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The week before Christmas

Small Things Christmas-1729

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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Filed Under: family, holidays, our catholic faith · Tagged With: advent and christmas · 37 Comments

Ginny

I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here...}

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rachel joy says

    January 24, 2016 at 12:11 am

    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!

    Reply
  2. karen says

    December 29, 2015 at 8:42 am

    merry Christmas dear Ginny!!

    Reply
  3. Maria says

    December 27, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  4. Nicola says

    December 27, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    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

    Reply
  5. anniekitching says

    December 27, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    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.

    Reply
  6. Anne Weber-Falk says

    December 26, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    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.

    Reply
  7. Jackie says

    December 26, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    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.

    Reply
  8. jennyann1126 says

    December 26, 2015 at 9:06 am

    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!

    Reply
  9. Christy says

    December 25, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  10. Sandra Davidson says

    December 25, 2015 at 10:06 pm

    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

    Reply
  11. Olivia says

    December 25, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  12. Sheliah says

    December 25, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  13. Susan says

    December 25, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    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

    Reply
  14. Linda says

    December 25, 2015 at 11:19 am

    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.

    Reply
  15. Lori Ann says

    December 25, 2015 at 11:18 am

    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!

    Reply
  16. Brigitte says

    December 25, 2015 at 11:00 am

    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!

    Reply
  17. Tiffany says

    December 25, 2015 at 10:23 am

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  18. thecrazysheeplady says

    December 25, 2015 at 10:16 am

    Amen. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  19. Richard says

    December 25, 2015 at 10:09 am

    Merry Christmas Ginny and Jonny and all of your children. Best Wishes for a safe, prosperous and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    Reply
  20. Ann says

    December 25, 2015 at 9:46 am

    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.

    Reply
  21. Susan says

    December 25, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Beautifully said!

    Reply
  22. Wendy says

    December 25, 2015 at 9:12 am

    Wonderful words! Merry Christmas to all of you!

    Reply
  23. Jeanette says

    December 25, 2015 at 9:11 am

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  24. Sheliah says

    December 25, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Merry Christmas to you and your family! Blessing to all for a blessed holiday!

    Reply
  25. Eileen says

    December 25, 2015 at 8:36 am

    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.

    Reply
  26. Barbara says

    December 25, 2015 at 7:52 am

    Happy Christmas, to you Ginny, and your beautiful family.

    Reply
  27. Rosie says

    December 25, 2015 at 6:55 am

    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    (Also, that holy family icon! Can you share the source? I’ve been looking for a good one :))

    Reply
    • Shwell says

      December 25, 2015 at 12:40 pm

      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

      Reply
  28. Mary says

    December 25, 2015 at 3:01 am

    beautiful pictures and perspective. thank you. and merry Christmas!

    Reply
  29. Betsy says

    December 25, 2015 at 1:08 am

    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

    Reply
  30. Melissa says

    December 25, 2015 at 12:40 am

    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.

    Reply
  31. Lisa G. says

    December 24, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    And you, also, Ginny.

    Reply
  32. Jenn B says

    December 24, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    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”.

    Reply
  33. Tracey says

    December 24, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    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.

    Reply
  34. Anne Marie says

    December 24, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Thank you for the reminder, Ginny. I needed it tonight.

    Reply
  35. Leah says

    December 24, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    Love this wisdom. Merry Christmas! It’s been in the 70s here in Georgia, too, with torrential downpours non-stop. I can sympathize.

    Reply
  36. Melissa N says

    December 24, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    Wishing you all a merry Christmas!

    Reply

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Hello! My name is Ginny. I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here…}

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