55 Comments

Linda, what a beautiful family! It's such a joy for me to hear about your family.

Thanks so much for sharing your family with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.

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We're a messy, joyful, hopeful bunch. All I can do is trust God for each one ...

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I love all the photos of your family, Linda. Such a blessing! Also that your sister is nearby now. Thank you for all the nurturing grace and space you give here! Love and blessings of a Christmas filled with the hope, joy, and peace of Jesus!

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So grateful that He came for so much more than a manger scenario ...

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Oh Linda ... I love seeing all the photos of your family together. So glad your sister is nearby in this season of your lives. Merry Christmas and a blessed 2024, dear friend. Looking forward to seeing what God has in store for you here. :-)

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What He has in store for US!

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Oh, what a beautiful Christmas letter!

Loved seeing the family photos and reading the updates.

May this festive season bring you peace, hope, and an abundance of blessings.

Merry Christmas, Linda!

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It didn't come without its unwelcome glitches but yes, hope is always there, friend. I hope you've enjoyed some peaceful days.

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Merry Christmas Linda! Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into your part of the world.

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And thank you for bringing beauty to my world, friend. I hope this weekend is sheer delight for you and yours ...

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Merry Christmas!! and congrats on 17 years of blogging. That is amazing. Feb marks 15 years for me. I think much of both of our times we have read each others musings!! You have blessed me.

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I'm thankful for the ways you've mentored me by your godly words and decisions. I'm so grateful that God brought you onto my path, friend. Christmas blessings to you and yours ...

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Thank you for sharing this, Linda, the lovely rainbow of words and pictures.

Something I needed in the dark of this night.

It was today the angels came,

and it was kinda funny,

for their arrival to my shame,

found me on the dunny.

The ceiling opened, golden light,

and peace past understanding.

I found that I had taken flight

for Heavenly landing.

But there is still too much to do,

and I resolved to stay,

and thereby the angels flew

off that I might have my way,

weeping, weeping on the tile,

but set upon my own Green Mile.

And that's real, and how it happened, just a little while ago.

Duty first, Heaven later, and I am still weeping at my choice.

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Ah, we know that when the Great Commander of your soul wants to call you to your next post, He will do so and there'll be no stopping Him. He has spared your life and continues to use your stories, prayers, and wisdom to impact many you never would have dreamed of connecting with. I love that. 'But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand.' (Psalm 31:14-15)

A blessed Christmas to you, Barb, and the gang.

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Aw, what a wonderful Christmas letter! I feel as if I have known you for years, sweet friend. I am so thankful for you and that you are a part of my life. