Happy Advent, lovely friends!

Are you like me in that somewhere around mid-November you find yourself thinking, I’m not ready for the holidays! Not ready for Advent, certainly not ready for Christmas! And then, somehow, magically…or maybe it’s the Holy Spirit…we are.

Or at least I hope you are! Here with me, right on schedule, and well into Advent. Don’t know about you, but I’m so thankful for this glorious season of sparkle and light that our good God has gifted us with. To both remember the arrival of our Savior and to anticipate His second coming, and to celebrate the goodness of God’s gifts to us, the greatest of which is His Son, Jesus.

One of my very most favoritest parts of Advent is all the lights in the darkness. Candlelight, lamp light, twinkle lights, Christmas-tree lights, battery-powered LED lights… I love them all. When the end of DST plunges us into dusk at 4 p.m., the great silver lining is the multitude of lights turning on, illuminating the darkness so beautifully.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

This year, of course, mingled with the beauty and gladness of celebration, is sorrow for all that is broken in Israel right now. I join you in praying for peace in Jerusalem.

A Few of My Favorite Things

These battery-powered window candles. As mentioned, lovin’ all the lights. I acquired these last year, and this year, having them is bringing me a disproportionate amount of happiness. My favorite part is how they can easily set to automatically flicker on at a certain time of day. Such a lovely way to usher in the evening hours.

My red Dutch oven. To me, it speaks of home and my peeps. The mere sight of it atop my stove, asimmer with something yummy, like this homey dish, brings me comfort and joy.

Thrifting. I know I’m not alone in this. My latest favorite find was a framed print which now enjoys pride of place in our master bedroom. Doesn’t it bring happiness when you find just the thing?

What I’m Reading

Awaiting the Manger. I know. I keep bringing this up, but honestly, y’all, it is such a lovely Advent hardcover you and your family will treasure for years to come. Ocieanna’s a serious student of the Scriptures, and she handles their stories with great reverence while offering beautiful, fresh insights into how Jesus is revealed in the pages of the Old Testament. Plus all the extras she includes with every day’s reading–a quote, meditation, additional readings, a prayer, even a hymn, song, or carol to sing if you’re so inclined. Makes such a thoughtful hostess gift too!

Joined at the Hip by Liwen Y. Ho. A sweet, lighthearted, and faith-filled romance by a new-to-me author. What I liked best (besides the faith-filled part)? It’s an over-40 romance between two Asian Americans. I’ll be reading more of hers.

Not Until Christmas by Valerie Bodden. I’ve recently discovered I enjoy reading Christmas-themed romances this time of year, and this novella provided an enjoyable diversion. It’s by an also new-to-me author, who writes “fast-paced, emotional Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith.” This e-book is the author’s free gift to readers that sign up for her newsletter (from which you can unsubscribe at any time).

Scotland Highlights

Scott and I visited Scotland this fall — yes, just as dreamy as hoped for. Ten days split among Edinburgh  to the east, Inverness to the north, and Obin to the west. Best-est part was extended time with my beloved bro David and his fam, the loveliest travel partners. Also loved the moody skies, the friendly people, the hairy coos. Treasured our visit to the Isle of Iona (traditional birthplace of Christianity in Scotland) and the beautiful Loch Ness region (home to my Scottish MacBean ancestors).

Dressember Update

👗Thanks to all of you who have supported me in my Dressember challenge campaign. If you missed it, please read about it here. Yep, I’m still wearing dresses and so far have raised $266 — 25% of my $1000 goal. Along the way, I’ve been able to send a Destiny Reflection bookmark to a few of you lovely supporters. Funds raised go to International Justice Mission (IJM) and their fight to eradicate human trafficking. If you haven’t already, would you consider donating today to help me fully meet my goal? To donate, click here.

For you podcast fans,Dressember recommends this series, Things Survivors Wish You Knew. (Note: I haven’t yet had the chance to listen myself but I hope to do so.)

Super Fun Family News

Jack is engaged! and to the most delightful girl. Introducing Emma, whom we are thrilled to welcome as the next Mrs. Jones. (Isn’t she darling?) Emma loves Jesus and, evidently, our son. We couldn’t be more pleased. They plan to marry next summer in Spokane.

Soul Care

For, as Ann Voskamp writes,

“You must feel the fullness of your own pitcher before you trust the pouring out of yourself.”

Blessing for Caregivers by Kate Fowler. One of my dear friends, herself in the thick of a weighty caregiving season, shared this beautiful blessing with me. If caregiving characterizes your season too, I hope you will know by this that you are seen and loved.

The Pour Over. Politically neutral, Christ-first, news source: the biggest news of the day, summarized in a way you’ll actually understand and enjoy, paired with brief Christian perspectives. Recommended why? Because honestly, so much of what we intake with our minds affects our souls, for better or worse, in a Philippians 4:8 kind of way. Toward that end, I have culled my main new sources to this one plus another (below), and I’m telling you, my soul breathes the better for it. Because avoiding the news isn’t the answer, for the responsibility is ours to know what’s going on so that we may rightly guide those we love and lead, and to take action when action is called for. So do yourself a favor in the new year and subscribe. Or, if you prefer, listen to the podcast. Either way, your soul will thank you for it.

And one more…because the Pour Over doesn’t publish every day…

1440. For straight up news every day except Sunday. No opinions, no sly editorializing. Just the facts, ma’am, thank you very much. Want it? Sign up here.

And finally, for readers who are new to this space (welcome!) and would have missed this, a tiny bit of soul care in the form of the one and only short story I’ve written. It happens to be a Christmas story as it features the newly born Christ Child: “What Simeon Saw.”

Merry Christmas, friends! May your days be merry and bright, your nights illuminated by beautiful light.

Soli Deo gloria.

❤️💚 Katherine

Featured image by Tijana Drndarski on Unsplash