V: Joy to the World!


This holy season finds "C" and I both facing challenges in our families. These tribulations include relationship difficulties, serious illness of extended family, death of a long-time neighbor and close friend a week ago, and loss of job to a family member.

My oldest daughter just came home from the hospital after a two day stay for pregnancy complications. So instead of wrapping gifts and baking cookies, I've been caring for her three children and my youngest daughter's new infant son "Jack", as the babysitter arrangements didn't work out. So, weariness covers me like a heavy woolen cloak, but I do have a turkey to roast tomorrow, and a few sweets to prepare with grandaughter, Julia.

"C" has a house full of extended family visiting from the East coast. I know she is enjoying cooking and visiting with them all. Like me, she has family who are facing difficult times, and her soon-to-be ex continues to cause grief, but we both place our hope in something beyond ourselves. I would like to share this favorite Scripture with you this day. Our "Christmas card" to you!



"For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a Light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel."
Luke 2:30-32


This Christmas season may you find your hope, your peace, your joy in Him. Blessings to you and yours. V.

Comments

Zuzana said…
Often life throws us unexpected events our way, but it is in that time that it is so important with great friends and the love of our families and the tranquility of our traditions.
I am hoping your daughter is well, congratulations on the new addition to the family.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to both of you, I have enjoyed getting to know you both lovely Ladies through your beautiful writing.

xoxo
Zuzana
December 24, 2009 at 1:39 AM
Anita said…
C & V, all the very best to you both at Christmas time and throughout the year. You know you can always snip a lock of troublesome peoples hair, make a calico doll and buy some dress pins....get the picture. OOps that is evil Anita creeping out of me. OOOOOOh. Hugs and kisses to you both. Kind regards, Anita.
December 24, 2009 at 1:51 AM
Vickie said…
Hi there V,
praying for you V& C (man I just realized that's my initials LOL)-that your festive season is as joyous as can be and that 2010 is a better year for you both,cheers Vickie
December 24, 2009 at 2:47 AM
Joolz said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
December 24, 2009 at 3:33 AM
KathyB. said…
This is so appropriate and uplifting. Through all the trials and tribulations you have both had and shared, and through all the other trials and tribulations you have not shared but are facing one day at a time it is really good to know you can place your trust in God and celebrate in the face of these issues. I hope 2010 brings much better times and allows you to stick out your tongues and say "nanny nanny boo boo and good riddance" to this years trials.

Merry Christmas to both of you and your families and thank-you so much for so much humorous encouragement.
December 24, 2009 at 3:35 AM
Anonymous said…
Dear C and V, I am so sorry for the difficulties but discord just not consider holidays. You are strong woman and will work it through. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. Look for to continuing your blogship into next year. Blessings to all your loved ones and extended family.
QMM
December 24, 2009 at 6:54 AM
Lucy said…
We all have days come along that are surprisingly NOT what they are meant to be. Try to pull one thing out to hold in your memory. A smile, a taste, the look in someone's eyes... With even my most horrible Christmas, there is something I took away that was a wonder and I know you can too.
December 24, 2009 at 8:10 AM
carla said…
Merry Christmas

&

God bless all in your houses.
December 24, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Vickie said…
V & C - there's a prayer going up right now for both your families. I pray that your daughter bounces back and the grandchildren will stay well and calm, and that C's X will not cause problems during the holidays. I pray for both of ya'll to enjoy the family time and the togetherness and that God may bless both your families with the richness of His grace and bring peace, comfort and joy to brighten up the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
December 24, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Vee said…
Gloria Gaither says, "Look for God in the unexpected." I know that you will find Him right there. What a blessing you are to your family at this challenging time. Thank you for your sweet reminder for it is much needed and appreciated here. Merry Christmas to both of you gals!
December 24, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said…
Just wanting to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010.
Blessings,
Nancy
December 24, 2009 at 7:02 PM
jan said…
Thinking of you both and wishing peace and joy for your families!
December 24, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Sumandebray said…
Merry Christmas, C & V! Have a wonderful celebration.
Tough time does not last but tough people does1

All the very best to you all and the new year will bring a new dawn of hope and good times.
December 25, 2009 at 1:13 AM
Maria said…
Dear C & V, Happy Christmas anyway. With you through it all......
December 25, 2009 at 5:13 AM
Anonymous said…
This is such a touching post. V. My heart aches for all you and C are going through. But it is uplifting at the same time to see you both resting in your faith.

You are definitely both in my prayers, dear friends.
December 26, 2009 at 5:12 AM
Immigrant Daughter said…
V. YOUR CHRISTMAS POST WAS AN INSPIRATION. THE CARD IS BEAUTIFUL. JUST KEEP LOOKING TO HIM AND HE WILL PULL YOU THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. THE REASON I KNOW THIS - HE HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE THESE MANY YEARS WALKING ME THROUGH.
December 26, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Eggs In My Pocket said…
I hope the new year if filled with better and happier times for both of you! blessings,Kathleen
December 27, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Anonymous said…
Dee from Tennessee ♥

Beautiful card and a profound truth...blessings to all, wrapped up in a Tennessee hug. May 2010 be a kinder year to all.
December 27, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Janean said…
V,

though your Christmas was not the way you planned, what a GIFT to be able to care for your family in a meaningful way!!!

(((hugs for your weary bones)))
December 30, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Tanna said…
I am happy to have found your blog through your comment! I love that us 50-somethings are blogging away and finding each other all around the country. How incredible is that?! Friendship is a wonderful blessing... seems you two have been especially blessed in that department.

The scripture is perfect (like any are not). But, I have to say my fancy is caught by your Ride Life header! Go girls!
December 30, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Tess Kincaid said…
Warm, woolly wishes for a wonderful 2010!
December 31, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Cass @ That Old House said…
I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties at this special time -- or any time! -- of year.

I hope for better things for you and yours in 2010.

A blessed and happy new year to you,
and all best wishes, from Cass
January 1, 2010 at 7:33 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guest Post by K: Whirlwinds of Change & a New Normal

Image
  Cowgirl V:  Shortly after the tornado that struck Tuscaloosa, AL, I asked my sister if she would consider writing a guest post about her experiences there.  She is a registered nurse who previously worked with Hurricane Katrina refugees. V   Enormous, menacing killer tornado looming over Tuscaloosa, Alabama April 27, 2011   Well, it has finally started happening.  I knew the day would come, but it has taken much longer than I expected.  You see, I live in a tornado ravaged city.  The April 27 devastation that occurred in Tuscaloosa, Alabama did not destroy my home.  In fact, we had no damage.   We were out of town when the storm hit but were glued to the television as we watched it begin to tear across the city.  I cannot describe our feelings we had as we watched this giant storm make its way across the city.  Then we had to come home.  We actually came home a day early to see what we could do to help. ...
Read more

C: GIVEAWAY!! Our First Ever! Join the Fun!

Image
As promised in my last post, this is your chance to WIN!! If you read the previous post, you will see that I am intrigued by by-gone etiquette rules. I have two copies of this book, one dating from 1945 (for which you can all vie) and one from 1950. The questions I am asking below are from the 1950 book because I had not yet dug the other one out when I starting composing this one. The topics we cover in this quiz seem foreign to me, and we think they will to most of you, since the classes are so mixed up these days. Emily, herself, notes this trend. You can almost hear her sniff as she says in her introduction on Page xii: The smart and the near-smart...are all mixed up together. The walls that used to enclose the world that was fashionable are all down. Even the cartracks that divided cities into smart and not-smart sections are torn up. And, I must say, V and I probably hail from the "not-smart" side of the tracks...sigh. Okay, here are the rules (such as they are...
Read more

C: Lessons on a Bridge

Image
We have a graceful bridge over the Arkansas River, uniting the North and South of our metropolitan area from its western side.  I don’t travel this bridge very often—maybe three or four times a year—finding that my travels take me more east-west and, if I go north, I usually travel on the Eastern side of the loop. But this week I had court in another county, and the logical route home brought me by way of this bridge.  It was on that day (last Thursday), that something occurred to me.  Never —not one time, I’d venture to say—do I traverse this bridge without thinking of an incident that occurred there in 1999.  Yes, 13 years ago, and the incident is still in my mind every time I cross the bridge.  I told V about this, and she c onfirmed that she, too, often thinks of it. This young lady’s name is Carson Prince.  In 1999 she was  the nineteen-year-old daughter of two attorneys, one of them the former mayor of our city.  In April 1999 drivers...
Read more