A Few of My Favorite Things (Blog Tag)

The wild southwest has its pros. It also has its cons—one of which is definitely that winter always seems to end with Christmas. Now, of course, we still do have some good weather, but it doesn’t quite feel winter-y probably because of the lack of snow. When I found out that Elanee (from Elanee’s Endeavors) had tagged me for this survey, I was super delighted. And then I began to wonder, “How in the world does a desert gal like me write a post about her favorite Christmas/winter things when it really isn’t either right now?” I’ve decided to give it a try, and we’ll see what I come up with. ; )

The rules for this challenge happen to be… (1) Use the same title and adorable picture. (2) Answer the questions. (I promise to do that in a sec.) And (3) Tag five fellow fanciful fantabulous bloggers.

Okay, let’s get down to business…

1. What are some of your favorite “Snuggle Weather” books?

Good question that I’m really not sure how to answer since I love so many different kinds of books. I would have to say my Bible and anything that stirs me poetically and fits the moody weather. ; ) Those would probably be The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis (amazing essays), Sir Knight of the Splendid Way by W.E. Cule (medieval Pilgrim’s Progress-like journey), Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland (amazing fantasy), Gift from the Storm by Rebekah Morris (heartwarming family story), and on and on. Another really great winter story I discovered last month is At the Christmas Lodge by Rebekah Morris. It is so cute! I also think that if I had the Aggie’s Inheritance series, I would definitely be reading through them right now. ; )

2. What is you favorite wintry snack?

Oh, snacks. Yummy. Definitely apple pie!!! I love making it, I love eating it, and I love the joy it brings to the people I serve it to. I can also convince myself that it is pretty healthy since the crust is so thin. ; ) Peppermint bark and some ginger cookies I just discovered (that I simply MUST get the recipe for) are also high on the list. Because we are trying to switch to gluten-free, however, my answer should probably be different next winter. ; )

3. What are some of your favorite hot drinks?

Chai tea!!!! I am totally crazy about it right now!!! It’s spicy, it’s milky, it’s sweet, it’s like coffee without the dirt taste and (the way I make it) without the caffeine! What could be better? The people in my family who usually don’t drink tea love it too! ; ) (And, just so you know, if you eat some chocolate on the side the flavors are even more perfect.) I also really like hot chocolate and hot apple cider, but Chai definitely ranks first. ; )

4. What are some of your favorite Christmas movies?

I can answer that one really easily!! For as long as I can remember, we’ve watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Nativity Story” every Christmas. They definitely spell Christmas for me! (Although I was all right when I didn’t get to watch the first one this year. ; P) They are both so amazing, but I especially love “The Nativity Story” as it reminds me of how beautiful God’s Gift to man really is. I also really enjoy “A Joan Walsh Anglund Christmas” (great childhood memories with this one) and “The Fourth Wiseman”. ; )

5. What are some of your favorite holiday songs?

Andrew Peterson’s outrageously awesome cd “Behold the Lamb of God”, Nat King Cole’s cd of Christmas favorites ; ), Josh Wilson’s recent song “Once A Year” (if that’s the right name…), and, of course, “The Carol of the Bells” in all three versions. ; ) I also love the hymns we sing in church to celebrate this special season especially “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”. “Adam’s likeness now efface…Stamp Thine image in its place…Second Adam from above…Reinstate us in Thy love…” We really should sing Christmas carols all year!

6. Favorite snow [rainy, cloudy, rainy-ish, cloudy-ish] day crafts?

Well, definitely writing. Cozy, gloomy weather helps me to get in the creative mood sometimes. ; ) I also discovered this year that I kinda’ like making Christmas cards whether or not I’m good at it. Baking, some sewing, and a bit of knitting are always fabulous too. ; )

7. Do you want to build a snowman?

No, actually. *sheepish smile as I prepare to make a horrible confession* I-don’t-really-like-snow. Phew. There, I said it. ; ) Don’t get me wrong—I love the decorative aspect of snow, the crunchy pretty aspect of snow, and even occasionally a vicious snowball fight—but I don’t love being in the snow. I’d rather stay indoors. ; ) (Though I have to say toddlers that look twice their regular chubby size because of their snow clothes are definitely special.) ; )

So, there you are! Those are just a few of my favorite things, but since I don’t get bit by dogs or stung by bees very often I’m very grateful for the reminder to look for the marvelous things in every day. ; ) What do you love most about Christmastime/winter?

Since that was so much fun, I’ll pass it on to Perry, Holly, the Tons and Bunches people ; ), Mrs. Bowes, and Rebekah.

Have a great day, everyone! ; )

King Tut, Chicken Feed, and Editing

A lot of cool things have happened this year. (This year as in the last week, because that’s all there has been.) I mean, there’s been cheesecake, funny moments, new schedules, etc. What’s not awesome about that? ; )

I’m grateful for…

Cheesecake. I made my very first cheesecake ever, and it was so much fun! I got to smash graham crackers, get my hands all yummy messy pressing them into the world’s coolest pan, snitch a little occasionally, taste my cream cheese mixture to see if it was just right, and peak at the gorgeous creation (well, it didn’t turn out perfect looking, but I could see deeper) sitting in our refrigerator. And then we ate it. So yummy. So yummy. So yu---you get the point. But you still need a picture...

And also I thought it was really cool how the graham crackers in the pan looked like a bucket of chicken feed. Don’t you think so?

Our new Bible reading plan. It’s a chronological approach to reading the Bible through in a year; and it’s only five days a week, so if we get behind there are a couple days to catch up. It’s been really great how our family has been all on the same page, so to speak, so we can discuss our reading together. I haven’t read the book of Mark very well since I tend to prefer Matthew and John, but our schedule has opened my eyes to some of the treasures in there. For example, when the demon possessed man whom Jesus had healed wanted to come with Him, Jesus wouldn’t let him and said this instead, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” (Mark 5:19b) Words to me too!

School. I finished up all my textbooks last year, but I have a bit of science and history to do now that our school year has started again. It’s been really fun to study alongside my siblings especially when my brother says “scientific attitude” in the Lobster Bisque voice during our discussion group or we research extra information on King Tut (because our books are over twenty years old, and we wanted to know the current research) or the Foucault pendulum. There are some pretty fascinating things to know out there! I also love how God-honoring our science textbook is. No evolutionary fairy tales to deal with there!

Editing. Since I don’t have that much school to do and since I counted and I have five to seven works I want to publish and since I’m a flake about editing and jump to the creative writing first, I’ve been editing. I don’t really set New Year’s goals or resolutions, but if I did that would probably be one—discipline yourself, Katie, and edit. I’ve started a sort of rewards system for myself. If I edit for half an hour, I am entitled to up to one free hour of creative writing. ; ) I’ve only done this four times this week, but I’ve seen the results and love it! The creative writing doesn’t always go for very long (depends a lot on when dinner happens), but I’m happy to get some editing done. ; )

Our littlest student. She can read almost perfectly, and she’s not even the age I started learning at! When we read the Bible aloud during family devotions, she amazes us all. ; ) She’s still learning the spelling side of things, but I thought I’d share this picture of her adorable school sheet.

