Hello friends,
I wonder how this finds you. Maybe you’re hurtling towards Christmas at full throttle, maybe you feel you are limping towards the finish line when the to do list will finally be completed and you can enjoy a well earned rest. Perhaps you have journeyed through Advent holding the tension of pain in the now alongside hope filled longing for the not yet. Or maybe you have enjoyed a slower pace through Advent, navigating the demands of secular materialism, managing expectations and immersing yourself a little more in Scripture and even solitude.
I can identify with all of these; with older children maybe nearer to the quiet calm than I’ve ever been before. I relish the still, dark mornings lit only by flickering candlelight when, accompanied by a warm mug of tea, I have space for musing and prayer. I am frequently frustrated with myself as I am more often than not too tired to pray coherently but I love to just sit and ponder, to gently offer up my prayers and to ask the Holy Spirit to speak into my mind, even if it be wearily dulled or overly busy.
I’ve used an Advent devotional gifted to me by a friend, with extracts from the sermons of JC Ryle, a Victorian Anglican Bishop. In previous years I’ve journeyed through the bubbling excitement of this season with the children, enjoying a variety of devotionals, story books, crafts, music, paintings and poetry resources. With only Sparkly Eyes home educating now we’ve kept it fairly low key, adding some poetry and a few stories to our normal lessons. Home ed has again felt hard and I feel I’m often trying to balance regulation with academic learning; a continuing learning curve for me.
Harvesting and preserving slowed down, with the exciting exception of a honey harvest. I was a couple of months late in doing this but managed it eventually, getting the bees ready to hopefully survive the cold and sparse winter and extracting one super full of honey.
Dancing Toes is navigating college well but it’s not been easy and repercussions at home can be both good and bad. She has lovely teachers, understanding and patient, for whom I’m very grateful, but the tide of secular ideologies and the troubled lives of many of the students is heartbreaking to see. What are we doing to our children?
At home, I’m continuing with my copywriting job and have also been doing some copy editing for a Christian newspaper.
Here are a few highlights of the past couple of months.
Tucked away amidst the wild coast and picturesque fishing villages of the Cornish Lizard, we attended a family fairly tale wedding. Rhythm Dude flew home from Inverness and we, along with a happy throng of family and friends, all made our way down to this southernmost tip of Cornwall for a long weekend of joyous cerebration. Amidst all the weather Cornwall could throw at us, the day was both stunningly elegant and deeply poignant. Over the weekend we tramped some blustery coastal paths, shared deep thoughts and belly laughter, ate delicious food and played numerous card games. It was a truly blessed and wonderful time.
I’ve had a few opportunities to sell ‘Issachar Eyes’ in person, one of which I had been especially looking forward to. My dear friend and podcast buddy Helen organised a book launch party. I was so touched and excited! She welcomed us with home baked, mouth watering chocolate brownies and crumbly cheese scones, filled our glasses with sparkling drinks and invited a talented friend to play live piano while we chatted. Fresh flowers sat in each room and some golden helium balloons added to the sense of occasion. It was lovely to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones. I’m so grateful to all who contributed to bringing Issachar Eyes to print, but it sure was hard work, and so a real treat to be gifted with such a delight filled celebration.
My third stand out moment was twenty four hours in Bristol and London with our oldest son. I was invited to exhibit and contribute to a small cluster group at the MSC Christmas Social. I stayed overnight in Bristol in our son’s twenty something strong community house. It’s a huge old Georgian/Victorian building for which upkeep must be a real challenge. But, oh how welcoming! They eat together most nights and kindly invited me to join them; delicious curry. I felt truly honoured to be able to have a glimpse into his life and meet some of his friends. We set off to London in the dark of the morning and he confidently navigated this country bumpkin Mum to the church in central London. It was such fun and wonderful to have a complete role reversal. The day was so good; it felt like a warm meeting of many who are weary and wounded from fighting on the spear head of the spiritual battle in our nation. Despite talking of many deeply troubling topics, the day was infused with the hope of Jesus and we ended with carols and Christmas cheer all round.
It was so precious to spend time with our eldest son. We walked all the way back to the bus station, stopping for supper, enjoying the Christmas lights, stumbling upon Buckingham Palace and sharing thoughts, vision and ideas.
As I end this, Christmas day has passed (spent with those most precious to me and filled with good food, a blustery walk and a quiet cosy evening around the fire) but the season of Christmas is only just beginning. However you have entered this time, may you know the peace and love of Christ in your hearts and His hope for the year ahead.
Merry Christmas!
With love, Molly x
Mothering through the seasons 