How can it be December already? With just days left until Christmas arrives, I confess that I am not ready for Christmas to be here this soon. Wasn't Fall and Thanksgiving just here "yesterday"? Well, it feels that way at least, and while we now have some snow, and the Christmas songs are playing, and it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas outside, I have not gotten "nary" a piece of Christmas decor up. I am debating whether I want to try to lug all the boxes from our storage for a couple of weeks display before lugging them back again. Anyone else facing the same decor struggle?
 |
| Well, it was just Thanksgiving a week ago! Our family gathered last Saturday for a meal and had a wonderful time together. Dan and I posed with our granddaughters for a fun photo shoot! We took a lot of pictures and had lots of laughs along the way! |
 |
| We enjoyed a post-Thanksgiving meal together. I made homemade chicken enchiladas, rice, salsa, and salad. The kids brought ice cream, and we had leftover Thanksgiving pie. |
 |
| Precious beyond words! |
 |
| I'm so thankful for our woodshed being full! We had finished filling it up this summer, and what a blessing it is to not have to worry about getting wood in after Dan had his heart attack. |
 |
| Riley and I have taken many snowy walks in the woods together. I find such peace in the solitude and quietness of the forest. |
 |
| We haven't gotten a lot of snow, but it has been enough to make everything pretty! |
 |
| Danika hasn't been feeling well this week. We think she may be teething. I've gone over several times to spend time with her so Danielle can rest. |
 |
| She was feeling pretty poorly, but I did manage to get her to sleep for a good nap. She is the best snuggler! She just wraps her arms around you! |
 |
| After Danika had fallen asleep and Danielle woke up from her nap, we made sourdough biscuits together. Danielle has decided to dip her toes into the sourdough world! They turned out wonderful too :) (The recipe for them is in my cookbook!) |
 |
| Our writing group held an author book signing event at a local coffee shop this past weekend. We had such a good time! The weather was very snowy/rainy, but we had a great turnout. |
 |
| I am blessed to lead this wonderful group of writers who have seen their dreams come true! Publishing your book takes a lot of work, and I have seen many of our writers in the group get published. |
 |
| This past Saturday afternoon, the skies cleared after all the rain/snow, and oh my goodness! The joy in my soul to see the colors in the skies, and on the trees! It was glorious!! |
 |
| Dan walked with us. He is feeling stronger every day! |
 |
| Look at all the gold on those trees! Fleeting... just for a few moments, but it was truly special to be in our woods with the trees lit up brighter than any Christmas tree ever could be! |
 |
| The clouds in the sky relayed the message from the sun - glorious radiance and brilliant colors! |
Sunset's Golden Gift
I’m rich, beyond measure
Wouldn’t you agree?
Embracing sunset’s golden gift
As it dances across the trees
A gift that keeps on giving
Long after in darkness it flees
Because it lives in my heart
A song of hope and peace
And there it lies
A message from God just for me.
My peace I give, not of this world,
Peace that comes just as gold on the trees
Spreading for a moment,
Enough to believe
That shadows cannot hide
The sunset’s golden trees.
Have you seen sunset’s golden trees? It is something we
often get to enjoy here in the mountains as the sun sets, and although I’ve
seen it often, each time is special, and I don’t take it for granted. I
treasure these moments in my heart, and I know they are God’s special gifts for
those who look up and see!
Look up and around you today - and maybe you will see -
something special God has prepared just for you - it could be sunset in the
trees, or a cloud in the sky. His gifts are not always ones we expect, and
sometimes you just have to don your coat and go see what He has prepared! Look
for His gifts, I know they are there - His love story awaits, His glory He
wants to share.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
.jpg)
.jpg)
I absolutely loved your poem, Marilyn! Yes, like you, I love those moments when God seems to be speaking directly to us through His incomparable creation. I've done little to no Christmas decorating here, either, but hope to get on it this week. Glad Dan is doing so well! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of nature and babies! They are all a precious gift. I'm so glad Dan is gaining strength.
ReplyDeleteAs a tree lover, I loved your tree photos. Gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing such beauty.
ReplyDeleteSlowly we trickle in some Christmas decorations - Hopefullu, just enough and not overdone. I don't enjoy when we have to take it all down again. So much work.
You have a beautiful family.