A short story. I was on Amazon (I do that often) looking through Rebekah Morris’ sale on her books when I saw her short story “At the Christmas Lodge”. Oh, nice, something new to read. Only a buck. Kindle. It’ll be here in two minutes. I’ll buy it. It was awesome! Very cute and Christmas-y. I highly suggest you go check it out if you’re looking for a nice, quick read. ; )

FroYo and FroCo. Yeah, I’m a nerd. Those stand for frozen yogurt and frozen coconut in case you were wondering. (I think I made the second one up, so you were most definitely wondering.) We’ve been trying to go low-carb, gluten-free, almost Paleo just because it’s better for my sister’s T1D and everyone else in the family’s possibility of getting it. We haven’t been doing the best at eating this way, but when we do her glucose numbers are awesomely regular. I’m the breakfast cook in the family, and it’s been interesting to try to switch my brain over from the sugar-y wheat bombs to something actually nutritious that still tastes pleasing. There are only so many options for breakfast food, so we’ve been trying to think creatively. (Sweet potatoes for breakfast, anyone?) Hence my frozen stuff. We have smoothies planned for this week and since we’re trying to stay away from milk and bananas (my usual staples in the smoothie world) I’ve decided to experiment with yogurt cubes and coconut milk cubes. They are just the coolest frozen! I’ll let you all know how they taste in blueberry smoothies and chocolate peanut butter smoothies. ; )

Nephews. Even though we haven’t gotten to see them in a little while, it’s been awesome to hear stories about them. The other day, for instance, Chap walks up to his mom and says, “Kungun needs chlokit.” (Kungun is how he says his name.) Isn’t that so funny?!! We love our “happy boys” as Aimee calls them. ; )

So that’s what my week has been like. How about you?

And I can’t get over that “chicken feed bucket”. ; )

Package

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and will have a happy new year!! ; ) If you enjoyed my story "Snowman" you also might like this companion story. It's written about a time just like this when you aren't exactly sure what holiday it is. ; ) I hope you enjoy and have a great whatever it is day!

Package

 Corrine tucked her light hair behind her ears and hummed a Christmas song as she moved about the tiny kitchen. Breaking into song, she voiced the words, “Smooth the batter with your spat-la, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la—Wow. Bad idea to skip the hot mitts this time.”

Sticking her tingling finger under the icy cold tap she had left running, she carefully shut the oven with her foot and used her free hand to set the timer. “Sean and Dad will love these goodies, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Christ-mas is for poisoning relatives, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaa.” She stopped singing and caught her breath dramatically.

“Well, that was interesting…” a voice remarked from around the corner, and the speaker immediately earned an icy, cross-eyed glare.

“You were not supposed to hear that, Sean,” she said, spanking her brother with the dish towel she had been absentmindedly drying her blistered finger with.

“Couldn’t help it,” he said, shrugging unapologetically. Glancing at the eighty-odd dishes she had piled in the sink, he added, “What do we have here?”

She moved to spank him again, but he deftly took the towel from her hands. “No comments about my messiness please. Wanna’ help? Or you could go up in the attic and fix those speakers so we can have some real music.”

He eyed her thoughtfully. “Or participate in the world’s most epic battle of the DISH TOWELS!”

She squealed as he began to attack her with the dampish weapon and frantically opened drawers to find her own. “Ah, ha! A bulky hem,” she said, stretching her prize choice out for him to see. “Perfect for whacking the daylights out of meddlesome brothers.”

He had fallen back to regroup—basically take off his glasses so she wouldn’t break them again. “En guard!” he replied, and the battle was on.

Just then the front door opened and a crowd of people fell in. Corinne froze and looked up at her brother with wide-eyes. He stared back and twisted his dish towel nervously.

“I really hope they are related to us. No one else would understand this,” Sean said tragically.

Corinne tried to smother her giggles and ended up snorting into her hand and turning very Christmas-y colors. Sean’s eyes began to water with internal laughter; and, fortunately for them, it was only relatives who found them moments later.

Mom carefully settled a magnificent gingerbread house in the middle of the dinner table, and the younger children gathered to gaze at it and discuss the different candies one more time.

Sean and Corinne were still recovering from their hilarious battle when their middle sister Kristyn came into the kitchen. Placing one hand on her hip and arching an eyebrow, she observed playfully, “So I see the boring people who stayed home from the gingerbread house party weren’t so bored after all.”

Corinne would have spanked her with a dish towel if she had had one; but her older brother replaced his glasses and said quite peaceably, “You see correctly.”

“And besides, boring sister here had her ‘crrrrazy project’ to work on,” Corinne reminded her.

Kristyn grinned. “Did you figure out who your gift this year is for yet?”

“Nopers.”

Kristyn shook her head with a mock sigh. Her older sister was saved from further comments by the sound of the kitchen timer and an erupting argument between the littles about whether or not licorice was actually alcohol. Corinne hurried over to the oven, slid her hands into mitts twice their size, and removed the brownies.

“Oh, Mom,” she called over siblings short and tall. “That reminds me. I need to go to the post office to send my package.”

“They’ve already closed up tonight, but I’m sure Dad could take you in the morning. He has some errands downtown anyway,” Mom assured her. “Like the gingerbread house?”

All eyes turned to look at her and asked the same question. She smiled and nodded. “And I’m looking forward to eating one of those chocolate windows.”

Conversation returned and somewhere underneath it a little voice could be heard counting the peppermints and dividing the number to see just how many he could possibly eat when the time came. It was terrible sitting there with it just in reach and knowing he had to wait until Christmas. Two days was too long.

He was still staring at it during dinner when Dad said, “Do you want to come with us tomorrow, Arron?”

Everyone was looking at him. “W-what?”

“Dad is taking me to the post office tomorrow morning, and you’re welcome to come with us if you want,” Corinne explained with a little smile.

“Oh, sure.” He gave a toothless grin.

The evening passed quickly—too quickly at least for everyone who wasn’t dying to eat the gingerbread house and was actually enjoying the anticipation of Christmas. Corrine had another problem on her mind that made her wish tomorrow would wait longer in coming. Who was she going to send her gift to?

Every year since she had come to Christ, He had laid it on her heart to make a special little gift and give it to whoever He told her to. Every year He had told her who in one way or another. But she still didn’t know yet, and she would be going to the post office the next morning.

Yawning, she turned out the light in the girl’s bedroom. As she fell asleep, she prayed for wisdom then decided to let tomorrow worry about itself.

Arron was up with the first light and already more awake than she was as they climbed into the family car. “I feel like I should say ‘good morning, Corinne’ and ‘good afternoon, Arron’,” Dad joked as they pulled out of the driveway.

