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My mom had this jar of candy canes out on the counter, and I was taken by their festive appearance. I haven’t eaten a candy cane in years, but there is something so timeless and classic about them! I would love to see a whole tree decorated with candy canes and white and red strands of lights. This palette truly is a snapshot of the traditional Christmas colors, and again, I love their classic style.

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We just returned from a long holiday weekend up north, and I’m still catching my breath. I loved every moment of the time I had with family in the beautiful northwoods. Going home for Christmas truly is the best. I hope you each enjoyed a wonderful holiday as well, and that you were able to spend some quality time with your loved ones. Below are some of the highlights of our trip!

i loved: beauty all around us • time for long walks in the woods • pure simplicity

emmy loved: being with gus • frolicking outside • opening presents

we ate: too much! • lobster, shrimp, ham, bacon, quiche, coffee cake • and more

style all around: table decked with cheer • darling centerpiece • log home christmas

mom & i: visit to the pebble spa • our favorite place! • double massage & pampering

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Merry Christmas, dear readers! I pray that you are each enjoying a blessed and beautiful day with your loved ones. I know that this can be a very difficult time of year for some, and so I pray also that those who have suffered loss of a family member, job, or home are comforted today in the knowledge of our wonderful Savior who came to this earth to offer Hope, Peace, Joy and Salvation.

I want to share a snippet of today’s entry from the devotional I have been reading over the past month, Pursing the Christ by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

“Before the celebrations begin, let me turn my heart to You.
No gift has ever been so costly.
No gift has ever been so treasured.
No gift has ever been so precious.
No gift has ever been so perfectly suited to both my needs and desires.
Each gift that I give today only faintly reflects the part of Your nature that makes giving joyous.
Each gift that I receive today reminds me that I have received the most profound Gift that can ever be given, and I am filled with gratitude.
The joy I feel, as I am warmed by the presence of those I love, is nothing compared to the joy I have because You have fulfilled Your promise from of old and have given Your Son to be my Savior.
Today we will ooh and aah; we will hug and laugh and remember. We will enjoy each other’s presence. But You will be at the center of every thought. You will be taking pleasure in our company, as we take pleasure in Yours.
I pray this blessing over those whom You have placed into my life today: ‘Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13).”

I hope for all of you that those words can soak into your spirit and ring true today. Just to let you know, I will be taking next Monday off from blogging, but I will be back Tuesday to share some of the highlights and festivities from this Christmas break with my family!

*photo by EOS Boy on flickr

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Merry Christmas Eve from the cottage, where all the presents are finally wrapped in this lovely blue paper, tied with strings and tagged appropraitely! The neatly trimmed boxes and pretty packages are now sitting under the tree in anticipation of Christmas ‘morn. But I must mention, these packages did not get wrapped without a little help from Miss Emmy. It’s an understantment to say that my dog likes to be as involved as much as possible. She sticks her big nose into whatever project I am tackling, and the wrapping of Christmas gifts was no exception. Here is a snapshot of Emmy during the process of present-wrapping… right in the middle of things, where she is happiest!

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