Drippings of Grace: Holidays

Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Monday, December 29, 2014

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Season's Greetings

May you know the incredible joy that comes from knowing Christ, and may your celebration of His birth be filled with beautiful moments with family and friends.

Merry Christmas,

From our family to yours!

Friday, December 21, 2012

A Christmas Photo Shoot and a Little Snowball Fight

Last week, we headed to one of our favorite spots to take our Christmas photo. We wanted a snowy picture, but after three days of 40 degree weather, there wasn't much snow.Trying to get four boys (five really) serious enough for a family photo is like trying to herd cats, but we did get a few nice shots until the chaos broke out. Apparently, there was enough snow to have a little fight. We finished off our day at one of our other favorite places, as if we weren't already cold enough.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

~ When Your Arms Are Overflowing

"I opened the window to let the fresh air in

And continued to work away the day,

Painting walls and filling shelves just so,

Until the wind blew and took my breath away.

The lilacs seemed to dance across the room

Reminding me of sweeter things to come...

Empty arms and aching heart no more...

When will this child I've longed for come home?"

I remember standing in an empty nursery in the spring of 1998 after 11 years of infertility wondering when God would answer our prayers.

One month later, on June 24, 1998, my first child arrived .

And they just kept coming!

"He gives the barren woman healing. She'll dance with joy like the mother of children." ~ from There's No One Like Our God

Pictures taken Mother's Day 2011. Lyrics are from a song called "Carried Away on a Breeze".

Saturday, May 7, 2011

That's My Mom!

This morning before church, I sat down next to my oldest son. As I crossed my legs, I bumped his shoe, and we compared shoe sizes. His shoe was bigger than mine. Now obviously, my foot is bigger than his. He's only 13. But he was wearing bulky tennis shoes, and I had on dainty sandals. The thought crossed my mind that it won't be long 'til his foot will fill my shoe. In the next moment, I had this thought:

I'm 46 years old, and I still can't fill my mom's shoes.

Oh sure, I've borrowed her shoes when we go to visit, and they fit just fine (Although, I'll never understand where she got that dainty narrow foot. My toes do pinch a little.)

And yes, I've inherited pairs of shoes she bought in a daring moment and then ~~was too chicken to wear~~ said she just didn't wear them that much.

And I confess, there have probably been times (early in life) when I stole shoes from her closet, and they ended up in mine. (I'm sure that happened once or twice.)

When I say I can't fill her shoes, I'm not talking about the size of my feet.

I'm talking about the enormous role she has played in my life. I'm talking about her enormous heart.

She is amazing.

She is a server,

a giver,

an encourager,

a truth teller,

an intercessor,

a great example of a Godly woman.

She is always faithful,

fiercely loyal,

and deserves a crown in heaven for her patience.

She has seen tragedy and sadness and disappointment in her life, but there is no hint of anger or bitterness in her.

On the contrary, she is full of grace and forgiveness and acceptance, always ready to give testimony to God's amazing grace in her own life.

And if that's not proof enough that she's the greatest mom in the world, how 'bout this:

She's an awesome cook!

Anyone who knows my mom counts themselves lucky to eat at her table. (She cooks in her spare time - for fun!)

Still not convinced.

She smells really good, too!

(One of my sons came home after being at her house and said with a smile on his face, "Mmm! Mom my pillow smells like Granny!" He was right. It did!)

I may never be able to "fill her shoes", but I hope someday my children will feel the same way about me that I feel about her.

I hope someday they can say,

"That's my mom, and she's my best friend."

I love you, mom! Happy Mother's Day!

Monday, February 14, 2011

~ What True Love Looks Like

We started our day with love words.

Daddy got up early to make red velvet cupcakes. He knows they're my favorite.

Before the frosting was stirred together and before we started school, we paused at the table to read them...

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not boast,

It is not proud.

It is not rude,

It is not self-seeking,

It is not easily angered,

It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil

But rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

Always trusts,

Always hopes,

Always perseveres.

Love never fails.

We talked to the boys about what real love looks like, and we each chose a characteristic of love to work on today.

We closed the Bible and I told them a story.

Once upon a time...

And I told them about that special Valentine's Day 26 years ago when he dressed himself from head-to-toe in every shade of red imaginable and asked me if I would sign his ticket and be his date - his prize for wearing the most red at a Valentine's party.

What I don't tell them is how young and naive I was.

What I didn't tell them is how I felt all wobbly inside.

What I didn't tell them is that I only thought I knew what love was.

What I didn't tell them is that their Daddy has spent every day since that Valentine's Day teaching me what true love looks like - how real love is selfless and humble and worth fighting for.

On that day so long ago when he stood before me with the pen and that sweet hopeful look on his face, love was just a tiny wish -

a hope that I would say yes.

And after 26 years, I can tell you what true love is -

It's choosing every day to say YES!