Another melted vanilla ice cream sky today. So pretty with all the cloud layers pooling together, grays and blues and whites. I sat in the swing a long time today, lonely for Chief and our daughter Rosalyn. I’m trying to remember our last Christmas together but I can’t conjure up the memories with Rosie. She started her freshman year in college after Christmas that year so we were busily getting things together for her. The last Christmas with Chief, our family was suffering with Covid. We were so sick I can’t even remember those days. I’d love to have one more Christmas with Chief and Rosie sitting around the table with us but those days can’t be. But don’t you know Christmas is beautifully celebrated in heaven, the music splendorous, the pomp and circumstance celebrating Jesus’ birthday. I know it’s a glorious celebration.

Chief sent lots of cardinals to my yard today to cheer me and I enjoyed watching them frolic around the feeders. Stew and I opened our presents this morning since we are leaving early morning to spend the day with Thomas and his family. I love that he gave me a woodpecker feeder. Mr. Downy will think I gave it to him for Christmas. Woodpeckers can’t perch so it has a board for their tail and they can hang on the feeder. Also gave me a thistle seed feeder. That’s a favorite of the goldfinches so I’m looking forward to happy bird watching as I do some porch pondering.

I have lots of framed photos of Christmases with my family and I display them at Christmas. My family enjoys them and we all talk of how quickly our children grew up and how fast our grandchildren are maturing. Time is really fleeting. I remember when my children were young, Chief’s sister would walk around our house at Christmas Eve shaking jingle bells. This always thrilled my children and they’d burrow down in their covers, eyes shining with excitement, thinking of Santa getting close. Those were beautiful, happy days.

Mother Nature closed her sunset pageant viewing today and the sun set quietly behind a beautiful cloud cover of melted vanilla. I couldn’t see Father Sky kiss her cheek and didn’t see him hang the moon and stars. But I know it was as beautiful as usual.

Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. He was God’s gift to us to save us from our sins. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” God gives us grace and we make the choice to receive it. Our Christian faith is based on grace and God’s grace has given us salvation. The biblical definition of grace is underserved favor. We don’t earn God’s grace, it’s freely given to us. God doesn’t keep track of our successes and failures. God gives his goodness freely to all of us. God’s grace not only offers salvation but also secures it.

Merry Christmas! Hope your day is filled with joy and peace!

“May the magic of Christmas fill your home with love, your heart with warmth, and your life with joy.”