Larkspur would be quick to tell you that though she’s been working hard for weeks to prepare, with handmade gifts and decorations, so far this is her worst Christmas ever. Sometimes that happens, despite your best efforts. The weather doesn’t cooperate (high today of 75 degrees here in Virginia), the parents are preoccupied with things that feel too big to shift focus from, the older brothers can’t seem to get along.
But then there was Christmas Eve mass, and singing in the choir, Mommy nearby having sat with her knitting in the church for nearly two hours, to be sure of a seat. And maybe, for just a moment, that Christmas feeling finally started to creep in.
Some years are cozier, and the Christmas spirit envelops us. Some years might seem to fall flat. But the gift never changes, no matter how we feel. This is what I remind Larkspur, (and myself). We celebrate love that conquers all. “And don’t forget,” I tell her, “Christmas is a season, and it’s only just beginning.”
As we head into this beautiful season, I wish you all a very, merry Christmas!
**edited to add: The icons are from Legacy Icons, and the wooden nativity is from Armadillo Dreams.
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I’m way behind in my blog reading but it was quite nice to jump back a few weeks to Christmas. 🙂
Please tell me about Keats’ slippers and that cool looking toy the kids are working on with their Dad!
merry Christmas dear Ginny!!
Merry Christmas!
Oh my, we can relate from our home, but still, even so, this time of year holds some sort of magic. I LOVE the swinging, kissing photo! And I chuckled seeing the photos of the assembly of the little dancing choir. My kids put that same kit together with Dada’s help a few years ago, when my boy was about Silas’ age. 🙂 Happy holidays, Ginny! Warmly, Nicola
You must feel almost burdened by hearing greetings from so many people, but I can’t help but offer mine, anyway. You reminded me of the year that we didn’t get seats in the church. Goodness, that was a penitential, more than celebratory, Mass.
Your writing today describes our Christmas feelings this year to a T. We’re moving very soon, virus and food poisoning all week and especially hard hit on the eve, some family not always getting along very well and not attending Christmas Eve services for all the illnesses. It’s been difficult for all of us this season yet that wonderful feeling of love and joy and happiness and contentment came to us all on Christmas after all.
What an important lesson for us all as we forget sometimes that feelings come and go and can make it seem as though your faith or Christmas spirit rely on them, but that could not be further from the truth. Feelings are temporary and fickle. We must always remind ourselves that the Truth of Christ’s birth, love and sacrifice is always there, no matter how we are feeling at any moment.
YES! Thank you for that reminder and for the beauty you are capturing in your pictures. A very blessed Christmas season to you and your family!
Merry Christmas!
MerryChristmas to you Johnny and your beautiful family. It is in high 60’s up here in Stratford Canada and what a different Christmas without snow and warm. Blessings Sandra
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Feeling the same – this article really encourage me even as things didn’t feel quite right.
http://wildflowersandmarbles.com/2015/12/16/preparing-our-hearts-and-nesting-with-our-lady/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wildflowersandmarbles%2FEAXy+%28Wildflowers+and+Marbles%29
As always so very beautiful. Love to you all. And thanks be to God for his very best blessing to us all! His Son Jesus Christ.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! I love Christmas – despite the warm temps – just being with family and our pets and eating good food! So much to be grateful for! Enjoy!
Thank you, so beautiful! I am writing from my bed where I have languished for going on six days with relentless lower intestinal distress. This was our first Christmas in our new house with all my grown children coming home with babies, significant others, stepchildren and all. My one daughter flew in from Tanzania after her first 10 months of peace corps assignment. And I can’t touch anyone or any food! So I lie here and enjoy their laughter and relinquish control. Spaghetti for Christmas Eve, instead of the Polish homemade wigilia I usually make. I can’t even go to mass. (I am counting on Sunday mass, which will still feel very Christmassy I hope.) But it is strangely peaceful,when you know you can’t do anything! Your words really hit home. Thanks and thanks again for your perceptive and visually wonderful blog! Peace and health and Christmas cheer to your family!
Merry Christmas!
Amen. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Ginny and Jonny and all of your children. Best Wishes for a safe, prosperous and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I love what you told Larkspur about Christmas being a season and wish my parents told me that long ago as it was always a let down until I started to embrace the little moments of quiet and giving to others as I grew older. May your season be filled with peace.
Beautifully said!
Wonderful words! Merry Christmas to all of you!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Blessing to all for a blessed holiday!
Merry Christmas to you Ginny and your family! Larkspur, this year fell a little flat for me as well, but last night when we all gathered together the spirit of Christmas enveloped us all. Today again we will gather with family for another amazing dinner, fellowship and the yearly Christmas movie! Hope the Christmas spirit flows over you this year Larkspur.
Lovely post Ginny.
Happy Christmas, to you Ginny, and your beautiful family.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
(Also, that holy family icon! Can you share the source? I’ve been looking for a good one :))
Yes, me too, I would love to know where it came from..
Merry Christmas to you all
Tell Larkspur that when I grew up in NZ that every Christmas was green and warm, in Maine today it is 60 and sunny – not our usual Christmas weather that’s for sure
wIshing you a wonderful Christmas Season
beautiful pictures and perspective. thank you. and merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I am so tired of SNOW here and yet we keep hearing on the news of unseasonably warm weather everywhere. Not here in Spokane!
And the Good News is wonderful and unchanging. Thank you for the reminder.
Blessings,
Betsy
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Epiphany. I hope Larkspur continues to have a happier time that feels like Christmas.
And you, also, Ginny.
That is so beautifully said. This Christmas has seemed to “fall flat” for me and it has been a struggle to feel the joy and wonder of the season. Thank you for the reminder that the “gift never changes”.
Merry Christmas Ginny, Jonny and children! Just enjoy the season and the memory making!
PS- So, what are Jonny and the kid’s making? Looks very interesting.
Thank you for the reminder, Ginny. I needed it tonight.
Love this wisdom. Merry Christmas! It’s been in the 70s here in Georgia, too, with torrential downpours non-stop. I can sympathize.
Wishing you all a merry Christmas!