Following God With Joy

A Rose of Beauty

© All art, photographs and text property of Elizabeth Dianne unless otherwise noted, 

All Rights Reserved

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

 I've have really tried to discipline myself to stop and enjoy the moment, to take time out to do special things with my husband when I might otherwise be inventing more work to get done before the kids start coming in on Wednesday.

I have enjoyed everything I've done so far and none of it has seemed like a chore but totally enjoyable.

I have a wall plaque I got years ago that reads, "It's not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do that makes life blessed.

I think there is a lot of truth to that old adage.

 Here are a few things that have been going on in our lives.

Our 13 year old granddaughter, Ashton, was promoted to 'pointe' in ballet this past week.  That is a great accomplishment for her and something she has been working hard for for several years.

We have mirrors across from one another in the master bath.  I strung lights over my vanity and ended up getting an infinity effect--it just goes on and on and on.

These are right out of the oven--my husband went golfing and brought back these big, beautiful pine cones.  But it's a good thing to bake them in the oven at about 200 for an hour to kill any varmints that might be residing in them.  They make their presence known later if they are not eradicated now.  But that's all I'll say about that.

Then i placed them in an arrangement in my new dough box.  They were just exactly what it needed!

Yesterday I made place cards for the "girls" table.  I have never done this before but I'm having a table for the boys and one for the girls.  We will have 9 at the girls' table and 6 at the boys.

Still need to make the boys' place cards.  Theirs will be a bit more masculine!

I hope your holidays celebrating the birth of our wonderful Savior are the best ever.

God bless you and talk to you soon!

He Restores My Soul

This is short and very sweet.

Sweet because it speaks to the spirit within us and calms and restores our soul. I studied with Randall Hasson a few years ago and this is a website hosted by him and his wife. This particular post is written by his wife about a canvas he painted that I was privileged to see in person when I went to his studio in Santa Fe, NM. Her post is about the peace of God which we all immensely need especially during this Christmas season. Praying that it will calm and restore your soul. Merry Christmas!

Here is the link.

Let Your Heart Be Light

Time is marching on and Christmas is almost here. I can't believe it's been nine days since I have posted. I am so sorry. I had such awesome plans at the start of December for all the wonderful things I was going to post. Things about Jesus--after all, He is what this season is all about, right?

There are so many loose ends I need to tie up and it seems that every Christmas I am never as organized as I want to be--I want to have things DONE so I can just sit back and relax and take in the sights, sounds, smells, joys of the season.

I think I've done a little better this year as far as not stressing out about not getting everything done that I want to get done but I still find myself more anxious than I want to be at times.

I try to keep reminding myself that this is about love, togetherness, and celebration.

Not about things or glitter or presents.

However, I did get my husband the best Christmas gift I've ever given him. (Well, maybe the second best)  I am so excited for him to see it and to tell you the story behind it--it's not about the cost of the gift, it's about the thought behind it.  I think he is going to love it and I think he might cry.

I only made him cry one other time in all our years of marriage.

His mom had an old "seed" box--yes, years ago when you ordered seeds for planting in the spring--they were sent to you in beautiful wooden boxes.  She had had this old box for 30 years most likely.  It was dilapidated and falling apart at the seams.

We usually don't spend very much money on each other at Christmas but I did splurge a little by taking it to an antique furniture refinisher.  The box turned out so gorgeous.  I had the kids and grandchildren write him letters and filled the old box with their letters of love.

If I remember correctly it was the first Christmas after his mom had died--between the sentimentality of the box and the letters from his descendants, he pretty much dissolved.  I love gifts like that.

So I say all of that just to say something--just to converse with you--just to let you know I am thinking about you, loving you, praying for you wherever you are.

I know that Christmas can be such a hard time for so many--my sister lost a son two years ago and Christmas with all of its joys can still be very hard for her.  There is a big vacuum in a room that is not filled with his presence.

I pray that Jesus' presence is what we focus on and that knowing He is here for us always will drive away all doubt, fear, unhappiness and sadness and all that remains will be seeds of joy that will spread the gospel of the greatest gift to ever be given.  And it was given to all.

I pray your heart is light this Christmas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S.  The above pictures are the dough box my brother-in-law made me--Got the table all ready now all I need is my family!

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED