Celebration Wonder

Christmas Week is here!
We've been waiting for so long
and now it is time to celebrate!

O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
*babies
*seeing old friends
*an angel coming to visit
*Jerry playing our piano
*beautiful ornaments
*friends from many places coming together
*singing "O Holy Night"
*candles everywhere
*Joseph playing for the party
*lots of hugs

With gratitude,
Sally

Elf Wonder

Here's my pretty elf, Margaret.
That smile sure does make our days
merry and bright!

May your days be
merry and bright too!

Try smiling.
It works wonders!

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
*fudge
*angel cookies
*Christmas carols on the radio bringing tears
*tipping
*a spring day in December
*an old friend stopping by
*following Victor along new paths
*Ben grilling the burgers
*boys coming over
*truth told

With gratitude,
Sally

Little Darlin' Wonder

The wonder of Little Darlin'
is that she can just be,
she can rest contentedly,
even on Christmas.

O Lord,
as these Advent days advance,
let me be
like Little Darlin'
and rest contentedly.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
*seeing our card smiling back in an unexpected place
*knocking on our neighbors'doors
*being invited in
*Sweet Magnolia
*laughing about the smoke
*making progress
*a bench for our room
*brown paper packages tied up with red satin bows
*Margaret's creativity and ingenuity
*being home with the kids on a Friday night

With gratitude,
Sally

Red Banner Wonder

In the midst of
dry, dead, brown leaves
this red banner
seemed to shout
"Merry Christmas"!

I'm so glad Christmas comes
in the midst of winter,
aren't you?

Thank You, God, for these wonders of your love:
*red and green spice drops
*seeing friends at the grocery store
*hearing the Salvation Army bell ringing
*a full table at supper time
*red satin ribbon
*texting
*"The Nativity Story"
*plenty of pine straw for the raking
*a candy-filled cane coming in handy
*a new red rug for the bathroom

With gratitude,
Sally

Angels Everywhere Wonder

While walking and praying at Green Bough
I spotted this blue angel
snuggled in cedar
and I wondered
where else
all around us
the angels
are.

Hark!
the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn king
peace on earth
and
mercy mild
God
and
sinners
reconciled!

"Hark" means "to listen carefully".
O God, please help me to hark
and hear
the angels everywhere.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
*my very own elf, Margaret
*walking and praying
*smiling and saying "Merry Christmas!"
*colorful stacked candy servers
*Little Darlin', our Christmas puppy
*Sweetie Pie, my birthday puppy
*Joseph doing tai chi out by the pond
*Christmas cards
*seeing the deep love of a father in his eyes
*Ben earning his reward

With gratitude,
Sally

Pomegranate Wonder

God has blessed us!

Our pomegranate tree has finally borne fruit again after many barren years!

Healing is happening here!

"'Is the seed still in the barn?
Even including the vine,
the fig tree,
the pomegranate
and the olive tree,
it has not borne fruit.
YET FROM THIS DAY ON I WILL BLESS YOU.'"
(Haggai 2:19)

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
*beautiful fruit revealing seeds
*seeing a squirrel take a leap of faith
*watering very vintage planters
*using our "all things grow with love" watering can
*sitting outside in the chairs with Vic
*a wonderful long-distance word about a wonderful, responsible, fine young man
*overhearing a little of a son giving a guitar lesson
*two parts of the test passed!
*grilled cheese flower idea (fall leaves too?)
*Amy's enthusiastic reply

With gratitude,
Sally

New Wonder

O God,
You are
a wonder to behold!

In every moment
You are doing something new.

Please help us
to behold.

Thank You, God, for these wonders of Your love:
*coming home
*headlights illuminating healing
*Your vision being made visible
*my dear family
*FUEL worship echoing private worship
*a dear son's arm around me
*reunion hugs
*remarks that remember
*a lap warmed once more by Little Darlin
*a place for grace

With gratitude,
Sally