The days between... (and family Christmas photos)

 I hope you all had a nice Christmas!

I enjoy the time between Christmas and New Year.  After all the busyness of the lead up to Christmas day, and before we launch into the new year, these 'between days' are a chance to rest, reflect (on the year just gone), refocus, and reset (our goals for the coming year). [I was having trouble finding a 4th r word, so had to resort to the dictionary (do people even still use dictionaries ?!?) for 'reset'].

But I want to tell you about my book I bought myself for Christmas: Teatime Discipleship...

I'm reading the chapter on A Decluttered Soul.  A new year is a good time to declutter; souls, minds, homes...  

Here's a snippet:

"In the real world, we can all see how too much clutter in our rooms and too many piles of things cause us to feel overwhelmed.  Slowly, I have learned to declutter, to simplify, as often as I can...

I have come to realize my brain and heart can be the same way - cluttered with worries, responsibilities, duties, finances, time constraints, expectations, disappointments, critical attitudes, resentment, and grief.  I have stored up distinct sadness, confusion, disappointment, and occasionally anger that needs to be dealt with.   All these added together tend to create soul piles and mind clutter.  If I don't take the time to sort the piles, my spirit becomes a mess and my heart becomes overwhelmed and weary.

Each day brings an opportunity to make a new plan, to simplify the mind messes.  In the same way that clearing out closets brings me relief, soul and mind decluttering brings me rest, equipping me to face each day in peace.  So I come to the place where I know I will find the help I need.  I come to God and ask Him to help me, His child, and ask Him how to clean out and organize my soul.  He can help me get rid of the junk that is unnecessary, that burdens my thoughts and feelings and leave peace in its place..."

it's a lovely read 

And here are the family photos from Christmas around the world...

American Christmas...

Oli, Dylan, Patrick, Natasha, Zak

Canberra Christmas...

Jaya and Jefferson

South Australian Christmas...

Hayley, Hazel, Ben

Tasmanian Christmas (at Marnie's)...

Tom, Denver, Marnie, Sophie, and neighbor Jill

Tom and Marnie

Denver and Sophie

Denver made a Lego nativity scene...

I was mostly taking the photos, but...

here's one of me with Marnie

I'll leave you with this prayer that someone sent me many years ago...

Bless us Lord, this Christmas

with quietness of mind.

Teach us to be patient

and always to be kind.

Show us that in quietness

we can feel Your presence near

filling us with joy and peace

throughout the coming year.

This is my prayer for you!

xx