Skip to main content

Best Christmas in Years



Post after post on social media seems to exclaim:  “This is the best Christmas in years!”  I shout “Amen!” as I read them and join in the excitement of my friends. 

That’s how I feel this Christmas too!  It has been one of the best in years.  That’s because God did what we could not do!

I’ m basking in the love God has for His children.  His desire is for families to be reconciled to Him and to each other.  Reconciliation!  Oh, the freedom of it!

Ephesians 2:14 says:

 For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

I listen to songs proclaiming the peace of Christmas and read the words in Christmas cards.  This year that peace fell upon our home and our family as we experienced the gift of it in a long awaited prayer request for someone dear to us.  As we enjoy our days together this week, we can’t stop talking about the goodness of God and His amazing love for us.  Breakthrough is a wonderful thing, especially at Christmas.  The peace of it extends to every one of us in our family!  It was a present to us!

No wonder we have been inundated with spiritual warfare over the weeks prior.  The enemy does not want God’s people to unite, to love and forgive.  No, he would much rather fill our lives and homes with contention, strife and bitterness.

He didn’t win!

This has been the best Christmas’ in years.  We are a thankful bunch!


Here are some memories I hold dear this year.

























Labels:

Comments

  1. bettyDecember 27, 2015 at 10:00 PM

    So thankful it was a great Christmas for you all; the best in a bit : ) God is good and we are thankful he is :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nancy ChanDecember 28, 2015 at 5:50 AM

    Praise the Lord for His goodness and faithful. Thank God for the peace He gives to us and reconciliation that brought us back to Him and to one another. Your good news is our good news too. Have a beautiful new week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MelanieDecember 28, 2015 at 7:08 AM

    I'm so glad it was such a blessed Christmas for you! God knows just how to put things together. Have a blessed day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LindaDecember 28, 2015 at 9:02 AM

    I am so happy you had a great Christmas! Your photos are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mevely317December 28, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    You just lifted my heart, Mary!
    Lovin' all these pictures ... particularly the joy tiny Amy seems to exude everywhere she goes. :)
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LisaDecember 28, 2015 at 2:24 PM

    Mary so glad you had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was quiet which was a good thing. ;-) You have such a beautiful family!

    ReplyDelete
  7. CherylDecember 28, 2015 at 9:20 PM

    Oh, how precious, Mary! I am so thankful your Christmas was so blessed and happy, and to see all of the wonderful memories you made this year. God is SO good! One of the things I noticed this year is how it seemed that a lot more people focused on Christ. It seemed that more stores used "Merry Christmas" in their advertising and more people were spiritual-minded this year. SO very thankful to see that shift, as it has been a cause of great heaviness to me for years. Thank you for sharing your heart here....you are always such a dear blessing to me. I hope 2016 will be a wonderful year for all of us!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Victor S E MoubarakDecember 29, 2015 at 8:22 AM

    God bless you and yours.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nikki (Sarah)December 30, 2015 at 5:22 AM

    Fun pictures....You guys look like you had a great time.....wishing you a very happy new year too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Creations By CindyDecember 30, 2015 at 7:56 AM

    Love all the pictures! So glad you enjoyed your Christmas as we did too! God is good to us and we are so undeserving. The Victory is HIS! Happy New Year my friend. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 30, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Seeing the joys that our Father brings through His eyes and heart truly does lift a soul. So happy for you. May our Father continue to bless and lift you and yours up to Him!

    ReplyDelete
  12. SharonDecember 30, 2015 at 5:50 PM

    Ah, I can think of no better time for reconciliation than Christmas - you're right! When the Prince of Peace arrives, it's a blessed occasion!

    We also had a very nice Christmas. Every year our extended family grows, and I just love seeing us all together.

    Looking forward to sharing the journey in this coming year, Mary.

    You bring me laughter and wisdom like no one else!

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Victor S E MoubarakDecember 30, 2015 at 6:38 PM

    Wishing you and yours a Splendid New Year.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Debbie PetrasJanuary 1, 2016 at 5:31 AM

    Oh Mary, God is so good! As I read your words, it is so encouraging. We've walked with each other through many difficult times. I've read your words and prayed for you over the years we've been blogging. How thankful I am that we have had the opportunity to meet in person and pray together. How thankful I am that blogging has brought so many Christian women together to offer encouragement, friendship and prayer. I love your photos.

    Happy New Year!

    Love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2016 at 3:50 PM

    Wow, I love hearing about answered prayer. Thank you for sharing your life, and this years Christmas story that includes forgiveness. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wise HeartedJanuary 2, 2016 at 4:50 PM

    (because God did what we could not do!) That is exactly how I feel, it was our best Christmas. Not because of gifts or food but because both our kids and their kids got come to our place for 9 days. It was a great reunion, full of laughter, playing games, deep talks, only thing wrong it was too short. Glad you had a great Christmas also. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wise HeartedJanuary 2, 2016 at 4:50 PM

    (because God did what we could not do!) That is exactly how I feel, it was our best Christmas. Not because of gifts or food but because both our kids and their kids got come to our place for 9 days. It was a great reunion, full of laughter, playing games, deep talks, only thing wrong it was too short. Glad you had a great Christmas also. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  18. CeilJanuary 3, 2016 at 3:10 PM

    Hi Mary! What joy I felt reading your words! Who couldn't smile with all the photos you have here? I'm so happy for you and your family. Prayers answered, the evil one defeated...wow!

    Have a wonderful start to 2016, can't wait to see what God has in store for you!
    Ceil

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Veteran's Story

  I noticed Bill sitting in our local park where I walk.   He glanced my way just as I finished the last exercise walk song on my playlist.   He shouted and pointed to my car:   “Hey, is that your car with the Nam front license plate?   I stepped closer into the veranda where Bill sat on a picnic bench.   I noticed his Vietnam Vet cap and instantly I knew why I walked there that day.   The Marine Vet served during the 1960’s, the same time span as my husband.   Bill talked a lot about the war evoking my emotions from laughter to tears.   My South Vietnam front plate often prompts a conversation with a stranger and I’ve learned a deep respect for it over the years.   It is my way of listening to a veteran.   I enjoyed listening to Bill.   He made me laugh in spots but he made me cry as well.   Like when he talked about the sandwich lady.   “Do you ever eat at the sandwich shop in the gas station down the street...
26 comments
Read more

Lunch With the Girls on Gurley Street

While vacuuming a few days ago, I had a conversation with myself wondering if I should delete my blog. It was just a stray thought that came into my head while I was on a self pity trip. When life gets hard, I don’t always feel like rejoicing and with a blog dedicated to smiling in life, well it is just too much pressure! Then something wonderful happened. I am smiling again and can’t wait to write about it! Two precious sisters-in-Christ, amazing Arizona bloggers from the valley, drove up north and offered mega doses of encouragement. Today I would like to feature the wonderful afternoon I spent in Prescott with Debbie from Heart Choices and Kathleen from Sassy Granny. Debbie and I met last year at a blogger luncheon, so I knew this charming lady would have us laughing with her friendly ease. She is beautiful inside and out and oh, what a heart of love this gal has! It was such a blessing to meet Kathleen in person after following her blog this past year. I was su...
23 comments
Read more

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
21 comments
Read more