Corinne smiled and settled her package more securely on her lap. The blank space for the address looked odd and irked her somehow. Couldn’t she just choose someone on her own? But she knew that wasn’t how it worked. She had committed to let God decide, and she would just have to wait for His answer.

Arron was jabbering in the back seat about the gingerbread house, and she called her thoughts back to the special time at hand. A few miles down the road and three versions of Feliz Navidad later, they had turned off the radio and pulled into the parking lot of the Chesslie Post Office. A few white mail trucks passed them and more were pulling out of the driveway.

“Ready?” Dad asked, turning to her with a smile.

“Nopers, but I’ll do it anyway,” she replied, unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the side door.

“Good luck!”

“Bye!” Arron said before turning back to drawing faces in the frost on his window.

Holding the package tightly in one arm, she slammed her door shut and hurried up to the shining glass doors. No address on her package yet. She was crazy to be doing this.

“Last minute gift, eh?” a voice said, and she looked up to see the young man who had been standing there dusting snow off his coat.

He was holding the door for her; and, as she moved through it, she said with a bright smile, “That’s right. I do hope they get it in time for Christmas day.”

As he followed her through the door, she noticed he was looking at the package. “No address, I know. I really don’t know who it’s for yet.” She grinned sheepishly.

He lifted one eyebrow but didn’t ask any more questions. She found herself strangely glad. This was getting awkward. How was she supposed to take her package up to the counter and tell the clerk that she wanted to send a package but she didn’t know where?

Fortunately there was a bit of a line; so she sat down in a chair, settled her purse and her package in her lap, and began to pray. “Hi God. It’s me, Corinne, again. Who do you want me to send this Christmas gift to?”

She waited, but there was no audible answer. She hadn’t expected one exactly, but it would have been nice. “Better get my Sharpie out of my purse, so I’m ready when He tells me,” she thought.

Her purse was a mess. Kristyn called it “the bottomless pit” once, and Adelinne had countered by affectionately calling it a “bag of tricks”. Either was pretty bad, in Corinne’s humble opinion. She found the Sharpie despite the gum wrappers, old receipts, and compact mirror that threatened to stop her. Mercifully, the only thing that fell out of her bottomless bag of tricks was a lavender-colored business card.

She flipped it over. Why had it been in her purse again? Adelinne had given it to her because it was her favorite color. She had probably gotten it from Arron who collected business cards since stamps were too expensive. An address! It had an address on it!

“Oh, thank you! I have it now!” she said aloud.

The clerk was looking at her strangely.

“Sorry,” she said with a little smile.

“Can I help you next?”

The line was gone. “Oh, yeah, just a minute. Let me write out this address a second.”

A few minutes later, she emerged triumphantly from the post office, still holding the business card in one hand.

“Did you find out who to send it to?” Dad asked as she got in the car.

“Melanie Tweeny, piano teacher, is getting a wool scarf for Christmas,” she said happily, handing him the business card.

“Then hooray for Corinne, and hooray for God!” Arron interjected.

Corinne was sitting in a folding chair in the middle of living room with a pile of Christmas lights at her feet. She wanted to sing, but she wasn’t sure what since it was too late to sing Christmas carols and too early to sing the one good New Year’s song.

“What would you sing in this no man’s land between Christmas and next year?” she asked Kristyn, who was carefully packing away the ornaments they had taken from the tree that morning.

“How about ‘Let It Snow’?” her sister offered.

Wagging her head with a huge red bow fixed to the top of it, Adelinne added, “Yes, do. It seems so lonely without music.”

Coming in moments later, the boys were greeted by three laughing sisters who immediately began singing another verse of their odd song. “You both look rather frightful, but we’re sure the walk was delightful. Now since you’ve no place to go, help us…”

“Nothing rhymes,” Adelinne said, exchanging glances with Kristyn.

“Spreading the disease, Corinne?” Sean said, looking at her over his glasses with amused disapproval.

She gave him what she thought looked like a very innocent face and Arron laughed. “Not exactly the desired effect,” she said wryly.

“Well, anyway, you have mail. Something from a Melissa—no, wait it was Melanie—yeah, Melanie Tweeny. Whoever that is,” Sean said, running his fingers through his hair.

“Melanie Tweeny! Isn’t that—“ Kristyn almost swallowed the tiny piece of candy cane she was sucking on.

“That’s the woman I sent my package to this year,” Corinne said with surprise. “They never write back.”

“This one did,” Arron said, plopping the envelope down on her lap.

They all drew back respectfully and waited for her to read it.

“What did she say?” Adelinne asked, seconds later.

“I’ll read it aloud. ‘Dear Corinne, I loved receiving your gift. Since I’m an older lady, I get cold a lot more often now, and the warm scarf was just what I needed. I don’t need to ask if you made it yourself, because I’m sure you did. It’s very beautiful. I’m a little short on friends right now, and I’d like to invite you and your family to come over tomorrow if it’s all right with your parents. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Mrs. Melanie Tweeny.’ There you are,” Corinne said.

“Wow,” was all Sean could think of to say.

“Let’s take a break and show this to Mom and Dad.”

The next day, almost New Year’s but not quite, the whole family found themselves packed into the van and on their way to Mrs. Tweeny’s. They were literally packed in, since coats and sweaters made them a lot bigger than usual.

“You know something,” Arron told Corinne, pressing his nose against the frosty window. “It’s sad that Christmas is over, but at least ‘Feliz Navidad’ isn’t on the radio anymore.”

Corinne laughed and ruffled his hair. Although she could laugh, she felt a little nervous in the pit of her stomach. Never before had she been able to meet one of the people she had sent a package to. It was exciting and scary at the same time.

Dad turned the van down another street, and she knew from the signs that they were getting close. The neighborhood was half decorated for Christmas and half not. Since it was a sunny day, they noticed that a few people were out in their yards taking down their decorations.

When they reached Mrs. Tweeny’s house, there was a man on the roof who waved to them with one hand and held a coiled string of Christmas lights with the other. They waved back as they piled out of the van. Taking the baby out of her seat, Corinne handed her to Mother and followed Arron out of the van then shut the door behind her.

Walking up the cracked sidewalk, she joined her family at the door and waited as Adelinne rang the doorbell. No answer.

“Try again,” Mom said.

She tried again and nothing happened. They even tried knocking since they knew that sometimes old doorbells didn’t work. Just when they were deciding to leave, the man came down off the roof and tucked his roll of Christmas lights into a dilapidated cardboard box.

“Hey, can I help you all?” he asked, wiping his hands off on his pants and shaking hands with Dad. “I’m Mrs. Tweeny’s nephew.”

“Nice to meet you. Mrs. Tweeny invited us over for a visit. We’ve been ringing the doorbell, but nothing has happened. Is it broken?” Dad asked.

The man laughed. “She’s probably playing piano in the back room. Want me to go in and tell her you’re here?”

