Christmas

 My cousin texted me something that I held close this year ~ 

'My heart is heavy for this situation but it feels true ~ the deep desperation for hope, for Jesus. I can't stand a bright shiny Christmas where it feels like the joy is just a mirage.'

So often in families, there are deep undercurrents of 'things' that can attempt to surface at holidays when everyone comes together hoping for connection, kindness, joy, healing etc. The Christmas glitter is often just on the surface and underneath there is exhaustion, the wish for something different or more, disappointment, hurt and the list goes on.

This year I tried to really ready my heart for whatever might come. There are always so many unknowns. In the end, Christmas was really beautiful for me, not perfect no, but beautiful? So much so. And my joy was not a mirage because I could put aside what needed to be put aside and be in the moment. I have not been able to do that often. Jesus did bring hope to the world and He gives it freely still. I felt that. 

I hope your Christmas held bright moments of hope too (even in the midst of everything else trying to steal any light possible). I hope you smiled, felt moments of safety, or just felt thankful for joy you saw on someone else's face. 

May you be blessed

These photos are from a friend's home mostly. The way she decorates reminded me of the essence of our traditions here or things that we hold dear. The last photos are taken on Christmas morning. We had some intensely cold weather and a large snowfall, then freezing rain then torrential rain. It made for quite a Christmas.