Christmas – Sarah Marie Wells

A Christmas Poem

I remembered this poem this Christmas Eve morning as a I cracked an egg from our friend, Bill’s, chickens to make cinnamon rolls as part of our family tradition of cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. There are so many little miracles every day, the holy incarnate among us, if we just keep our eyes andContinueContinue reading “A Christmas Poem”

Light and Heat

For Christmas, a friend of ours gave us his 55-gallon fish tank and stand after I mentioned on Facebook that we were considering an aquarium for Henry. It was one of many delightful surprises on Christmas morning. Before we can add fish, we need to make the environment right. Our city water needs to beContinueContinue reading “Light and Heat”

Advent Day 1: God With Us

Today begins the first of a series of advent posts that consider the coming of Emmanuel, God with us, and what that means to those of us who came over 2,000 years after the Son of God was born in Bethlehem. In one of my favorite Hollywood prayers, Ricky Bobby begins his family meal, “DearContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 1: God With Us”

You Better Watch Out

You know that Christmas song, “I’m getting nuttin’ for Christmas?” My son had one of those days today. It’s like the part of his brain that is designed to say “This is kind of a dumb idea” got unplugged so the part of his brain that is designed to say “I wonder what will happenContinueContinue reading “You Better Watch Out”

Be Who You Are

This is my son, Henry:https://www.youtube.com/v/qMkh6cicxyo?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdataMy son, Henry, participated in his first Christmas program at his preschool on Tuesday:https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/m03dO2CM7xU&source=udsMy son, Henry. https://www.youtube.com/v/09aXM52HzVU?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo EmersonBack When:2013: Sharing the ‘Good News,’ with a little excerpt from Walk the LineContinueContinue reading “Be Who You Are”

Advent Day 22 and 23: Seasonal Weed and Feed

Even though there are plenty of ways we abuse the Christmas holiday with Black Friday and doorbuster sales and buy one get one and layaway and credit card debt, I can’t imagine ever abandoning the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas.Last Christmas, I had something akin to superhuman energy and assembled a dozen or soContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 22 and 23: Seasonal Weed and Feed”

Advent Day 20

Elvis and Lydia’s last day of school for 2013 is today. My plan this morning was to get the Christmas shopping done with Henry in tow. It did not go so well, unless you define success by leaving Target with a screaming and flailing child begging for a Matchbox car. Then, yes, successful.I did notContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 20”

Advent Day Five: But They Were Childless

“In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because ElizabethContinueContinue reading “Advent Day Five: But They Were Childless”

Advent Day Four: It’s Not Fair!

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be savedand JerusalemContinueContinue reading “Advent Day Four: It’s Not Fair!”

Advent Day Three: His Resting Place

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”HeContinueContinue reading “Advent Day Three: His Resting Place”