The family all nodded at once and told him “thank you” then waited while he went inside. A moment later, a tall older lady with curled gray hair and a moss green dress opened the door.

“Hello, everyone! Do come in! I’m so happy to see you!” She opened the door and let them come in, talking all the while. Her nephew was standing next to her, looking rather amused. “I’m so sorry I didn’t answer the door, but I have to get all the Christmas songs in I can before the season is officially over. Sometimes I can’t hear anything over the grand, especially when I play Handel.”

Mrs. Tweeny was one of those remarkable people who was able to talk, urge you over to the living room, make you feel quite at home, and seem to know you completely by the time she was done with the process. The whole family found themselves sitting around the living room, some on the rug and others squeezed together on the tiny sofa, listening to her hilarious stories of being a piano teacher.

“There was one little girl who was about…your age I think,” she said, looking at Adelinne with a bright smile. “She used to tell me that she couldn’t play the piano unless she took her shoes off. I only smiled at that, but when she took them off at a recital I nearly died of laughter.”

Everyone laughed, especially when Sean added, “Just better hope she’s not a famous pianist someday. Who knows what she’ll do.”

Mrs. Tweeny laughed the hardest; and, when she had finished, she asked, “Which one is Corinne?”

Corinne raised her hand and gave a shy wave. “I am.”

“Thank you so much for the Christmas gift dear! It blessed me so much,” she said, laying a hand on the girl’s arm. “Now, tell me, what made you decide to send it to me?”

“Well, it sounds funny when you say it out loud, but God did. Every year since I really came to Him, I’ve been making an extra gift each Christmas and sending it to whomever He wants me to. It’s been everything from a decorated mug to a store bought book,” she explained, hoping the older lady would understand.

“Why that’s wonderful! A nice way of showing faith in Him and love to other people,” Mrs. Tweeny said. “I feel even more special now that I know.”

            Corinne smiled. “Thank you for your encouragement.”

            “So how did you decide to become a piano teacher?” Kristyn asked, hugging her knees to herself.

            “Well, I’ve always loved music and—“ Her eyes fell upon Arron. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I totally forgot. I made some goodies you all can have if it’s all right with your parents.” She started to rise from her chair.

            “Corinne and Arron, would you get them for her please?” Mom asked, then added when the older lady started to protest, “Where are they?”

            “We’d love to help you this way. Honest,” Arron said, happy to rise and stretch his legs.

            Mrs. Tweeny sat down again and smiled. “You dear people. Blake, will you show them to the ice box, please?”

            Her nephew stood up and led them into the kitchen, then opened the refrigerator door for them. Corinne took out a tray of tiny cheesecakes and handed them to Arron before taking the other tray herself.

            Blake shut the refrigerator door again, and she said, “Thank you. Always opening doors, aren’t you?”

            “I suppose so,” he replied, looking at her strangely. “Oh, that’s right! I know you from the post office. You’re the one who didn’t know where your package was going.”

            “Yes, that’s right,” she said, smiling. Then she balanced the tray on one hand and offered the other, “I’m Corinne.”

            “I’m Blake,” he said, shaking it. “Nice to meet you. Who could ever have imagined that that package would show up here?”

            “I’d call it God’s sense of humor, I suppose,” Corinne said with a little laugh.

            “Indeed,” Blake replied. “Sure you don’t need help with that tray, Arron?”

            “No thanks, I can eat it all by myself,” Arron said, slyly.

            Corinne laughed happily as she came into the living room and set her tray down on the table next to Mrs. Tweeny.

            “Thank you, dear,” the older lady said. “And I’ll still say ‘Merry Christmas’ just because I like to.”

            “Merry Christmas to you as well,” Corinne replied.

Christmastime Is Here!

Ten days ‘til Christmas, wow! This year has really sped by for me. These first two weeks of December, there has been so much to be grateful for! Let me share some of it with you…

I’m grateful for…

• Our family’s Advent celebration. Every night (at least every night we are able), Dad pulls out the Advent calendar after dinner and reads aloud that night’s little book that tells a part of the Christmas story. It’s a time where we all slow down to remember the Story again, sing Christmas songs together, and share in good conversation. This year, my littlest sister is finally old enough to participate in the celebration and understand what’s going on. It’s a really special time. ; )
• Our church’s Christmas recital early this month. I got to sing alto to “Joy to the World!” in a performance with some of my family members and friends. ; ) It was so amazing to be a part of! I also enjoyed listening to Anna and her friends sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful”; Tyler and Perry do “Mathew’s Begats” (by Andrew Peterson); and Tyler, Perry, and Dad perform “The Holly and the Ivy/While Shepherd’s Watched Their Flocks” (another Andrew Peterson).
• Babysitting nice nephews while their parents did music at the recital and that Sunday for church. Chap was hilarious sitting on my lap and coloring all over my sermon outline. Later when he was sitting with his parents again, I used his crayon to take notes. ; ) I also got to experience the “cry room” with the littlest one, which was a new experience. ; )
• Funny to say it, but…the clothes! All the best colors—red, green, black—are Christmas-y and my family actually finds it pretty easy to coordinate during this season. ; ) And I actually get to wear my warmer, favorite things since it’s a tiny bit cold out!
• My Christmas-present-making buddy! Betsy Bea and I are partners this year to prepare gifts for the siblings whose names we drew. It’s so much fun discussing our secrets and surprises. ; )
• The awesome gifts boxes we got from Aimee’s yard sale. That yard sale had a ton of Christmas stuff, and we bought some really cute little boxes from her. We turned on Christmas music and dragged all of our wrapping and scrapbooking supplies into our place of choosing. With a bit of decoration (one of them had lime green decorations that I colored darker green so they weren’t so hideous), Bea and I have them ready for their presents to go inside. ; ) Very exciting!
• Christmas music! Right now I’m listening to a cd of orchestral music; but it’s ranged from Nat King Cole to Andrew Peterson, from a collection of Christmas favorites to even a bit of the radio. ; ) Last Saturday, we got to hear a live performance of Handel’s “Messiah”! It was so amazing!!!
• Inspiration! Besides my story “Snowman”, I wrote another one currently called “Package” which I finished last week. They're even a little bit related. ; ) So much fun!
• Elderberry syrup to help us get healthy and stay healthy!
• All the Christmas baking I’ve been able to do since we are almost healthy now. ; ) I got to use my mini muffin baking tin for the first time ever last week! I brought the brownies to church yesterday which was pretty fun. I plan on making more for our church’s upcoming ladies’ tea.
• Mushy Jimmy Stewart Christmas movies. ; ) We just watched his little-known and hilarious movie “The Shop Around the Corner” (thanks to a generous friend); and I look forward to watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” soon among our other Christmas favorites. ; )
• The fact that Aimee and I get to host a table at the ladies' tea together! It will be really fun, though we do have somewhat different decorating styles. Not as far apart as they used to be though. When we were younger it was really bad. ; )
• The cold-ish weather that is coming!
• The book of Isaiah. I’ve been trying to read two chapters of it a day this Christmas season since there are so many prophecies related to Jesus. It’s pretty amazing!

