Friends, it’s been a challenging year for us, rife with illness and struggle, and now we’re wrapping up 2022 with a wicked bout of Covid. We’ve been sick for almost 3 weeks. To date, we’ve cancelled 8 different Christmas concerts. It’s hard to state the toll this has taken on us.
Frankly, we’re just exhausted - vocally, physically, and emotionally.
So, we’ve decided to celebrate Christmas differently this year.
We’re keeping it simple.
We’re choosing new priorities.
One of my favourite Christmas traditions is decorating, but the idea of getting a tree and hauling out the tinsel was just more than we could handle.
So, we did something different:
We’d like to share with you our Christmas Card Tree for 2022.
Four feet tall, doesn’t need water, and placed on a table high above the reach of our little puppy, Max.
Last week, my parents dropped by.
We pulled out curling ribbon, pinking shears, and last year’s Christmas cards
Over cups of espresso, we cut the cards into ornaments, and tied them on the tree with ribbon.
Coloured lights and our Victorian glass beads tied the whole look together.
Finally, we tucked our nativity under the tree, surrounded by my collection of angels.
In just a few hours, with a few snips of paper, our home transformed from everyday to extraordinary.
It started as a simple art project, but in the making it became so much more.
It’s covered in cards given to us by people we love.
It was created in an afternoon of laughter and family.
And it’s giving us light in our darkness - something we all need.
Friends, we know we’re not alone. It’s been a tough year for many of us.
If you’re struggling this Christmas, may we encourage you to celebrate differently:
Choose to do less.
Spend time with the people you love.
Find new ways to do things.
Spend a little extra time in prayer.
And however you choose to celebrate,
remember that whatever our personal circumstances,
the Reason for the Season never changes.
From our family to yours,
we wish you a peaceful, joy-filled & healthy Christmas!
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Please enjoy my Dad's Christmas message:
A "Way" in a "Lodge of Broken Bark"
