Wednesday Photo and Quaker Quote

"God stirs up our comfortable nests, and pushes us over the edge of them, and we are forced to use our wings to save ourselves from falling. Read your trials in this light, and see if your wings are being developed."

~Hannah Whitall Smith

Though we are rapidly moving towards winter and the Christmas holidays, my mind is not quite there yet! It may appear, I am thinking spring with my nest here, but it is just my crazy love of collecting birds nests. Us girls have begun talk about keeping our decorating and holiday simple, and will place all our nests in our tree as it is a joyful custom we keep. It is great fun to make the relatives and visitors find them. We have not begun much shopping either, as that part of the holiday some times wearies me. We are all so rich in so many ways it has become difficult to think of what small, but meaningful gifts to give. Once again, the girls minds have turned toward the most fun idea of all to them: sending bibles, blankets and chicken to Asia. In our frenzy here, we have lost the catalogue in which they begin to circle what they would like to give. The reactions of those they donate to in their name have been priceless other years. Perhaps it is good enough to enter into Christmas gently and slowly-to first think on baby Jesus and realize that all will be well if we keep God with Us every day of the year.

~May your season be filled with the blessing of hope and peace.~