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A Bleak mid December

It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I am a bit of a winter buff. I love chilly weather and all things snow.  The higher the snow count the happier I am.  There is something special for me about those frozen crystals of dihydrogen monoxide (water).

Last year and all through the first few months of 2017 I was gifted with FEET of the stuff.  So far this year it has been bleak. It looks to be a brown Christmas. Too chilly for croquet but too warm and dry for sledding. The messy in between.

Isn't that what Christmas is all about? God coming into our messy and making us clean and pure.

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah.  I started celebrating the festival last year.  Once again this year it snuck up on me.  My Menorah remains in my wish list on Amazon and not in my house! Oops.

We still celebrated.  I gathered 8 mismatched candles and 1 more in a holder.  We lit the light and prayed the blessings.

Hanukkah is a time to focus on God's provision and protection.  A wonderful time to focus and prepare our hearts for Christmas and thanking God for coming into this messy world and being our sacrificial lamb, our once and for all way to Heaven.

Snow or no snow I am going to enjoy this time of Advent, Hanukkah and Christmas with a thankful heart for my Savior coming and making me pure and clean.


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