12 Days of Christmas Catch-Up: The Difficult to Describe Days

Wasn't sure whether or not to dedicate a post to Wes's health.  It's certainly easier to just pop up a few pictures of Santa and call it good.  But so many of you ask.  And we are, after all, aiming for a somewhat complete family history here.  So I'll tell you:

Wes had a couple of really rough December weeks. He started a new medication combo that was pretty much a nightmare.  We have since worked out most of the prescription problems and he is feeling more like himself, but there were lots of uneasy days.

In the midst of those days, when working on the house was out of the question, we took up a different project.   

 For a while, even sanding was tricky for Wes.  But he is a patient man.  Always has been. 
       

And I have to admit that as I sat next to him on one of those evenings, enjoying the rare sight of his whiskered chin, breathing in the smell of freshly cut wood and accumulating sawdust, and loving every ounce of his courageous, gentle being, I thought to myself that Mary's carpenter husband couldn't have been too different from my own.

The wood we sanded was cut from our house scraps and we eventually made the sanded blocks into Christmas ornaments for our parents and siblings.  (Wish we could send one to each of you faithful friends whose love and prayers have supported us!)

Joy and Love were the words we inscribed.  

Because that's the message of Christmastime. 

And of all time. 

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

That's the message that carried us through those difficult to describe December days.  And it's the message that will sustain us in all the days that lie ahead.