Twixmas?

A blog-reading friend sent me the link to another blogger  who recently had a most interesting post regarding Twixmas. The term was new to me, but once I read the post I understood fully why my friend had forwarded it to me. After that last post regarding the self-imposed "grace period" granted between Christmas and New Year's, I learned that, according to this afore-mentioned blogger, what I was observing was actually called Twixmas!  

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What is Twixmas?
Twixmas is the term used to describe the days between Christmas and New Year (27th-30th December), when – work and family commitments depending – you can take some much needed down time. For many of us, it's time when we can fully relax and spend our days doing nothing.

Why is it called Twixmas?

Twixmas originates from the old English word 'betwixt' which simply means 'between'.

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Who knew?

My Twixmas was actually extended a bit longer than the strictly defined time period above, I suppose I have taken liberties! It's been a most relaxing and fulfilling week. Along with finishing that "It's A Wrap" table runner I've also binge-watched three seasons of the Holiday Baking Championship (up until this week I hadn't ever watched even one episode), now I'm hooked. Tomorrow this will all come to an end as we step into the New Year. I've been struggling to choose an appropriate guiding word for 2022, one that will follow the past three:  2019's Focus, 2020's Vision, and 2021's Mindful. 

I've finally selected what I hope is the perfect inspirational word for myself.

Stay tuned~ see you next year!

🥳

Life is Good!

It's A Wrap!

And just like that, it would seem, another Christmas has come and gone... or has it? We're still in the Christmas season and these days following Christmas Day can be just as much of a gift as the day itself! In my "rush, rush, hurry, hurry" frame of mind during those days leading up to the 25th I had to back-burner a few things that I had really wanted, and fully intended, to get done before the big day. I was disappointed in myself instead of granting some self-permission to recognize the fact that I had totally over-planned. Christmas came anyway; it didn't matter that I hadn't completed the table runner, baked all of the cookies, or finished the book that I had planned to get read so that I could start on new ones. Yes, Christmas came and went and it was just as wonderful! Mr. G and I decided to grant ourselves a "grace week"; here we are today, smack-dab in the middle of it. Our grace week has consisted of a total reprieve from schedules and deadlines. It's amazing what can occur when breathing space is freely granted. 

Reading time becomes unhurried and meaningful.

The cookies baked from that long-chilling dough taste all the sweeter. 

That deconstructed table runner became a whole...

...which is now quilted, trimmed and, maybe, could even get binding attached today, we'll see. 

If not, it will wait. What gift can you give to yourself this Christmas? It's not too late; no, not at all.

Merry Christmas!

Life is Good!

More Than a Building

Blessings abound this Holy Week! Just a little over five years ago our small mission church began worshiping in shared space in the beautiful chapel of a local funeral home. We developed a wonderful relationship with the staff there as we came together every Sunday morning for more than 250 services. Life was good, but it wasn't our own space. As a congregation we dreamed big and prayed for that day, somewhere in the indeterminable future, when we might have a space to call our own. In the meantime, the church went about being God's faithful people; supporting missions, gathering for study, growing together in faith and praying as a body of Christ. We planned too: the church purchased (and paid for) a building lot when it came available, always looking to the future. But, as we all know, even the best laid plans are nothing compared to God's master plan! Just one year ago we met, and ultimately called, our first full time pastor; a young and energetic shepherd to guide the flock. We rejoiced in this blessing and carried on. Just six weeks ago yesterday our congregation learned of a church building for sale. By God's grace another scenario was presented, a divine plan; the church keys were handed over on Tuesday and at 7:00 last evening Grace Lutheran Church came together to hold a worship service of dedication, for a church building to call our own! As our pastor reminded us in the sermon, church is more than a building; yes, that's so true. We have been a church all of this time without one; but, how much more can we do as God's church with a space in a thriving community to call our own? We haven't yet even scratched the surface of ways and opportunities that exist to let our light shine as a church, giving all glory and thanks to Him! You may remember the hand and finger rhyming game we played with our children when they were small: "here is the church and here is the steeple, open the doors and where are all the people?" Last night we know where the people were: they were gathered in the NEW Grace Lutheran Church, giving thanks that God's plan is greater than we could ever hope! There's a sign that's posted over the sanctuary doors where one enters from the fellowship hall: "Make No Small Plans", it reads; no small plans indeed!

God's blessings continue as we move forward into a space to call our own, into a church that's SO MUCH MORE than a building! We move forward in faith. Oh, and that piece of land that the church purchased to build a "someday" church? It was offered up for sale and went under contract on Monday! God's grace. Welcome home, Grace Lutheran, "....open the doors and there's all the people", welcome home; thanks be to God!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

 plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

-Jeremiah 29:11

Life is Good!

 

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can...

