“No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.”
A storm of blackbirds descending on the neighborhood and chattering in the trees
Climbing into our big, dark attic and Jared hanging my porch swing
Early morning Bible study and conversations by the fire
Taking the train from the Van Buren station and coming back in time for the lighting of the courthouse for Christmas
The manager at the coffee shop who asked customers if they were doing Kingdom work today
“A Christmas Carol” at the old King Opera House
Windows open while I cleaned
A walk together at the end of the workday, just before dark and dinnertime
Soup & bread
Watching “The Magic of Ordinary Days” on a night when Jared got called out late
A new phone, glory hallelujah
Violet and paperwhite blooms in December
Laundry & Christmas cardmaking & baking jam-filled cookies for the neighbors
Playing dominoes with the group at church; Pam bringing decorations for the table and John’s homemade tamales
Pictures from the nieces and nephews’ Christmas train ride, Lila’s curly head in the window
Homemade refried beans
Wrapping a gift, bottling honey, and other Christmastime projects
Ladies Christmas Tea and the older women from our church sharing their stories so humbly around the table
A sweet Sunday morning, Doug leading us in Christmas hymns
Afternoon lattes and kitchen-table-ping-pong
Dinner with new friends and a glorious evening concert at a local church, featuring five grand pianos and a 60-member choir
Popping downtown for the last few gifts at Main Street Mercantile
Mailing packages and the friendly postman
Making a shepherd’s pie, the kitchen dark and warm at the end of day
Sitting on the porch swing before dinner, Jared writing a sermon while I hand-sewed Mom’s Christmas gift
Baking in my Mema sweater and the slippers Jared bought me, feeling like my grandma
Last sweet call with my yearlong writing student
Cardinals perched in our maple tree like fat, red berries in the branches
Reading for an hour in the quiet church sanctuary before evening Bible Study
A picture from Janaya of her school kids’ lunchroom
Handmade gifts from Bonnie
A walk in the December rain
Sourdough pizzas & Nat King Cole & crocheting more snowflakes than I need to hang in every window
Afternoon shopping with Jared just so we could be together, chai teas from Sweet Bay, and coming home to wrap it all
Our Christmas tree quite literally falling over while we were sitting there looking at it…
Church hymn sing & potluck, visiting and visitors
Leaving town after Sunday church for Christmas in Missouri, 7 Brew and good podcasts on the road
Turning into my old neighborhood, the house all lit for Christmas
A long table at Franklin’s for Monday lunch and Janaya waiting on all of us
The babies in their squishy-cheeks stage
Highlander grog coffee blend, a gift from Anna
A full house for a Melton Christmas: girls in the kitchen, games in the driveway, cars parked to the road, the cousins dressed like pilgrims down under the apple tree, Mom’s brisket for dinner, & each sibling bringing a homemade side dish
Giving each grandpa his gift
Driving back on Christmas Eve for our first married Christmas in Arkansas; the sun glow on the mountains at dusk, southbound birds, coming home
Christmas morning, coffee & cinnamon rolls, Jared giving me a few of my favorite things
Christmas lunch with Jared’s family, a rich steak meal, long afternoon for conversations over cups of wassail, and the windows open to let in the warm, southern breeze
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