Sorry we didn't make it to your house to carol sing...

Soprano - Becky Mace
Alto - Harriet McKee
Tenor - Alan Mace & Cameron Morgan
Bass - Ben McKee

Happy Christmas!

Hummingbird Joy

I've now finished work until Christmas which means... time for baking!

 

For my birthday this year (well, close to it) I got possibly the present I've had the most joy from ever. My best friend, Monique, sent me the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook. If you want to make someone who loves baking happy - buy them this book. Everything I have made from it has been utterly delicious. Amazing cupcakes, amazing brownie, amazing blondie... I am in love with it.

 

Today I made lemon cupcakes and hazelnut/chocolate cupcakes. They look and smell utterly divine. Baking is one of the true joys- I think one of the best things about it is that you get to make other people happy using it. I got a present and using that present I can make something I can share.

 

No wonder people focus so much on food at Christmas - in some way it embodies the spirit of Christmas or Christ's spirit. The Saviour shared the loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000. He shared his knowledge of God. He shared his life. Sharing is a vital part of following Him and being His disciple.

 

So, in my small way this is how I'm choosing to share some of the wonderful joy of Christ this Christmas. Get baking and get sharing! :)

 

p.s. There's no such thing as a selfless good deed - so make sure you lick the spoon! ;)

Christmas Light

It's 15 days until Christmas Eve and it feels like the countdown is officially on. The thing that puts me into the Christmassy mood more than anything is music. My favourite Christmas song is "O Holy Night".

On Sunday we had a lovely time at the Beasley family's house, singing Christmas songs around the piano with Melanie Cartwright playing. It was pretty heavenly - and if the singing lacked anything in quality that was certainly made up for in enthusiasm. Music creates that feeling of unity and love which is the reason Christmas is so wonderful.

 

On top of that, there are twinkly lights. I love light. I love candles and fairy-lights. I love how they cast shadows and how they warm a room. I love what they can represent. Low lights are so peaceful. Every year I think that I might just leave the fairy lights up all year - but then maybe they wouldn't be so special for Christmas.

 





It's especially nice to see the lights on the nativity. In our front room we have two nativities (on the TV table and on the table next to "Home") which are reminders of the Light of the World, which takes me right back to 'O Holy Night'.

 

Fall on your knees O hear the angels voices.
O night divine O night when Christ was born.



 

 

O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and e'er pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees O hear the angels voices.
O night divine O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine.

 

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

 

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
O night divine, O night, O night divine.

 

Happy Christmas!

Mundane and Incredible

I haven’t blogged for the past month. My last two posts were about fabulous trips – America and Scotland – so it’s no wonder that I can’t easily decide on the topic of another post. However, I love my life and even in the daily drudge incredible things happen.

Ben has found a profession he loves. He is involved in a programme called Teach First where he completes a PGCE in his first year of teaching. Which means he’s been completely thrown in at the deep end and now has the responsibility of the education of twenty-nine children aged between seven and eight years. Scary! It’s totally different to any other job he’s had before – he says he’s more physically tired than he’s ever been, but despite the challenges with the job he says he’s less emotionally numb than he was when working in sales.

For me, it means entertaining stories around the dinner table. It means I feel like we laugh together all the time. Being happy outside the home means he brings that joy into the home.

I’ve had the chance to finally work as a doctor in the area of medicine I want to build my career in. Completing four months in general practice as my first placement of foundation year two was high on my list of priorities and I was lucky to get the chance to do it. I’ve started the application now to one day become a General Practitioner. Work has been pretty fulfilling lately!

We’ve been busy and happy in other ways too – we went to Gillingham a couple of weekends ago to support the cast of Our Story Goes On as they rehearsed and performed. It was a great time spent with family and friends including staying with my lovely Aunt and Uncle. The performance, which looks at the journey of life and teaches the plan that God has for His children, was beautiful and inspiring.

Life is mundane. And it’s awesome.