Simply Saturday

Funny to say the last time I wrote to this  theme  I was taking down the Christmas tree...   today we put it up... but alas,  we didnt  decorate it yet...  it  needs  many more lights  and that is Lynn's job... so  I  contented myself   working on  small  vignettes...  When its all said and I  I will  post some photos....   I love to see Christmas   just sort of evolve around  our house.... sort of as the spirit moves me....  I would love to  create  something on the scale as the  beautiful  photo posted above,,,,  so  cozy and warming and  full of cheer...  it  resonates family, love, and  tradition to me.   That is what Christmas is....    beginning  with the  holy family  represented by  God the Father  who sent us His own child,  His only begotten  Son, Jesus Christ, as a  sin offering...   Jesus  come to be born, live, and die for us...   as a substitute  for us because of the sin in our lives that separates us from  God.... Jesus, in His first advent,   came as a babe , born  by the Holy Spirit,  through  the Virgin Mary, he knew no sin,   yet He took the sins of the world on Himself in His cruxifiction and  became  the  atoning sacrifice  for all who  will  believe he is who he says he is....     and who will repent of their sin and turn  to  God, who will trust God and accept Christ's free  gift of salvation...   We are all sinners,  We   deserve  hell and damnation... every one of us....  yet because of God's love he made a  way for us to be saved...through the redemptive power of  Jesus'  blood  poured out for us....It is a free gift of grace  for those who will believe....  such love, mercy, grace....  free   to  all who will receive it  that is the  love, the family and the tradition  embodied in the  beautiful  Christmas  in our hearts....  that we seek to  emulate  during this season.....  For me  planning  for Christmas  includes  the  wondrous  carols  proclaiming the good news of  the  Coming   Christ Child....,  candles and  tree lights that  remind me that Jesus is the Light of the World...wonderful  aromas' of   delicious Christmas  treats, the scent of  fresh pine,   that  remind me of  the  family traditions of old...the  giving of gifts... nothing      outlandish .. just token gifts of appreciation to friends and family  to  demonstrate love one for another.  Just  as  Christ  demonstrated  in  being the perfect gift of us all....    I  pray that  this year I can keep my focus on  the true meaning of  Christmas and  enfold myself in only those things  that  keep  me ever closer to the author of  Christmas.   God, the Father and His  marvelous, precious  Son, Jesus Christ!



Thanks for the inspiration for this post to my dear friend Gina!

Simply Saturday

When I looked out the studio window I could see the snowing continued in earnest.

It really is a wonder to behold as it drapes itself over everything and shimmers in the frosty light.

It was a good morning to rearrange the decor a tad.. changes to the dining room the table as seen in previous post and the angels lit upon the hutch!

The mantel lost its last visages of winter as a new theme develops...



I love Warwick Castle as seen there in the center... click here for more about Warwick!

So as the morning wanes and the snow filters down I will find my solace in a good read and cup of English breakfast tea!


Where did I place that book.... James Herriot.... here we go!!! Back to the North Yorkshire Dales!

Simply Saturday

Today is quite simply a very slow and peaceful day.... perfect for taking down the tree and regrouping around the house! Precious Lynn was up early and preparing coffee and french toast along with crispy sausage, just the way we love it! Ummmmm! Just the impetous I needed to strip the tree and take down the garlands. All boxed now and ready for storing it just feels wonderful, and here it is 10:14 in the morning. I dont know what else the day holds in store, but at 21 degrees and wind outside.. I'm perfectly happy to continue n this cosy simple mindset and let the day unfold gracefully!

Thanks for the inspiration for this post to my dear friend Gina!

Then Sings My Soul, Saturday

In 1970, I was a junior in college facing the most stressful time of my life thus far. I had to take a swimming class, and pass it in order to graduate. The problem: I was horrified of water over my head. A childhood prank played on me years before had created a panic response anytime I went into water deeper than 4 feet. Now I was facing a situation where I was expected to dive into 20 feet of water, float on my back for 5 minutes, then roll over and swim to the circumference of the olympic sized pool...or not graduate. I had dreaded this moment since I had enrolled at Radford College. How on earth was I to face this obstacle? I felt that I had a huge mountain before me!

But I did have simple faith....exactly what I needed. I was encouraged in that simple faith by a simple chorus that was played on a daily afternoon religious program-it replayed itself over and over in my mind. For me at that stage of my spiritual maturity it was a soothing balm to my agitated physche. Like a mantra the tune and the words reverberated in my consciousness, building up a simple faith that with Jesus, all things are possible- even learning enough swimming skill to pass that exam.I sang it on the way to class, I sang it in the locker room, I sang it as I stepped into the water, I hummed it the whole time I was jumping in and rising up to float on my back. I sang it as the minutes ticked away as I concentrated on keeping my lungs full of air for bouyancy. I hummed it the whole time I was swimming the length of the pool and as I finally was allowed to flip over on my back and do the back stroke back to the deep end, I was gleefully humming that chorus in victory!
Something good is going to happen to you,
happen to you,
This very day,
Something good is going to happen to you,
Jesus of Nazareth is passing your way.

Now I wouldnt probably choose this song to lead the saints into battle against a mighty foe, for the basic theology is flawed to say the least. Jesus, in His Word, does not promise us an easy, carefree life. In fact, he allows us to suffer trials and tests just I had to face, to see if we rely on Him in the midst of pain, suffering, and fear. But for me, a fledgling believer, I didn't need a deep theology, but a basic truth that with Jesus, I can do all things!It just took a simple faith!