Soon we will decorate our house for Christmas, if we are well enough; and we ladies will participate in the tea. After that, Christmas caroling with our church and then Christmas day—the celebration of our Lord and Savior coming to earth for us. What more could we ask than the Maker of the universe would humble Himself to come to His people? God is with us, and I am truly grateful.

This Christmas, what are you grateful for?

The Carol of the Bells (x3)

I love the song "The Carol of the Bells", and I love three different version for three different reasons to boot! ; ) Would you like to hear them? Enjoy, and remember to be careful since YouTube is a secular site!

First off is this Irish-y, awesome-y version by Keith and Kristyn Getty. 
I love the peppy, excited sound! ; )

And the PianoGuys version meshed with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"...very dramatic. My littlest sister used to love pretending to sneak up on something whenever we listened to this song. ; ) 

Love the cello!

I had to share this one just because it's funny, and I love the Swedish Chef. ; )

Which one is your favorite?

Snowman

Merry Christmastime, all! I've been puzzling over just when you start saying "Merry Christmas", so I've decided to include the whole season in my greeting for now. ;) 

And now a little gift for you...my most recent Christmas story! It was inspired by wanting to have something to write, a Scripture verse that has been stuck in my head, and my fascination with country mailmen. ;) I hope you enjoy!!

Snowman

            Blake pulled on his snow boots and opened the front door. A cold gust of wind slapped him in the face, and he slammed the door shut hastily. Sitting down again, he pulled on another pair of socks and wound a thick scarf around his neck. He clomped over to his closet and said ruefully to the German shepherd that dutifully followed him, “It’s gonna’ take more than a regular coat today, old girl.”

            He yanked his heavy overcoat out of the closet and threw its broken hanger across the room into a waste basket. “Twelve miles to Chesslie, and the whole route on Christmas Eve. Calculate in the snow…” he mumbled into his scarf as he twisted the double-breasted buttons into their holes. “We should make it back in time for dinner. However lively that will be.”

            He didn’t say a word as man and dog walked out the door together. Thoughts about dinner had been quickly replaced by worry over the weather. If the local weathermen weren’t playing a joke on them, they were truly in for a storm. Seconds later, he confirmed their predictions by running his hand along the hood of his truck and absently measuring the snow. Two inches already. Getting to Chesslie was one thing but getting back was a whole other matter. Better chain up.

            “Minstrel,” he called, when he was done. The dog turned her attention from the snowflakes she was barking at and bounded over to the open truck door.

            Shaking the snow from her coat, Minstrel hopped up expertly onto the passenger’s seat; and Blake shut the door behind her. Tipping his head back to look up at the sky, he squinted his light eyes from the falling snow. This was no weatherman prank. Shaking his head, he prayed for safety and hoisted himself into the driver’s seat.

            The truck engine sputtered to a start, and he began to ease it down the driveway. “Granny gear all the way to town, it’s looking like. Never go out before the plows,” he remarked as they moved slowly down the road. “That snow’s moving faster than we are.”

            Minstrel sat up for a moment to look out the window then whined and lay back down on the seat next to him. The ancient heater did its best to drive the cold air out of the cab; but, despite its efforts and two pairs of socks, Blake found his feet were growing numb on the pedals. Turning on the radio, he listened as a static-y Christmas station and a definitely Canadian talk show mixed themselves together and came through his speakers. At least the odd noise was some company on the road. Everyone else had decided to wait for the plows.

            The drive proved uneventful and maddeningly long until they pulled up outside of the Chesslie Post Office. The snow wasn’t as thick in town, but the parking lot was empty of all vehicles except the box-like white trucks that covered the town routes. He was the only rural mailman that had dared to come. Better to be out in the snow than dying of bored loneliness at home.

            Jumping down from the truck, he untangled his arm from the seatbelt and slammed the snowy door behind him. A few uniformed mailmen glanced over at him before getting into their own vehicles. Giving a goofy salute after them, he said ruefully, “Yes, sir, the hick is here.”

            Stamping his boots together and doing his best to dust some snow off his coat, Blake looked up in time to see a young woman coming towards the door with a large package in her arms. He opened the door and moved politely aside, saying, “Last minute gift, eh?”

            She looked up with a bright smile. “That’s right. I do hope they get it in time for Christmas day.”

            Blake glanced at the package again. Something about it struck him as odd, and she voiced his thoughts a moment later. “No address, I know. I really don’t know who it’s for yet.” She grinned sheepishly.

            He lifted one eyebrow in surprise, but she didn’t tell him any more. He was still thinking about this odd exchange as he pulled out of the parking lot with his load of mail. “You know, Minstrel, I bet a lot of people are hoping this mail will get to its owners in time for Christmas just like she did. Maybe I didn’t come to work today just because I was bored and certifiably insane.”

            He reached down to scratch the patient dog’s ears. “Maybe it’s my Christmas mission from God. That’s really not as goofy as it sounds—it could be really important to Him that people get their mail. He knows about swallows and hair and stuff. He of course knows about the mail.”

            Blake sat up a little straighter. It was all he could do at the moment to “work as unto the Lord and not to men”, but he whistled a Christmas carol with renewed purpose. The plows had been through, but the snow was still falling; and he watched the road carefully for any signs of ice.

            Suddenly, Minstrel sat up and barked. Peering ahead through the frosty windshield, he saw a minivan pulled off the side of the road. Five very bundled up people were standing in a circle nearby with their heads bowed. Blake slowed down next to them and rolled down the window. The sound of his idling motor made them open their eyes, and he said cheerfully, “Need a shovel?”

            The tallest one, probably the father, waded towards him and pulled his scarf away from his mouth. “Thanks for the offer,” he replied, “but it’s actually broken down.”

            “Sure thing,” Blake said. He put his foot on the pedal and was about to drive away when a thought struck him. “Hey, where do you need to go?”

            The bearded man turned back around and came up to his window again. “Just up the hill. We live in the community up there.”

            “So do I. It’s my route. Hop in if you like,” he offered.

            The family looked at each other, then one of them opened the side door and the others piled in. Minstrel moved to the floor, and the father and one of his children took her place on the front bench.

            “You know,” the father began a little uncomfortably. “You’re an answer to our prayers.”

            Blake grinned widely and slapped his knee. “I knew He sent me to work today for more reason than just my being bored.”

            The family smiled too and began to lift their voices together in beautiful Christmas carols. Who needed a static-y Canadian-Christmas-talk-show-station now? The beautiful music filled the cab and already the frigid day seemed warmer. The mailman found himself not minding granny gear so much anymore, and Minstrel fell asleep from the fond pats the pink-nosed little boy gave her.

