My Heart is very full, and a few Christmas day pics

My Christmas present from Joel -- Enjoy! Christmas Suite, Mvt. I: For Mom

Christmas Suite - Mvt. 1 For Mom by joelclarkson

The Shepherd's meal--potato soup, herb bread, roasted nuts, cheeses, sparkling apple juice!

I had so very much in my life and on our schedule this year, that I never got to a Christmas letter. But I do send my love and thanksgiving for each of you who have written, sent cards, thoughtful gifts and prayers. We love and appreciate all of  you!

Just  little of the last 24 hours!

Our home is full of traditions and I am eating every single moment up with my sweet ones being home, kissing them and squeezing them more than I probably should--but they give me grace during these few days we get to all be together.  So fun to see that though I didn't know if the trouble of creating all of these traditions mattered, it was  going to the heart. Now, all of the kids look to these very traditions as anchors to their souls, that our family keeps all of accountable to ideals that we cultivated in our home. Such a blessing to have them all around and to see the invisible thread of life lived purposefully together that bind us so close to heart.

So much laughter--we are not always a serious or pious group--we could hardly be serious during the shepherd's meal last night when Clay read the Luke 2 passage--so many stories, jokes, quips and fun. We turn off all the lights, of course,  and eat by candle light, as was the night sky when the Lord appeared to the shepherds.

Then morning stockings, treasures. And going out to a favorite place for breakfast every year. We have not had the privilege of having family in our lives for many years, so to add to the day of fun, we go out for a sumptuous Christmas buffet and have traditional family pictures taken every year--with antics all the way--smile, don't look goofy, there is a ball coming out of your head, and so on.

Everyone!

Nathan, 21, Sarah, 26, Joy, 15, Joel, 24--funny to get one right!

I thank the Lord that He built family as a support system, nurturing place, holy to pass on righteousness in every generation--the working and sanctifying place of my own heart. To have invested these years by faith and to be blessed to have our own best friends--all of us quirky, but grounded in the foundation of the Lord. I feel very humbled and blessed for this season where we are today. Never is our life without issues and prayers and needs and faith to have to exercise, but when the Lord is in our midst, we stand strong together through all that is on our mutual plates!

I pray that all of you may know His grace, peace, love that binds hearts together and covers a multitude of sin, and the faith to hold His hand day by day until you see Him face to face.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving so much, so that we could have your life day by day. We adore you and worship you today with hearts full of humility and thanksgiving.

The Gift You Can Give Every Day

Mary Cassatt Maternal Kiss

The excitement of last minute shopping is underway! I always mean to have everything done ahead of time, but day leads on to day and minutes run out and....! Maybe excitement is not the right word for that adrenaline rush you get in the mall parking lot or seeing the "Sale" sign over something you wanted to give a special person. And it is so funny for me to watch my sweet husband. He loves surprising the kids and makes a grand effort after I think we have all in order.

This is the season of sacrifice ~ giving up time and money to give gifts. Christmas for me is not so much a materialistic issue as it is wanting to consider the delights of my precious ones and seeking to bless them with something they will cherish. We have cultivated such a precious family time because of a legacy of traditions over the years, that we indeed celebrate in the love we share and the love He shared and shares with our family. We learned the delighting in those we love by looking at God who enjoys delighting in His children. It is what we see in God's creation--the color, the beauty, the tastes, the sounds, and touch, the sacrifice--all gifts He gave us to satisfy, because He is a God who is near and personal.

Gifts are a way of telling someone we care about them, we are considering their own unique personality and dreams and desires. We try to give the best possible gift, knowing their likes/dislikes and the current needs in their life. The gift of Christ over 2,000 years ago shows God's delight in us. The God of relationships and kindness,  knew exactly what we needed. He gave us His most precious Gift and it cost Him everything!

As wives and mothers, we give gifts of our true selves to our families each day--or at least we should. When the milk is spilled, do we give the gift of acceptance and patience? When our husband comes home tired after an extremely long day, do we give the gift of listening and looking into his eyes,  so he knows we truly care? Do we give our children the gift of a quick hug as they walk by? Or a butterfly kiss? Or a backrub? Sometimes these are the same gifts we would like to receive!

