Sewing Room Closet

We downsized moving into this house, but the sewing room in the old house was almost identical to the sewing room in the new one. I expected finding places for all my stash would be almost effortless. That’s not the way it turned out. Moving into the new space was a little like trying to squeeze toothpaste back into the tube. Since then, I’ve been trying to make the best of the situation, but it’s been frustrating. When I need anything in particular, it’s almost always at the bottom of some box, bin or bag and hardly worth the trouble of searching for it. This past month, I finally fixed the problem. I sifted through every single container, sorted it all out and labelled everything. I found lots of things I’d forgotten I had, and several that will be better off donated to good will. Here’s the finished product: a terrific way to start the new year!

One Dozen Diversions

 

“It takes a courageous and willing heart to pause and pursue honest and meek introspection to acknowledge the presence of weaknesses of the flesh that may impede our ability to submit ourselves to God, and ultimately decide to adopt His way rather than our own. The ultimate test of our discipleship is found in our willingness to lose our old self and submit our heart and our whole soul to God so that His will becomes ours. One of the most glorious moments of mortality occurs when we discover the joy that comes when doing always those things that ‘work for and please the Lord’ and ‘what works for us’ become one and the same! To decisively and unquestioningly make the Lord’s will our own requires majestic and heroic discipleship! At that sublime moment, we become consecrated to the Lord, and totally yield our wills to Him. Such spiritual submissiveness is beautiful, powerful, and transformational.” – Elder Ulisses Soares

All My Love

 

Wedding Prayer

 

Lord, behold our family here assembled.

We thank you for this place in which we dwell,

for the love that unites us,

for the peace accorded us this day,

for the hope with which we expect the morrow,

for the health, the work, the food,

and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;

for our friends in all parts of the earth.

Amen.

 

My Wife

 

Trusty, dusky, vivid, true,

With eyes of gold and bramble-dew,

Steel-true and blade-straight,

The great artificer

Made my mate.

 

Honour, anger, valour, fire;

A love that life could never tire,

Death quench or evil stir,

The mighty master

Gave to her.

 

Teacher, tender, comrade, wife,

A fellow-farer true through life,

Heart-whole and soul-free

The august father

Gave to me.

 

By Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) – Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer.

Sixteen Delectable Mountains

 

How much do you know about the wise men? The scriptures call them magi, suggesting they were learned in something beyond everyday fishermen, olive farmers and shepherds. In this case, it almost certainly means they studied the heavens. People didn’t call them ‘kings’ for about 200 years, likely because of Isaiah 60:3, which predicts the Messiah would be worshipped by kings. Nativities depict three of them, but scriptures never mention a specific number. They were gentiles, from somewhere east of Judea – perhaps Persia (modern-day Iran). The gifts they brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh – symbolized Christ’s status as King of kings and foreshadowed his sacrifice. The Epiphany or Three Kings Day is January 6 – the twelfth day after Christmas. But the magi most likely arrived when the Christ Child was a toddler. Why does all this matter? The magi are an example to all of us; we must all find our way to the Prince of Peace.

Four Economy Blocks

 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about villains. Maybe it’s only natural that at this time of year Ebenezer Scrooge keeps coming to mind. Scrooge is actually an honest, law-abiding citizen. The people who owe him money went into debt willingly. All he expects is that they pay what is owed. If the law demanded that he pay his clerk more or treat his nephew better, he’d do that. When gentlemen ask him to donate to the poor, he’s offended. He pays his taxes in full, and he expects those taxes to cover institutions that care for the poor. The only thing Scrooge is missing is compassion. When Marley’s ghost visits Scrooge, he tells him a life of observing the letter of the law will lead to an eternity of remorse. Scrooge is shocked – shaken to his core. Suddenly, we’re back to 1 Corinthians 13. If we do everything we’re supposed to, but have no charity, we’re all villains. 

Christmas Tree

 

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz. How did you do?

 

1    Jingle Bells

2    O Holy Night

3    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

4    O Come All Ye Faithful

5    All I Want for Christmas is You

6    White Christmas

7    Santa Baby

8    Ding Dong! Merrily on High

9    The First Noel

10    Silent Night

11    When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney

12    Last Christmas

13    I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday

14    We Wish You a Merry Christmas

15    Once in Royal David’s City

16    Winter Wonderland

17    O Little Town of Bethlehem

18    Jingle Bell Rock

19    Deck the Halls

20    Frosty the Snowman

21    I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

22    Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

23    Little Donkey

24    Away in a Manger

25    Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

 

Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Stockings on the Mantel

 

Is your head full of Christmas songs? See if you can name these:

 

1    “Bells on bobtails ring”

2    “Noel, Noel, o night, o night divine”

3    “Glory to the new-born King”

4    “Come and behold Him”

5    “I don’t want a lot for Christmas”

6    “Where the tree tops glisten”

7    “Just slip a sable under the tree for me”

8    “In heaven the bells are ringing”

9    “Born is the King of Israel”

10    “Round yon virgin, mother and Child”

11    “You girls and boys won’t get any toys”

12    “The very next day you gave it away”

13    “When the snowman brings the snow”

14    “Bring us some figgy pudding”

15    “Mary was that mother mild”

16    “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?”

17    “How still we see thee lie”

18    “Now the jingle hop has begun”

19    “Tis the season to be jolly”

20    “A corn cob pipe and a button nose”

21    “Underneath the mistletoe last night”

22    “Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie”

23    “Ring out those bells tonight”

24    “The stars in the bright sky”

25    “Then one foggy Christmas Eve”