            They continued up the hill before stopping at the first house, and Blake got out to rummage through the mail. Finding the right address, he slipped a few envelopes into the mailbox and got back in the running vehicle.

            “Is this always your job?” one of the kids asked curiously.

            Blake nodded in the rearview mirror. One of the boys declared that he wanted to be a mailman when he grew up causing everyone to smile. A few mailboxes later, the mother said, “Well, here’s ours.”

            Blake stopped the truck and got out with them. Looking through the mail again, he said, “Oh, so you are the Andrews. I have a bit of interesting mail for you.” Smiling widely, he pulled out an oddly-shaped package addressed to the boys and handed it to one of them. Giving the rest of the mail to their father, including a green envelope, he added, “I’d better be off now.”

            “Thank you, and Merry Christmas!” They said, waving as they turned towards the house.

            “Same to you!” he called from his open car window.

            A little farther down the road, he rolled up his window and shivered. The snow had started again. There would be many more mailboxes to get done before dark, and he only had a few hours. Luckily the post office would close early, and he didn’t have to bring any outgoing mail back tonight.

            Whistling one of the cheery songs his new friends had taught him, he methodically worked his way through the route of mailboxes he had to fill. There wasn’t usually much mail on Christmas Eve, but it seemed that this year everyone got at least one piece of mail. It was always a green envelope with a gold seal just like the one he had given the Andrews family.

            Everyone seemed to think he was crazy for being out, but they were also very glad to get their mail. One older lady thanked him with a cup of coffee that helped to keep him warm as the daylight began to fade. Christmas lights came on about that time and helped to show him where the next house would be.

            Stopping at the second to last house, he jumped out of his truck and carried the mail up to the front steps shielding it from the snow with his coat. He rang the doorbell and waited as a voice said from within, “I’m coming, I’m coming,” accompanied by the sound of shuffling feet and a thumping cane.

            A wizened old man opened the door and peered out at him.

            “Merry Christmas, sir, here’s your mail,” Blake said, glad for the shelter of the porch roof.

            “Same to you, and thank you,” the elderly man said gruffly, looking over his glasses at the addresses on his mail. He lingered longest over a green envelope.

            “You’re welcome,” the mailman replied, shoving his mittened hands into his pockets.

            “You know,” the other man said, pointing a finger at him. A wheezing laugh came up from his throat and made it impossible for him to speak for a moment. “You look as round as a snowman with so many wraps on. Could be one too with all the snow you’ve collected.”

            Blake gave a wry smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

            “You should be called the snowman instead of the mailman. It could almost be a super hero name,” the man said, getting deeper into his joke. “You’d have to be one to be out in this weather. Either that or crazy.”

            Blake laughed this time. “Merry Christmas, sir.”

            One more house to deliver and only a small package and two white envelopes. No green one here. He sighed when he realized that this house was the one belonging to the pastor’s family. It had a long narrow driveway that had more than likely been neglected by the plows.

            His sanity had been doubted twice that day, but he determined that he would go no farther. Braking to a stop at the bottom of the hill, he leaned back in his seat to think. The Chesslie Post Office wouldn’t mind if he turned back now and delivered the mail another day. It was definitely impossible to drive up such a steep and snowy hill. But he wasn’t working for the post office anymore. He was working “as unto the Lord”.

            He made his decision. Finishing off his coffee, he declared, “Minstrel, old girl. This snowman super hero on a Christmas mail mission for God is going in. You are going with him because it’s too cold for you to stay that long in the truck.”

            Jumping out, he opened the door for her like a true gentleman and tucked the mail into the front of his overcoat. “It’s going to be a long walk, but one of our New Year’s resolutions was going to be more exercise. We’ll survive.”

            They did survive, but it wasn’t very pleasant hiking through drifts to deliver a few pieces of mail. The snow had stopped, and icy white stars glared down at them through patches in the receding clouds. The lights of the house soon came into view, and Blake smiled as he neared the twinkling icicle lights.

            Pausing to admire the homemade wreath, he knocked on the door and waited. Minstrel sat patiently next to him only breaking from her stance to bark a greeting at the dog who really owned the place.

            The front door opened, and a wave of warmth and music reached out onto the porch. “Hello, and Merry Christmas,” the pastor said with a welcoming smile. “Come for the party?”

            Blake was flummoxed by this greeting. “I just brought the mail.”

            “Walked here, did you?” the pastor said with surprise as the cold mailman handed him the parcels.

            Blake nodded.

            “Thank you very much. It’s just in time too. You’re welcome to join us. We meant to send you an invitation anyway,” the pastor replied, smiling.

            “Oh, thanks for the offer, but I have my dog with me.”

            The pastor looked down at Minstrel. “She’s welcome too.”

            “Thank you very much, sir; and Merry Christmas to you as well.”

            With these words, Blake and his dog entered the warm living room. Many people were gathered around the piano singing Christmas carols, and others chatted companionably at the refreshment tables. The Andrews waved to him, and he recognized several others to whom he had delivered mail. Removing his coats, snow boots, hat, and scarf, he handed these to the waiting pastor’s wife and joined the others around the piano.

            The door opened again a little while later, and an old man came in with one of the pastor’s sons who had brought him there on the family snowmobile. He shed his coat and tottered straight over to Blake. Clapping him on the back, he said heartily, “Hello again, Mr. Snowman. Thanks for bringing me my green envelope.” He waved the invitation for the astonished mailman to see.

            So, it had been important for the mail to get delivered that day! If he had stayed home, none of these people would have known to come to the party. They would certainly have missed out, and he would have too. He wouldn’t have been there to help the Andrews get home either.

            “You’re welcome, sir,” he said with a smile.

            Listening to the beautiful music around him, he mused over his day. He hadn’t known before why he was out delivering mail during a storm, but now it all made sense. God had used his loneliness to give many others gifts and give him one too—community.

            It was certainly interesting working “as unto the Lord”.

If you enjoyed this story, you might also enjoy my other Christmas short stories. 

Autumn Rose and the Perfect Gift

Autumn Rose and the Perfect Gift Part 2

Smiles in Their Hearts

Keep Your Rebekah’s Straight

Last summer, this test reading maniac was supremely blessed. One of my author friends, Rebekah Jones contacted me again and asked me to test read her newest project “24 Days Before Christmas”. It was a huge book, but since there was a generous deadline I accepted heartily.

A few weeks later, my other Rebekah—Rebekah Morris—contacted me with a test reading emergency. One of her test readers had to drop out at the last minute. Could I read her manuscript in two weeks? If I did, my review along with my name and my book’s name could be on the back of her fifth Triple Creek Ranch book. I was screaming over here with delight!! Of course I would do it!!!