Love the photos you captured of the gold highlights on the trees. So beautiful. You know it is okay to not to a lot of decorating some years. You have so much to enjoy and celebrate with new birth and renewed life! I remember the year my sister-in-law passed away and we traveled to Southern California for her funeral in December. That was a year of a very simple Christmas. How nice that Dan could take a walk with you.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect title Marilyn, for this post. The golden highlights are so stunning and makes for a wonderful photo. Love is spoken well here..
ReplyDelete"A song of hope and peace
ReplyDeleteAnd there it lies
A message from God just for me.
My peace I give, not of this world"
Your poem says it so well, Marilyn. God's creation surely breathes hope! Thank you for the encouraging poem and all the beautiful photos! Love, hugs, and blessings to you!
I love seeing sunsets golden trees! I'm glad Dan is doing so well. Your granddaughters are adorable and there is nothing better than grandchild cuddles, is there? Many blessings Marilyn! Your posts are such an inspiration to me!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your husband is getting stronger and recovering well. The photo of you two with your grandbabies is beautiful and precious!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn it sounds like a lovely December, so glad Dan is feeling well. Enjoy those cuddles and put up just what makes you happy for Christmas. Decorating can be exhausting!
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Marilyn!
ReplyDeleteI have been down lately, but you're right: there's always the blessings of God and surprises that He gives us. :)
Baby Clara is beautiful! What a blessing to have 2 sweet granddaughters! So sorry Danika hasn't been feeling well; I pray that her pain will ease during the teething.
And continued praise that Dan is recovering very well!
Beautiful pictures, Marilyn!!! And I love your poem!
May God bless you all,
Valentine
How lovely to be able to spend time with both of your children and their families. The girls are both such sweet little dolls. Poor Danika. Teething is not an easy time. I used to be the only one who could get Piper to be calm enough to sleep when she was small. We leave on Wednesday for London to spend Christmas with our son and his little family. The departure date crept up on me quickly and I just started packing today! I'm talking Papa's favorite sugar cookie recipe and cookie cutters. I've ne ver had the opportunity to bake Christmas cookies with our 3 year old granddaughter before. We're looking forward to making lots of memories and experiencing our first Boxing Day!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that Dan is able to do some walking with you now. We're still praying for him and you too.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
Oh, dear friend! This post just warmed my heart! I am SO thankful Dan is improving and getting stronger. Oh, God is so good to have left him with you and to allow you to continue your beautiful life together! I loved seeing all the photos, and your poem is so beautiful. I love and appreciate you and pray God will continue to bless you and your family and send complete healing and restoration to Dan, in Jesus' name.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you...how is it possible the Christmas is upon us?
I don't put up many decorations either. The putting up and taking down is a lot of work.
I do like a couple of Wintery things I can keep out until Spring comes along. Like twinkle lights to keep the dark days warm. You are such a delight. Thank you for sharing your lovely poem and uplifting words.
The Lord is good and His mercies are new every morning. There's always so much to be grateful for.
Oh Marilyn! I just love your poem and the forest and trees pics. And those grandbabies...so very precious. My girls used to get runny noses when teething (their first 4 teeth anyways, after that it was easy). I remember when they were getting their 2 yr old molars, the ped said to let them have juice pops to ease the pain. it worked! I love walking in the forest as well. I did a snow hike with my closest friends last weekend and it was lovely. so peaceful. I feel so connected to the Lord when i'm in the woods or on a mountain summit. I loved the devotional book you sent me that your friend wrote. the homespun one. I'm actually raffling it off tonight at my small group xmas party. And I've used some of your recipes from your cookbook! Have a very Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful photographs showing nature, family and your grandbabies ... so sweet.
ReplyDeleteGood to read that Dan is progressing well and gaining strength.
I did enjoy your poem, Sunset's Golden Gift.
Early good wishes to you and your family for a Merry Christmas.
All the best Jan
Hello, I am so happy to read Dan is gaining strength.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely poem.
I enjoyed all the photos.
Sending get well prayers for little one.
Carla
such wonderful family time, that teething can be some rough stuff, hope she feels better soon, so nice you can be there to help out at times like that.So nice you were prepared with all the wood, good to have things done in advance :) I just finished today decorating, not everything went up but it has that feeling of Christmas :) I am lucky that mine is all stored in the garage so I don't have far to bring it into the house.
ReplyDeleteLoved your poem, it is so special when we can feel God speaking to us through his creation.