We will never be in control of our lives, as the busy moments seems to suck our energy and bodies dry at times, but we know the One who is. He promises to provide for us, even when circumstances push us to our limit. He promises to be with us no matter what! But opening our eyes and our hearts to praise and worship Him as He gives to us His patience, love and attention each day, gives us a pattern for celebrating life. Here is a section from The Mom Walk:

"There will always be giants in our land. There will always be things that could potentially threaten to overwhelm us. We have to make a choice to believe in God's ability to provide and so free us to celebrate. We must trust Him to take us into His generous provision or we will allow life to demoralize us and we will give our children instead a model and attitude of complaining and grumbling.

This story (Numbers 13-14) was personally convicting to me, as I do have a real dark side which can become easily focused on the difficulties. However, I have learned an important principle: It is natural to whine and complain or to be selfish and unloving -- but it is supernatural to praise and be thankful and to choose to express love and faith -- even when my feelings don't agree.

When we choose to practice praise, joy, and love, when we cultivate celebration even as God did, we then find that we experience the love of God to a greater degree in our own lives. He is there, walking in the garden of our own lives, looking for us to see Him and to respond and walk with Him in His providing love. But in order to see Him, we must turn our eyes and hearts to Him seeking to listen to Him in our souls and thus validating for our children and ourselves the reality of His joy.

A mother who gives her children a heart to celebrate God's life and beauty gives a gift that will help her children draw joy from their lives and memories that will bring them strength and pleasure all their days.

So today, look for joy. Seek out beauty and model to your children what it means to live in celebration of God's marvelous life."   ~ The Mom Walk  pp. 48-49

Psalm 19:8 says, "The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."

When you are struggling with your attitude, where can you turn? What passages of Scripture bring joy to your heart?

How can you live in celebration of God's marvelous life today?

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you!

He came because I needed Him

Daily, year by year, day by day, it seems, I am running into presence of God with needs beyond my capacity to meet. When Clay and I were young and our children wee, there were bills, ear infections, sleepless nights, discipline issues, family issues, and exhaustion and always future dilemmas and dreams.

Not a lot has changed, but now my children are just bigger and Clay and I are older, and still I find I am daily looking to Him, pouring out my heart and soul. Never has there been a magical time in this life where life has been totally smooth with no needs on the agenda.

And yet, again, as I approach Him this season, I am reminded that He came out of compassion for me--his child. He initiated to give to me all that I need, not because of anything I deserve, but His nature is to always love, always provide and always give. And so He is still my:

Wonderful Counselor

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask it of God who gives to all men generously, and without reproach." James 1:5

He has all the wisdom, truth, advice and direction I or my children will ever need.

Mighty God

He raised Jesus from the dead, he turned the 5 fish and 2 loaves into enough for 5000, He opened the Red Sea, He gave the widow enough oil to make bread every day so that she would not starve.

He has the power to overcome all forces against me, all giants in my land, all of those things that threaten the peace in my heart. It is not for me to power over all the challenges in my life, He will be my strength and my one who can overcome.

Everlasting Father

"Even as a Father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on us." Psalm 103

He knows my frame, he understands my weakness, my flaws, my personality, my puzzle of life, and yet as my own Father, He has compassion and He will take care of me as I rest in Him.

Prince of Peace

"My peace I leave to you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives to you. Let not your heart be troubled or let it be fearful."John 14: 27

The peace that passes all understanding.........

Though the world rages all around me, He is the peace at the center. He extends His rest to me if I look to Him. He gives me the assurance that I am not invisible in my needs even though I do not always know how he will provide or direct. His peace if offered me at the engaging of my heart by faith in what He is so willing to give.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace." Isaiah 9:6

And so, this holiday season, may you find our sweet, precious Jesus to be the source of all you need and may you find rest in His love and generous heart.

Kissing the Face of God

This artwork by Morgan Weistling called Kissing the Face of God evokes awe in my heart as a mother. To think of cuddling the soft, warmth of a newborn, precious from my body and to understand that this wee one is also the transcendent who cast the universe in its place. This tiny one, God, needed the kisses and love and attention of His own mother. The print is one of many that graces this frame during advent season, and it is one of our favorites.

The artist has this to say about her print...

