'Twas the Write Before Christmas: Day 2 {2011}

I'm joining a wonderful community of bloggers, celebrating the Advent season and simply writing!




Tuesday's prompt:
‘Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel’


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Brightly shone the moon that night
They stood locked in their embrace
He had to go away again
And tears streamed down her face

Goodbyes were never easy
Especially this time of year
He had a duty to his country
Standing strong she would not fear

She and the kids would miss him
Christmas might not be the same
They'll focus on their Saviors birth
And seeing him again

Wishing to reassure him
She whispered in his ear

"Jesus will protect you
Of that I am quite sure
And if His plans differ from ours
I'll see at the end of this earthly tour"


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To all of our dedicated men and women serving this great nation, I thank you. If you're away from your loved ones then I pray our Lord will give you the strength to hold on to His hope and know His love will see you home. God bless you and your families.

'Twas the Write Before Christmas: Day 1 {2011}

I'm joining a wonderful community of bloggers, celebrating the Advent season and simply writing!



Our prompt for Monday's writing was an amazing photograph of snow covered trees, which can be seen here.

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"Mom, can we go back to Illinois?"
"No, Sweetheart, not right now. Why?"
"Because they have Christmas in Illinois."
"They have Christmas here, too, Sweetie."
"How can you have Christmas with no snow?"

The simple questions of a 4 year-old swirled in my heart for some time. The answers were easy enough to explain and she accepted them without further question and didn't ask again this year. But the conversation has stuck with me for over a year.

The truth is, it doesn't feel like Christmas without a proper Winter and the Mississippi Gulf Coast does not experience what I consider a proper Winter {especially considering when I began this post two days ago I still had my AC on}.

Growing up in Colorado I became accustom to the snow. I am a creature of change and was able to depend on the changing of seasons. I don't mind the heat as long as it's followed by the cool breezes of Autumn and the lush changing of the trees. I can easily tolerate the cold and the snow as long as the run-off uncovers the new life growing under the surface of the ice and snow.

Without these changes I feel stagnant, this leads to sadness, which leads to homesickness; where I, again, long for the Colorado and the changes of the seasons.

In our family, we celebrate Christmas as the birthday of our Savior and I understand, snow or no snow, we will celebrate and cherish the One who loves us beyond measure. But I do find it easier to get into the decorating spirit when the evergreens are blanketed in white.