You can imagine what it was like after that. Two novel-sized (at least) books to read in a month. Add to that the fact that both authors have the same first name and their email addresses start with the same letter. ; ) (I never mixed them up, though!) My family probably missed me; but, aided by my trusty tiny laptop, I finished the jobs. Rebekah Morris published her book on schedule (review will be here after the new year), and Rebekah Jones began the long editing process to get her book ready for Christmas time.

Rebekah Morris asked for my help again this autumn with a request for hand-drawn snowflakes for her newest project “Through the Tunnel”. My siblings and I experimented with several different ideas and finally got them to her. It was so fun to be able to help with yet another book! ; )

Now, to make the Tale of Two Rebekah’s even more confusing, their books both came out this last weekend in time for Christmas! I'd encourage you to check out Rebekah Jones’ mystery and Christmas story 24 Days Before Christmas. I plan on reviewing it here this December, so stay tuned! ; ) Also be sure to look at Rebekah Morris’ book Through the Tunnel and let me know what you think of it. I’m very anxious to read it myself. ; ) But remember, keep your Rebekah’s straight! ; )

And yes, this test reading maniac is currently working on another project. It's pretty fun. ; ) Have you ever been a test reader? 

The Untold Tale of Sleeping Beauty

Once upon a time I wanted to make a Christmas present. So I wrote this story...

             The castle was a sleepy, overgrown place. There seemed to be no humans about, and even the animals that lived there moved sleepily. The people of the village were never quite sure if it was inhabited or not, for legend said 'yes' and common sense said 'no'. As with all mysterious things, legends had grown up around it as thickly and as quickly as had the briar hedge that encircled its walls.

            The favorite legend of the people was the one about a sleeping princess and the handsome prince who would someday come to wake her.

            "The princess will sleep for one hundred years is what the legend says, but I'm not too sure about it myself," one woman said as she scrubbed at her washing.

It was one of the last chances to do washing outdoors before the autumn rains came, and many women had gathered to work together and to gossip.

"That's the problem with them legends," another spoke up, "because others say it's fifty years, and they go even as far as to say the prince's name will be Randolph."

The first woman snorted and shook her head.

"Well, why shouldn't it be?" an old woman said looking at them sharply. Old Mira was a fierce believer in the legends, and everyone knew better than to make light of them in her hearing.

The women silenced their tongues and lowered their heads respectfully.

"And besides, it's been almost one hundred years since that castle went silent and the hedge grew. We'll find out soon enough if the legends are true or not. And mind you, they never said he was a prince—just the true love."

Maybe she had been around long enough to know the true story, or maybe it was just coincidence; for Old Mira was right in believing the legends. Ninety and nine years (and several days as well) before, the beautiful princess had pricked her finger on that fateful spindle causing her to fall asleep and the entire castle with her.

            At the very time of this discussion when autumn was coming on and the leaves were turning to gold in celebration, she was laying stretched out on a luxurious bed in her chamber. Finely embroidered silken blankets were wrapped about her, and she was sleeping as peacefully as she had for close to one hundred years.

            A small fire burned on the hearth replenished by one who had taken pity on the sleeping castle and devoted himself to serving his overlords. When he had first stumbled upon the strange sight, he had been a young boy out watching his sheep.

            One stubborn ewe in particular was constantly wandering off, and he found himself having to follow her again leaving the dog to watch the other, more compliant sheep.

            "She had better not have found the swamp again," he grumbled aloud as he hiked through the underbrush following her trail. "As sure as my name is Ran, that ewe is worth less than her keep."

            Despite his grumbling, the boy really did enjoy his job and these excursions into the woods helped to make it a little more exciting. Still, the old sheep was a troublesome one, and he didn't relish finding where she had gone this time.

            She hadn't found the swamp but instead something worse—a thick briar hedge.

            "Hold on a minute, I'm coming," he called in reply to her frantic bleating as he drew his long knife to cut his way through the thorns. To his surprise, they drew back at his touch and behind them a great castle loomed tall and still.

            He untangled the sheep and caught her neck in his crook to lead her along; but they did not start back for the herd. Instead, he started towards the castle and stopped abruptly at the gate for it was open! Scratching his light brown hair, he studied the scene. The guards were there, all right; but their eyes were shut, and they were slumped over from a long sleep. Tiptoeing past them into the courtyard, he saw a sight that sent an excited shiver up his spine.

Everyone in the courtyard had fallen asleep at whatever they were doing and stayed in their positions all these long years. Even the cook was still poised to taste his stew, but the stew was of course quite a thing of the past. The birds that had made their nests in the deteriorating walls had apparently eaten it, and the fire that had warmed it was only a pile of dark ashes.

This last and very important detail had led Ran's quick and benevolent mind to a noble decision. "I have no idea how they have kept warm all these long years, but this winter I know one thing—I will build their fires."

And he set about doing that very thing. The ewe wandered off again; but he didn't care, for he was quite busy gathering wood and starting the fires. Each room seemed to have more sleeping courtiers in it than the last, and he laughed with amusement over a chess game that was about to be won by the noble duke.

"He'll be pleased to see it is still here when he awakes, though that will be ten years from now," he said then lowered his voice because of the eerie echo. "Is that all the rooms?"

He knew that it wasn't, for there was one more—with its door shut—that he hesitated to open. Squaring his shoulders, he decided that it would be best to do it and walked down the hall to open the door.

What he saw made him gasp in astonishment. There was the princess Briar Rose, realer than any legend and twice as beautiful too. He removed his shoes and walked over to her bedside to get a closer look. She looked no older for the many years she had slept and seemed to be only a few years older than he.

"When you awake, princess, I will be a grown man; but for now I will be your friend and build your fire."

He moved very softly as he worked; for, although he knew that it would take a prince to wake her, the stillness of the castle seemed as if it shouldn't be broken. When he was done, he stole one last look at the sleeping princess and left to find his sheep and return home.

He came faithfully for many days after that. Always he laughed at the duke's game, always he saved the princess's room for last, and always he removed his shoes and spoke a few words to her before leaving. Always he kept the true story of the castle a secret and laughed with the others when the legends were mentioned.

As the years passed and he grew into a man, a strange hope began to grow into his heart that maybe the prince would never come. Maybe she would awake by herself, and maybe… But he chided himself and set about his work as the true service it was.

Even as the days grew fewer for the prince to come, he still came to the castle to do his work. Excitement in the village began to grow, and there were whispers and rumors about seeing whether or not the legends were true. They had never wholly believed them, but now when the time was almost ripe it was more interesting to believe than not to.

About the time that winter was coming and the mountain pass was completely blocked, the one hundred years was due to be up. Ran went about his work that day with a deep sorrow in his heart.

"Tomorrow it will be one hundred years since you have fallen asleep, princess. Your prince will come, and it is time that I say goodbye." He looked down at her sleeping peacefully so oblivious to his pain but told himself that if she had only been awake she would have known.
            "It is strange for one to love someone that has never spoken to you before, but from knowing this castle I know you. I have seen what you are like," he looked away towards the fireplace and steadied his voice. When he looked back at her he thought he saw a small tear slide down her cheek.