"This painting was first inspired by a song that I heard one day. Sometimes, hearing one phrase is all it takes, and then a flood of inspiration follows. The phrase 'kissing the face of God' immediately struck me with this powerful image of Mary and the Baby Jesus. It is an image that we have seen depicted many times, but never simply as a mother and her child with real tenderness. I started to contemplate the awesome privilege that Mary was given, being able to hold God in her arms, but also keeping in mind that He was still her baby. This cute little child whom she bore was also God in the flesh. And yet, she cuddled and kissed Him, just as all mothers do with their babies. This thought propelled me right into this painting which I wanted to be a very human representation of divinity. My prayer is that the viewer will be struck, as I am, with the amazing way that God chose to send His Son into this world — in pure humility."

Mary has been on my mind lately. Our pastor delivered an insightful sermon about her Sunday. Then at the Christmas Tea for my monthly Bible study, we talked about Mary's faith. God submitted himself to a fallen, dangerous world by becoming the most  vulnerable creature,  a baby who required protection, nurture, love and care from one He had crafted Himself.

God chose precious Mary to be His mother, the one who would daily mold the soul memories in the life of her beloved child and creator. That she would inform His earthly tastes for living; she who would worship God, her Father daily in front of her very own infant son, to share with Him in the glory God in her own home is the miracle of God incarnate, on earth as one of us.  Mary's  humble beginnings, were from a common  family, and yet  she and Joseph were the ones entrusted to raise the son of God.

What a statement--that a normal family could be the very place holiness would be lived out, a place competent to hold and protect and shape the human side of the son of God. And so this speaks to us today--a normal family, dedicated to His life and righteousness, the place adequate to be the home of God. But there is an attribute about Mary which we may glimpse to see just what qualified her for the task.  She had invested  her life engaging in Scripture, pondering it, embracing it, owning it for her own soul.

What was Mary's response when she met her cousin Elizabeth? Her words are recorded in Luke 1:46-55. She rejoiced! She called the Lord holy. She talked about His strength, His provision, and His help. Mary knew the God who called her to mother His Son. She called herself "His maidservant."

This Christmas season, pray daily that He would make you His maidservant. Take time to read -- really read -- the Christmas story with your children, the precious ones God chose you to mother! End your reading time with a gentle kiss. May you be blessed as you minister to your sweet family.

****************************

Congratulations to Heather Ashe and Stacie Nelson--the winners of the MOM HEART CONFERENCE DRAWING. We will be drawing for new winners in January. Stay tuned for the information on how you may enter.

Trying to dance today and hear the music, amidst the noise

Our home is starting to rock.......two kids became three yesterday and Monday it will become 4. More of everything. I am seeking to look for the humor, enjoy the pontificating, enjoying the cooking, and hear the true music amidst all the noise--and today, my goal is to dance, not trudge! "Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." George Carlin

The Best Gift I Can Give

Investing in your children for eternity ~ prayer George Romney ~ Lady Hamilton praying "The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

and His ears are attentive to their cries." Psalm 34:15

Babies are dependent on us for our very existence--our milk, our protection, our love and words and care, daily, every moment. When they cry, we, like God, are attentive and respond. It is the way we know their needs.When we respond to them with tenderness and an overflowing of our love, deep in their beings, they begin to understand that God is one who responds to their cries.

God has designed them to be fragile so that we can put an imprint of God's very hands and love and grace into the molding places of their hearts and minds, so that in "feeling" our love, they become predisposed to know and believe in His love and touch when they hear the stories of Him. Our constant service to them and pouring out of our lives when they are tiny, become a familiar pattern to their brains to understand His generous love, sacrifice and redemption.

But as our children grow, they become more able to stand on their own feet, to think for themselves, to begin making decisions that will have consequences. When we are young and our children are young, we have some sense that we are in control of their lives--that what we do and how we control them will determine what they will become.

However, the older my children become, I realize that apart from God's working deep in their souls, they will not follow His course of righteousness. I cannot control their lives, circumstances, or inform their decisions. There is a dark world of temptation, idolatry, despair, immorality at calling to them at every point. But I am not left helpless or hopeless. I can have a big impact on their lives and can help shoulder their burdens every day.

