Listen for the Angels

In an Appalachian carol, "I Wonder as I Wander", the author sings of the truth that a promise of the ages comes true in unusual way...




"If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
a star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
he surely could have had it, 'cause he was the king."



To celebrate our King's birthday, Henry, Evan and I joined a large group that met in our church on Sunday night. We were divided into small groups to sing to some of the shut-in senior citizens. I wasn't sure I wanted to go this year...sometimes it's hard to get motivated. Looking back, I am so glad my husband had enough enthusiasm for the three of us since it truly was a blessing.

Our small group included little Haddon Salter, and several other adorable toddlers, several children, young families, teenagers including one who used to do solos in the Atlanta Boys Choir.
As we sang the familiar carols together for a bedridden man and tearful wife, the beauty of this special season came home to me in a powerful way. She said this was their Christmas since they wouldn't be able to attend any parties or church gatherings...she was just thankful that she was home from a month long stay in the hospital! She begged us to keep singing after we started to leave, and we were delighted to share the beautiful hymns that remind us that "this is the night of our dear Savior's birth!"

Winter Wonderland

Large,lazy snowflakes began to drift down across the church courtyard right during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday School class. They continued off and on all afternoon, sometimes so thick, it made you feel like you were in the middle of a snowball that had just been tipped over.
By the time I left to go to the 6:00 p.m. choir concert, everything was glistening in a pure white powder sugar coating. I couldn't help humming, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"
This brought back great memories from last Christmas when we met Kira and Peter, plus Pete's parents in adorable log cabins in Moonlight Basin in southern Montana. The whole family,including Evan and Eric, Tacy and Stephen (except for the grandbaby, Molly)went skiing at Big Sky. And I was able to visit with our dear friends, Cindy and Darius, who live in the quaint little town of Big Sky; in fact, our family...all 11 of us ended up at their house for dinner. What wonderful memories of snowy Christmas.
Family time is a precious part of celebrating Christmas.

Advent is Here

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light." Isaiah 9
As we light our first advent candle, we think of our many friends who have chosen denial to self in order to serve on the mission fields across the globe. I think of Greg and Kathy Staley, our friends who serve in a school at Immanuel Mission in Sweetwater, Arizona; a land of sheep, goats and sandstorms.
I remember our two years living on the Navajo Indian reservation as tough yet such a blessing. I had many moments of homesickness. We were so far away from home and the desert landscape looked so bleak. But the warmth from praying with fellow Navajo believers was a bright light to our dreary souls. And developing friendships with faithful servants enriched our lives in countless ways.
I have been relishing the book, Out of Africa..the journals of Karen Blixen.
I so identified with this quote;
"The introduction into my life of another race, essentially different from mine,...became to me a mysterious expansion of my world. My own voice and song in life there had a second set to it and grew fuller and richer in the duet."
"What can I give Him
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
Oh what can I give Him?
Give Him my heart."