Tom and I Have Already Opened Our Gifts(!)

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."   ... John 10:10


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Christmas Eve Day! And I've already opened all my gifts.

Like, I just now sat down from puttering in the yard in my regular clothes (no jacket) and 49 glorious degrees. I fed the birds, raked some leaves (it never ends around Hobbit Cottage) and pulled up some sad-looking, spotty-white hosta stems. 

If you live where I do and you're out in your yard humming and happily puttering on December 24th, it is a big deal. Normally you'd be at the windows gazing upon snow and wishing for an early spring and maybe that you could afford a winter place in Florida.

But today I have Springtime in my heart and even in my yard.

Anyway, since Tom and I feel so spoiled this year, we're not doing gifts for each other(!)

We've already received too much. 

I mean, there's the big new window which opened-up more of our world and the river to us and there's the fireplace which, ok, cannot bring me lasting happiness, but is currently trying nonetheless.

(Most nights I burn tea lights in goblets in there and even feel a tad warmer just staring at their flickering.)

There's the cute kitchen window, also, which makes me smile.

Plus there are the books I've bought, the little hanging shelves (not pictured above) and my much-appreciated slipper chair upstairs, not to mention Tom's electronic doodads he bought for himself. Tom does love a good electronic doodad.  

This year we've already received too much. Our hearts are even now so full--and not just with stuff and things, either. Uh, no. But with a sweet daughter (who sent us a heavy box in the mail), good friends, and with the God who never leaves us alone.

So this Christmas  we are simply planning to watch two movies at the nearby theater and that will be a rare treat. 

Even that feels too good, really.




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"Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them and to accept his appointed lot and to rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God [to him].

 For he shall not much remember [seriously] the days of his life, because God [Himself] answers and corresponds to the joy of his heart [the tranquility of God is mirrored in him]."   ... Ecclesiastes 5:19-20


"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."   ...  Charles Dickens

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This Christmas as with the past ten, I'll be thinking of all of you, my much-appreciated readers who encourage me way more than you realize. If not for you, most likely, this blog would be a ghost town by now.

So thank-you.  Truly.

And Merry Christmas to all you who read here!


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Early this morning our local news shared this short video showing cats with Christmas trees and it made Tom and I laugh! (Click on the first one, Cats vs. Christmas Trees.)


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Love's Reckoning