Over the years,  I slowly grew into an understanding that unless the Lord stirs their hearts, quickens their minds to the scripture they have learned to love in my home, they will be sorely tempted to go the way of the world. And so, now, though I am in constant communication with my older children and encouraging and listening, I know that my biggest work in their lives will be before the throne of God.

Even as I see Jesus so often praying the whole night, and read that He prayed for Peter, and look at the loving, tender words of prayer in John 17, I know, too that I must model my life after His. The real work in my children's souls, the fingertips that will mold and shape their hearts, is that of the Holy Spirit. My work is to mysteriously engage with Him before God's throne, and it is there that the life of my children will bloom afresh. I share with you a small portion from one of my books:

The more time I spend with my Father in prayer, the better prepared I will be to help my children. And even more important, the more I can rest in the Lord knowing, by faith, that my children are in his hands. When I can trust in God's providence, draw upon his grace, join in the spiritual battle through prayer, and praise his name, all the other things I do as a mother seem to pale in significance. The more I grow as a mother, the more I grow convinced that the most important impact I will ever have on my children will be through my prayers for them.  ~ Seasons of a Mother's Heart p. 201

"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-22

What are you praying for your children? Write down one thing for each child and commit to approaching God's throne in confidence daily until Christmas Day. May the Lord bless you as you give your children the best gift ever ~ your prayers!

Christmas ~ A Time to Enjoy Reading Aloud!

On a storm-blown Sunday afternoon in a creaky old manor house in England, I rediscovered the timeless delight of classic children's books. It took me by surprise. I was one of about thirty international students studying and living in England for the summer, and this was our first British teatime all together. A shy, awkward silence had fallen about us as we tried our best to balance philosophy, sophistication, and hot mugs of tea, when one of our tutors said something that sent us all staring. "Let's read Winnie-the-Pooh."

A swift current of suppressed mirth ran the length of the room, but we were up for some fun, and the tutor assigned each person a part in the story. Pooh's expedition to the North Pole was the story of choice, and before we knew what was happening we were immersed in the comical, compact world of the Hundred Acre Woods. The story had all of us -- tutors, college students, post-graduates, old, and young -- laughing until our sides literally ached." Read for the Heart pp. 113-114

Reading together as a family is a Clarkson tradition. Hours of memories have been made around good books. During the holiday season, busyness can rob you of precious time spent together as a family. Since all children should sleep at night, should being the key word, start the bedtime routine a little bit earlier and pull out a favorite book to read. If Pooh is a bit daunting by its size, try some holiday picture books or some shorter chapter books. Two Christmas selections that are recommended by Whole Hearted children are The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Cosmic Christmas. Enjoy their reviews!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a book I like each Christmas because it is a funny, family-friendly story.  It has inspired me to look at Christmas differently and a little more realistically.  For example, what if Jesus had colic?  The only thing about this book is that it has some questionable language so is better if Mom or Dad reads it aloud and edits as they read. ~ Reviewed by 10 year old young lady

Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado ( also recently published as The Angel Story) opens a unique porthole into the uncommonly written realm of angels.    It is written from Gabriel's perspective on his mission to give Mary the seed of Christ as Satan is desperately trying to stop him.   While it is written from a biblical Christian perspective, this soul stirring book provides a new look on the " all is calm , all is bright"  normal theme of Christmas.

This book is a must read in our home each year. ~ Reviewed by 13 year old boy

Other great choices selected from Read For The Heart you can read include:

Little Women and Little Men (Kindle versions are FREE) or grab the whole collection for Kindle for just .99.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (also free on Kindle)

The Railway Children (also free on Kindle)

What books are you reading to your children this holiday season? May the Lord bless the time you spend together!

Sarah's Book on Books ~ a great Christmas gift idea!

Soul Stirrings

"Christmas began in the heart of God.  It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man."

The things you put in your home bring life and love to those who pass through and those that stay. We are attracted to beauty because God is the Great Artist and we are made in His image. Christmas is the perfect time to place soul stirring pieces of beauty in your home. Some of these items, like the calligraphy quote above, can be left up all year round. This was done by my sweet friend, Elizabeth of Elizabeth Metcalf Designs.

What one decoration could you leave out to remind you of the God who loves you? May the Lord show you His beauty this week!

Cooking, mentoring and celebrating each minute!

