middle of the action, like where Charity is practically in midair and Sammy is dodging that ball.

 

Crystal and all the girls loved holding baby Laura, two months old. 

Of course, Hannah had to have her turn holding the baby.

Carrie gave Joella a baby gift for Laura: tiny yellow and white hat, booties and mittens 

Trying those mittens on

"Now would you all PLEASE pick up the mess?"

Not really, Craig visits with Jonathan and Chris while the children play around on the floor.

Days After Thanksgiving

Two days after Thanksgiving, Joella's and our children got together for a wood-stacking at Grandma and pa's house. Hannah enjoys baby Laura indoors while the children and Jonathan work in the cold outdoors.

 

 

The first day Jonathan sawed a lot of kindling wood and the children stacked it in the shed. Then the second day, Jonathan finished the sawing, and the children started in on the two piles of split logs.

 

 

The boys and girls decided to race to see who could get their pile of wood brought in first.

 

 

Jonathan and Sam raced to keep up with stacking. Grandma and pa couldn't believe their eyes at how the entire two piles of wood got stacked that morning in the shed. Just love doing things like that for people who simply can't do it themselves anymore. 

 

My blogsite is telling me I don't have photo storage space left, so I am deleting a lot of old posts and photos to make room--not sure if I can keep posting without purchasing more storage room.

Thanksgiving in Illinois

The children at Craig and Joella's house saw us coming from Kezia's house, and quickly blockaded the drive!

 

Joella masterfully carves the turkey ahead of time. She had made homemade cornbread stuffing.

The girls set the tables with the pretty blue and white pewter or china plates. 

Craig and Jonathan work on a window.

The girls admire the lovely desserts: pecan pie, pumpkin cream pie, cranberry pie, and cookies.

Sammy enjoys the litter of goldendoodle puppies in the lawn.

Jonathan visits with Grandpa and Craig out by the antique staircase. I loved the old house! 

Craig and Joella are masters of having a clean, neat, uncluttered, simple home that has its own beauty.

I was so tickled to discover that the younger children had all worked together to draw a place card for each family member who would eat the Thanksgiving meal together. We admired all the creativity--each card unique.

Inside the cards was a different Bible verse about praise or thanksgiving. Before the meal we all took turns reading our verses and singing a couple thanksgiving choruses. This was very special to me. I think it is important to be on purpose about celebrating Thanksgiving.

Because Thanksgiving is not just about turkeys and feasting, and about Chris bringing the cookies and broccoli salad in for the great feast.



It's not just about seeing our relatives' houses and seeing our lovely sisters again--Kezia, at 8 months along, was not very excited about me snapping her photo that day!

It's not just about feeding your faces, like Chris is masterfully doing at the ridiculous moment Jonathan chose to snap the photo.

It's about truly giving thanks.

And that is what Craig and Joella purposed to make sure happened. After the dinner and cleanup, we all gathered to sing Thanksgiving songs, listen to a reading Joella shared about the Pilgrims and Chief Massasoit, and a heartfelt prayer by Craig.  I felt it was worth going all the way to Illinois to get to be part of a family gathering where God was purposefully honored; where time was spent thanking Him and honoring Him. 

"Let the LIttle Ones Come"

My sister Joella's children: Susanna, the oldest, then Charity, Ethan, Jonathan and baby Laura. It was a blessing to watch a family that is being raised in the fear of the Lord, with godly principles, lots of love, happiness, work and play, and--music!

 

Lucas and Bradford cousins

Craig and Joella played a fantastic Christmas duet, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." It was breathtaking.

Then little Jonathan wanted to play with his mommy! I was touched with how Joella encouraged him to sit up beside her and "play" while she played.

"Touch the keys softly!" she would say, "and not bang," when he got a little rough.

Little Jonathan was a sweet, obedient little boy. He played the keys softly and it was so sweet.

It is the way to train them in the way they should go.

You have to let them go; let them touch the keys.

Teach them to touch and not bang.



Sweet little Elisabeth gives her cousin a big hug!



Sunday evening Craig invited to their home another family of six young children who had been at church. The mom's name was Crystal Dawn, just like our Crystal Dawn. So I got a picture of them both.

 That evening there were 18 children (yes, you read that right) in Craig and Joella's house. They were very hospitable and kind to put up with all the noise!