blessings...

On Monday evening we all made cookies together after dinner... Of course there are recipes that we keep making every Christmas, and this is one of them. Some of our other favorites are swedish strips (raspberry jam and walnuts on bars of extra rich brown sugar shortbread), pumpkin pie (Mom's awesome recipe :), orange rolls ( like cinnamon buns- but with orange zest, butter, and sugar rolled into it....) - I know traditional treats aren't the meaning of Christmas, but they help with feeling richly blessed! And I am so grateful to live in this out- of- the-way little place wherethe wind blows ( that's not why, though!) ... Because it's the kind of place where everyone who wants to gathers at the community hall and sings carols and enjoys such a fun- and a fine evening of music with choirs, a band, and even teenage kids reading us the Christmas story from the Bible!

I am so grateful for these true words from the prophet.They fill my heart with peace, and at the same time with a strong desire to be like this. So many people have shown me just such love, and do every day. Thank Heaven for this pure, selfless love that comes into our hearts from Jesus Christ. We so need it, and I know one day we will be happy we have learned to live this way, when we face Him after our life. Then I am sure we will feel such grace- such charity from Him. I couldn't live without this hope. I thank heaven for it! "There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere…. the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient…. that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, a...