Oh, what 24 hours can hold! I am so grateful that the Lord is in each minute. I have lots of messages overflowing in my heart, but alas, I am so busy with my sweet ones that I have little time to write to you about all that I am learning. I was up in the middle of the night with one of my sweet children and was reminded of all the ear-infected, asthma years that I wondered if I would live through. And yet, now I see that when I ministered His grace and love gently in these times, it went deeply into their hearts as they felt the hands and touch of someone who taught them the gentle love of the Lord. Sleepy today, but thankful for His strength and joy abiding.

I do know that Satan is alive and well and so much wants to discourage all of you brave-hearted women who want to spread light and cheer. I am remembering that God spoke into the darkness and said, "Let there be light!" And so each day, as I confront darkness of any kind--mood, thoughts, real temptation, catastrophes and sadnesses in the lives of my children, friends and family, in His name and in His honor this wonderful season, I am saying, "Let there be light in this place." and seeking to work toward that every minutes.

And so, as I prepare for friends who will be here with me in the next couple of days, I am cooking away. Here are two wonderful recipes:

First, you must know this is a special, special recipe--who could eat this much sugar, cream, butter every day of the year? But, I love delicious recipes that say, "This is a time to celebrate life and document a moment!" So, these became a wonderful breakfast yesterday morning for our Sunday morning feast!

Christmas Muffins--

(as shared with me by my wonderful friend, mentor and inspiration--and genius in the kitchen, Phyllis Stanley)

Place in Bosch with beaters: 3 eggs, 1 cup soft butter, 2 cups sugar, 2 tsp. orange peel

Mix until fluffy, Then add:

3 cups freshly ground flour (or store bought--unbleached, and spelt is also great! )  and 1/2 tbsp baking powder 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup chopped cranberries (set aside a Tbsp or 2 for garnish) 1 cup whipping cream or half and half Mix only until blended.  Place in well-sprayed muffin tins 2/3 filled.  Sprinkle with a little bit of chopped cranberries and pecans.  Bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven 400 degrees.  Makes 24 Christmas muffins.

GREEK LEMON CHICKEN SOUP.........

And then I just love to share my friends who minister to me on many levels. I love going to Coffeeteabooksandme because I see visual art, find out about great books, love looking into the soul of a spiritually deep friend who provokes me to loving the Lord more and who has the best recipes. This one sounds wonderful for a cold, winter evening. I am making it this week and asked Brenda if she would please share it with us. THANKS A BUNCH, SWEET BRENDA!

Have a wonderful day and may His light and peace be with each of you.

Saturday in December

I am: Getting ready for a teen car scavenger hunt for 14 friends of Joy tonight. (They go out in 3 different cars all over the community!) We did it with the older kids, followed by a white elephant.

Taking Joy to drive on the freeway for the first time! Yikes!

Listening to my own Pandora radio station on Clay's computer playing Christmas Instrumentals. Ahhhhhhhh! Wonderful.

Getting the old Christmas Tree cake pan out to make the desert for tonight. Always the favorite.

Hoping for an afternoon cup of tea in a quiet house all by myself before havoc kicks in again.

Reading all the Christmas books on our hearth, tables, baskets.. (Christmas in My Heart by our friend Joe Wheeler; Annika's Secret Wish (so sweet), The Christmas Miracle, The Legend of the Candy Cane, The Indescribable Gift

Basking in the good news that Joel has been chosen as one of three musicians as the outstanding composing students at Berklee College of Music by his professors and will have an opportunity to have professionals play and record 20 minutes of his original pieces at the college in a spring concert in Boston.

Trying not to panic or become anxious about all there is to do on my lists for this month.

Preparing for our Christmas tea this Monday and for the Christmas Tea Bible study this Tuesday night.

Running to the Mac store to see if they can figure out why my computer won't connect to the internet and everyone else's will.

Thinking I will take the time to have that cup of tea right now.............

Going to stock up on groceries for the boys coming home end of next week.

Thanking God for home sweet home--we have lived in this house longer than any other since we have been married. Going on 5 years.

Getting excited to have all of my children under my roof. Getting scared about cooking all the meals for all of the children under my roof who expect great food and preparing myself for all the dishes.

Looking out my window, thankful to the beautiful crisp day with the trees and mountains.