Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! May the star of wonder illuminate your path and lead you to the only place worth traveling, fellow sojourners.

My beloved Matt, Karissa, and Anders all leave today. At 6 a.m., I found out I have a new batch of Arvo's relatives arriving this afternoon. We celebrated Christmas yesterday with our beloved kids and Grandma, and now we will celebrate again today with Esko and Denise and Grandma. (And with the washing machine, vacuum cleaner, and bathroom cleanser.) Fortunately, I was up at 5:45 to see Matt and Karissa off, so I got right to work, just like Santa, but instead of dropping presents down the chimney, I was cleaning it...and washing sheets and cleaning bathrooms. But first I turned on all the Christmas trees and Christmas lights. Oh how my world sparkled!

Last night, we all went to the Candlelight Service at church. It is a huge church, and it was filled to the brim. I cannot describe the awe of watching one candle light another until 5,000 candles were lit and 5,000 voices were raised singing "Silent Night". It felt like heaven, particularly since we were on the third story balcony looking down on 5,000 candles lighting the upturned face of 5,000 hopeful souls. Surrounding me to the left and right were my children and husband, all singing, all bathed in the light of their candle. If all my brothers and sisters and parents could have been here, it would have been heaven, but it was as close as I think it might get here on earth.

PS- FYI, when the recipe for German Stollen calls for 150 degrees Celsius, this is DIFFERENT from 150 degree Fahrenheit.


Psalm 85:10-13 (NIV)
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. [11] Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. [12] The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. [13] Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.



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