Merry Christmas, friends! I hope this month finds you savoring the season. I am so thankful for Advent, which comes upon us exactly as we are entering the shortest, darkest days of the year — The Big Dark, as it’s called here in the Pacific Northwest. Christmas is the joy of celebration, but Advent is the joy of anticipation. In my book, that is richer in many ways as we get to enjoy the sweet music and festive lights all month long, right when we need it most. 

That said, this season can also be such a tough one when we are in a season of grief. If that’s your situation, I pray that you might find the grace notes of God’s favor amidst all the superficial glitter and glamor. I hope that despite the bustle and noise, you’re able to find some quiet moments to sit with Immanuel, God With Us. Let Him tend to your aching soul. He longs to do so — even…especially…now.

Around here, we are enjoying the candles and twinkle lights that brighten the darkness — such a lovely daily reminder of the Light of the World who came to save us. And meanwhile, I have my eye out for beautiful things to share with you. Because sharing and celebrating beauty is one way we see God working in our broken world. We catch glimpses of His beauty when we recognize it in others and in the good gifts He gives us every day. 

In the kitchen:

I have a handful of favorite cookery blogs, which help me find inspiration and sometimes even happiness, as I do not ordinarily love spending time in the kitchen. (That is a true confession. I wish I did enjoy cooking more! I used to. I am hoping those joys will come again in another season of life…)

• Once Upon a Chef with Jenn Segal, classically-trained chef, cookbook author, and busy mom. I love how she brings her professional expertise to simple, homey dishes that even a slap-dash cook like me can pull together. Sign up for her weekly recipe newsletter and you’ll also receive as a bonus five of her best pro-chef secrets (which are actually worth knowing!). Also, she has a most impressive recipe repertoire!

• Our Savory Life with Bri McKoy, self-described accidental home cook, lover of gathering people around a table over a meal, and author of Come & Eat: A Celebration of Love and Grace Around the Everyday Table. I was introduced to Bri’s sparkling work when I won her book in a giveaway. I practically swallowed it whole, so wonderful did I find it. You can read more about that here. Bri’s blog, like her book, is part inspirational, part practical and absolutely delightful in its invitation and original recipes. [update: Y’all. After writing the above I took a break and happened to read Bri’s latest newsletter, and I sat here in my writing/reading chair and laughed and laughed again over her lost-horse story. Sadly, you won’t find it on her blog, but go to her site and sign up to receive future newsletters (in which she also does almost-book reviews! — to sign up, scroll to the very bottom of the page). Meanwhile, I’ll bet if you asked her nicely, she’d send you the one about the horse. Seriously, you don’t want to miss this gal’s stuff. She is a joy-bringer.]

• Melissa D’Arabian and her eponymous blog is another I discovered when I won her book in a giveaway. (I know, I’m unusually lucky that way.) Celebrity chef and Food Network star, Melissa is the author of Tasting Grace: Discovering the Power of Food to Connect Us with God, One Another, and Ourselves. I enjoy receiving her weekly newsletter The Friday 4, in which she shares four quick things (usually recipes). Her foodie ideas are as tasty as they are doable for home cooks like me.

Just for fun:

Longer evenings mean more time for jigsaw puzzles. I especially love hygge-themed puzzles like this one. My favorite way to puzzle is whilst listening to an excellent audiobook. Looking for audiobook suggestions? I’ve offered some recs here and here, or you can listen in on my convo with Laura Christianson on her Professional Writer podcast here.

Soul Care:

As noted earlier, Advent can be an especially hard season for those experiencing grief or loss. Lysa TerKeurst speaks to finding beauty in the midst of pain in this short Q&A video/podcast. One of the things she talks about is how to show up for those who are walking through seasons of heartbreak with practical and personal ideas for loving them well.

There’s also this excellent article, “When the Holidays Hurt,” in Seattle Pacific University’s Response magazine. It says in part: “We can move forward and enjoy life, and we can honor and remember… Grief is a balance of those two things.”

And I found some useful nuggets in this piece on empathy versus sympathy.  

What I’ve Been Reading:

In case you missed it, Carole Leathem’s Finding Joy in My Messy Life.

Just finished Champion for Charlie: Rise Up and Advocate for Your Child, the follow up to Jen Forsthoff’s Chosen for Charlie: When God Gifts Your with a Special-Needs Child, which was featured on the blog five years ago. Stay tuned for another Q&A with Jen next month.

Currently in the middle of my perennial Advent favorite, Ann Voskamp’s The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas, which earned my rave review here.

And about halfway through Christa Parrish’s Still Life, a re-read that I’m relishing even more the second time around. Given how much I loved it the first time, I wouldn’t have thought that possible. (Add it to your list, people: as of this writing, paperback is offered on Amazon for under $5.)

Book News:

Just a teeny-tiny bit of it because sometimes it’s the little things: I recently ordered a fresh batch of copies of Her Memory of Music to have on hand to sell or give away, and discovered that the printer has added a crease in the front to allow the cover to fold back cleanly for a more comfortable reading experience. That’s a win! (As always, if ever you want to order personalized, signed copies from me, just shoot me an email and we’ll make it happen.)

And now, friends ~ May the peace and blessings of Christmas be yours, and may the coming year be filled with God’s bountiful beauty.

~ Katherine xo