On a sudden impulse he reached down and wiped it away but was startled out of his wits when she began to stir from her dreams. Running towards the window, he only had a few seconds to jump out of it before her eyes flew open and she sat up.

Yawning, she looked around the room and said sleepily, "He has been here." Getting up out of her bed she straightened the covers a little and looked out of the window at the beautiful bright sky. "Oh, it is good to be awake."

"Indeed," her mother said from the doorway, and they embraced each other in the joy of the moment.

"What are these?" the Queen asked holding up the pair of boots near the fireplace.

"They must belong to the prince," Briar Rose said excitedly but when she looked closer she saw that they were not the shoes of a noble but of a very common man.

"Where is he now?" the Queen asked.

"I never saw him."

"He will come back."

All day many fears washed over the princess as she went about her usual routine. She had woken up a day early. Would the prince still come? If this man was not the prince, who was he and how had he awakened her?

There was extra work to do which helped to keep her mind busy with other things; for after all, when the housekeeping hasn't happened for one hundred years there is plenty to do when you begin again. The cook and his helpers set about finding food somewhere, and the castle was cleaned from top to bottom. The princess was everywhere lending an extra hand for even royalty must help when there is quite a lot to do.

Still, when darkness began to fall and things had a little more order, the princess was left to think. It is very dangerous for one to be left alone with worried thoughts, and the princess wisely told them to her mother and her father.

"Mother, you do not think that the boots belong to a prince, do you," she stated rather than asked.

"No, Briar Rose, I do not," her mother said frankly.

"How then could he wake me up if he was not a prince?"

"Daughter," her father said, "when you pricked your finger on that spindle, Old Mira told us what would happen. She said that your true love would wake you, but she never said he was a prince."

"From all appearances, this man who left his boots has been building the fires here every winter for who knows how long. True love means sacrifice and loyalty such as this—do you not think this is princely enough?" her mother said smiling.

"Will he come back? I didn't sleep quite one hundred years, you know. And will he mind my scar?" the young woman said looking at the finger she had pricked so long ago.

"Briar Rose, you must trust God that when He brings the man perfect for you He will take care of all the details. A little scar is nothing, if you have a beautiful heart. Goodnight, my daughter," her father said laying a hand lovingly on her shoulder.

"Goodnight, Father. Goodnight, Mother, and thank you," she said hugging them each in turn.

She need not worry. It would all happen as God had planned. The sun slipped lower in the sky as she stared out the window at the thick hedge. Father had said they would leave it up one more day, but then the men would have to work hard at burning it out the next day. What was the man who had left his boots like?
            She yawned sleepily and turned towards her bed. Laying down on it, she prayed for patience and fell asleep. As she slept she dreamed a beautiful dream. The winter air was cold and sweet and little snow flurries drifted down to cover the unsightly hedge in a beautiful coating of frosty white.

A man was coming towards it out of the woods with a gray and white dog at his heels. As he reached the thorns, he reached out a roughened hand to touch them; and they sprang back as if they were gates. Then he strode up to the gates of the castle. The guards said something to him and he gave a reply, but the princess could not hear anything in her dreams.

That didn't matter for they let him in anyway, and he spoke for a long time with the King and the Queen. She smiled in her sleep when she saw him for he was wearing boots exactly like the ones they had found in her room that morning. She didn't care that he was dressed like a shepherd. He was nice looking anyway and so very, very kind!

The dream was beginning to go on, when the princess felt a light touch on her shoulder, and she opened her eyes. There he was. He had actually come.

"It's you! I knew you would come back," she said smiling up at him.

"My name is Randolph. Once I knew I could awake you, I knew it was all right. Your parents have agreed. Will you marry me?" he asked smiling back and helping her sit up.

"Yes, yes, I will. Definitely, for I know you have a princely character. How long have you been building the fires, anyway?" she asked studying him.

"Long enough," he replied. "Long enough to know that you are a princess indeed."

"I have a scar," she said almost irrelevantly showing him her finger where she had pricked it on the spindle.

"I am a shepherd. That plant out there is a hedge. But when God has a beautiful plan, He uses everything for His purposes."

Briar Rose smiled at her prince, and Randolph smiled back. Her parents smiled at both of them, and God smiled at the fruition of His beautiful plan.  

The End

Joy! Joy! Joy!

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas, and that your new year is just the same! I thought I would share with you some of the things I am thankful for this season.

 

I'm thankful for...

Icicle lights and the "little" brother who hung them up. I did have to hold his ladder when he hung them on the peak. It was sooo cold out!

A little sister who bugled on our decorative trumpet while we were decorating the house for Christmas.

The people at the Christmas tree farm who give us candy canes every year and are just so nice. We especially like their dog Coal, who loves candy canes, his own mini-forest, and little girls. He must be the happiest dog in the world! : )

The way a Christmas tree sparkles when all the lights, ornaments, and pearls are on it.

Funny mix-ups with my little sister's and my coats. They are both black but there is about a three-size difference. I wore hers to the mail, and only realized it was too small when I tried to zip it. : ) She wore mine to our Christmas service.

A Christmas story contest. Join the fun at www.noblenovels.weebly.com. (As far as Christmas stories go, I think God already won.)

Friends and neighbors who thought of us this Christmas and blessed us with cards, goodies, and even a smoked turkey. We love you!

"The Nativity Story", a movie that brings it all alive and makes one realize just how special Christmas is.

The hymn "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus". Thank you Charles Wesley!

Fun chats with my mom and my older sister as we stayed up late finishing up our Christmas presents for the little girls.

Design advice from my dad and my mom. : ) I'd be lost without you!

Little sisters with their secrets, and the pictures they gave me on Christmas day. This year Emma blessed me with the coolest stationery!

A stuffed stocking... You gotta' love chocolate brown fashion socks, a knitting kit, etc., etc., etc. : )

A comic book from Anna to enjoy in the near future. : )

Clapping when one of my siblings unwrapped the new family ice cream maker!!!!!!

Mom's Pioneer Woman holiday cookbook to look through and drool (and laugh) over.

Getting to see the sweet nephew and his drivers. (Love the drivers too.) He laughs when Perry shuffles cards! It is so funny!

The mug I recieved from Perry with a (very) original quote  she free-handed on it. "Some are born weird, some achieve it, others have weirdness thrust upon them..." All of the above! Love ya'!

Christmas dinner with said turkey. Mmmm...

Keith and Kristyn Getty's "Joy: An Irish Christmas", and Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" music cds. They remind me just what we are celebrating and just how special it is.

A God who loves the ones He created so much that He would give His precious Son to die in our places even though we have chosen to completely rebel against Him. That is what Christmas is celebrating... a God who says, "No, I love you. I will do all I can to get you back."

 

May you realize and accept His blessing to you! I hope you had a merry Christmas!