Now It's Christmas Time!

Thanksgiving was fun and is now over (pics here). What a year it has been. I've never been more thankful than I have been this year. I've thought on Psalm 66 quite a few times in the last few weeks as I have looked back on this year. The whole Psalm is perfect (I encourage you to read it), and I think on verses 10-12 most often,

"For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment."

Indeed He has. "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul." (vs. 16). And because He has, I delight in the life He's given me, in simple things such as decorating for Christmas. I put up three trees today in my apartment dressed with old and new ornaments. Some are from my childhood and some are as recent as last week's purchase at Pottery Barn (with some surprisingly reasonable prices).


Some of my favorite ornaments are (you can see me reflected in the first one):



From my parents (found in Oregon):

Lastly, an old one from when I was a little girl: