The light has come!
This Is The Story
Here is the story, from the beginning…
I haven’t seen the full clip of this – you have to buy it from the Skit Guys – but this is the Christmas story up until the manger 🙂
Peace On Earth
A memory, from another Christmas…
A turbulent time – but peace was still possible.
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men
And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells they’re ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we’ll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they’re ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men
Tree’s Up!
Finally got the tree up!
We’re a bit behind with decorating this year, but it’s looking cheery now 🙂
Even Fred got in on the celebrations…
Someone asked about family Christmas traditions the other day – we thought we didn’t really have any. On reflection, there are things we do every year, even now the boys are so much older.
We always put the tree up together. The boys put the lights on the tree, then I put the angel on the top. I do the breakable decorations, then they do the rest.
Christmas Eve we have a family lunch, and we go to the Christmas Eve service in the evening. Christmas Day morning the boys bring the stockings in to our room, then we all sit on the bed to open the stocking presents. We then have a special Christmas breakfast – this year we’re planning to have chocolate marbled brioche…
Everything else is decided on depending on how we feel. Even if we do different things later in the day I still feel happy if we’ve had our breakfast and stockings!
Another thing I like to do in the Advent season is listen to some new Christmas songs. I try to, at least once, sit with my cup of coffee and listen without any other distractions. Today was that day 🙂
I was blessed with a cloud heart as I listened.
…and I enjoyed some new songs.
Here’s one for anyone feeling frazzled by the Christmas rush.
The Universe Is Singing
Thursday we went to a school workshop – art, drama and music – fun! The music component involved each age group of kids learning “How Great Is Our God”, either singing or percussion (Sweet Bean did some nice work on a drum box, or cajón ), then coming together at the end for a big, glorious finale.
Before the lesson, they played this clip.
And then we all rejoiced…
OK?
You know how YouTube gives suggestions, generally based on previous browsing?
I’m not quite sure why it thought I was having a bad time (surely not because I was bingeing 80s memories and BBC comedy?), but these were the first three suggestions for me recently…
I don’t feel like I was in need of them particularly, but I enjoyed them.
Perhaps they were meant to be shared?
…and here’s one that caught my ear last week.
Come On – Get Happy!
Chase all your cares away!
I’ve been on a quest for “happy” songs, which has lead me around YouTube, and found not just the feel good, dancey, not too much thinking needed songs… I’ve enjoyed a bit of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and gone back to the 70s for classic rock.
Not exactly the most feel-good lyrics, but makes me want to dance.
It’s the bagpipes…
I’ve been reminded of the importance of standing up for what’s right, even if it starts with little things.
I’ve experienced again one of those moments where a beautiful voice, a connection with others, a memory and an iconic event combine to form magic.
The happy songs? I’m sure there are many, but I’ve only included a random selection.
An obvious choice if you feel like you need to walk on sunshine!
Or need to remember every little thing will be alright.
Just shake it off…
…and make your own kind of music!
Just say yes 🙂
Rainbow Down The Barricades
I’ve had a very inspirational weekend and early week – feeling like making/doing/being… in the past I’ve gone so far, then run up against walls. God has been speaking to me, specifically this weekend, but also throughout this year.
Today we went out for coffee, and I decided to dress in my rainbows… not just my shirt but various bits of colourful jewellery. I have quite a lot of it but don’t often wear it. Today seemed like a day for a bit of overkill.
We hid away on the sofa at the cafe, and dreamed… looked through some of the books stacked there (also used as tables)
Came home, did some work.
All things are possible, but they still require a bit of deliberation, dreaming – and doing!
Here’s a sign from the Women’s Conference at church on Saturday.
Now – to live the life…
What Was; What Is
I’ve been listening to this song, which was a recommendation for me on YouTube. Made me think…
We all have regrets – those things we’ve done, or haven’t done. Life rolls over us. Events happen, and we end up feeling scoured out by circumstance… cleaned out and hollow. The person we thought we were, wanted to be, lost in time.
Sometimes it’s the appropriate time to mourn and to heal.
Sometimes it’s time to get up again and move forward.
It’s never too late to find the good things again,
and to rekindle the fire.
What used to be can still be.
Just changed, and even sweetened, by personal history.
I can never be who I used to be – not completely.
I can be the best of who I am now.
And so can you ❤
Where Everyone Has A Seat At The Table
Went to the library the other day, and took the opportunity to do a bit of op shopping as well. We’re not long getting over the sniffles, so I felt a bit drained after hiking up and down the streets… decided to check out a cafe I’d been meaning to go to. There’s nothing like a cup of mocha (especially 12oz of it) to revive flagging energy! Here was my view while being refreshed. There’s a main road just outside, but you’d hardly know it from the peaceful feeling inside.
Oikos Cafe opened a few months back on the site of a previous cafe. It’s at 61 Limestone Street, more or less between the library and the centre of Ipswich. My title for this post is written across the main wall, and it seems everyone is welcome – everyone is included, and grace wins the day. Food is sourced locally, and there seems to be a good selection of gluten free, raw etc. options. Buying the beans used for the coffee also helps to feed hungry children in Uganda. Apart from that, it also makes a very good cup of coffee!
Oikos is a Greek word, meaning “circle of influence”, and refers to family or community. I liked the feeling of community there, and will be going back…
I am undecided whether to have an early night, or to read for a bit. I’ll finish with another quote from Oikos…
“Rest is holy… get some!”
1000 Fields of Roses 