November started out as a promising one, my plans for daily sequential thankfulness posts were sadly and profoundly interrupted by the death of my precious mother-in-law. Now here we are, on the last day of November. Time waits for no one, especially this blogger. I will close out the month with one, last catch-up post, one that is punctuated with moments of pure grace; as my life over the past week has been. Please accept my gratitude for all of your kind thoughts and words in response to my last post; indeed, my mother-in-law was a treasure. Last Wednesday, following her memorial service, the family gathered at Mom's home one final time to share food and reflect on her life, "the one that made all of our lives better because she was a part of them", these are my daughter-in-law's words, I couldn't ever describe Mom more appropriately. This photo, left, of Mason, was taken in Mom's back yard that afternoon. This is but one of those God-given moments of grace. For this glorious moment in time, I am grateful.

Mom was an organist. The one thing the grandchildren have always loved, over the years, and now the great-grandchildren after them, is to sit on the organ bench and play; here are three of them doing just that. One last concert, one more grace moment; and a snapshot to cherish the memory.

One more gathering in Mom's living room, the site of every holiday gathering for as long as I can remember. We remain grateful for all who could be with us last week, Mom's loving spirit blessed us and bound us together in affection and appreciation for each other. Those moments of grace kept on happening: free and undeserved gifts manifested in countless blessings, one after another. Thanksgiving happened, it remains a blur, generous amounts of food arrived here and was all skillfully prepared and served, dozens were fed. Slowly, one by one, the leave-taking of each friend and family member happened. Today it's just us again; all too suddenly, November is over. 

We won't be "just us" for very long though. It's time to make new memories: we will have all four grandchildren in two days for a cousins weekend.  I have already begun the preparations for a house building extravaganza. 

There are many activities planned for the little ones, bring on December, we're getting ready for Christmas! Time may fly but I have taken a deep breath, counted my blessings along the way, and with God's help and a grateful heart I am ready to get back in the race. "Run, run, as fast as  you can-- you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!"

Life is Good!

On this, the thirtieth day of November, 

I remain thankful to God for a life

punctuated with moments of pure grace.

A Grace-filled Life

I live a blessed life, filled to overflowing with moments of pure grace. By Christian definition grace is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. My constant prayer is that I remain open to these blessings and aware of the true gifts that they are; and, more importantly, from where they come... always returning thanks back to God. 

A few years back I kept a gratitude journal after reading Sarah Ben Breathnach's book: Simple Abundance. The book was a gift from my daughter and I found it to be transformative. Since then I have developed a heightened awareness of blessings and grace moments, although I have long-ago given up the practice of actually keeping the journal; every now and then I think I should go back to that habit of actually writing them down, it's a humbling experience.

On Saturday we traveled to the Capital City to watch Mason play soccer. Our oldest grandchild has developed quite a competitive spirit and is a great team player; to be there and witness his God-given athletic abilities and his cooperative nature was such a treat. I realized suddenly, standing right there on the sidelines in the warm late morning heat, how very much I had to be thankful for: our close proximity to all of our grandchildren, their good health, our own good health and for the loving family unit that binds us together... blessings bestowed. Grace comes: not always in big and monumental ways, it comes in the everyday moments. Over the last few days it has come on the sidelines of that soccer field, it came around the dinner table over a simple sandwiches shared with loved ones, it came at a quilt guild meeting in unexpected surprises received from thoughtful friends, and just today in a loving note from a kind and generous friend who is going through a grief period of her own. These grace moments are so sweet, so tender, and so pure that they touch my heart and reduce me to tears. How can I possibly be worthy? How can I ever be grateful enough for all of these blessings and this life filled with God's grace? I am assured that God is there, in the midst of each sacred instant, and that God is also working within me; to be there, to bear His grace, and to pass it along. I'll do my best. How has grace touched your life today? Look around, you'll see! It's what we do next that really counts...

Mason (front row, left) and the Defeaters

Life is Good!

Work In Progress

The following passage was part of Sunday's sermon. Read Luther's quote and think about the words, process the thoughts; I have been doing just that for the last few days, and am now passing it on to you. I can do no other, I'm a work in progress! This needs to be embroidered on something that I see every day.

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.” 
-Martin Luther

Life is Good!

Grace, The Gift

We have a Kousa Dogwood planted near the end of our driveway, we've had it for years. The most distinctive characteristic of this tree is the fact that it blooms after the leaves are on the branches, unlike the native variety. We thought that was it's most distinctive trait... until a few weeks ago. Surprisingly, these fruit-like seed pods began developing, becoming rounder and redder each day, now beautifully adorning the entire tree! They simply appeared... certainly not expected or worked for, and astonishingly beautiful. Isn't this exactly how God's grace comes to His faithful; unsolicited, arriving freely, and surprisingly more impressive than we could ever imagine? I am grateful for this wondrous reminder.

"For by grace you have been saved by faith, and this is not your own doing;it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast."-Ephesians 2:8-9

Life is Good!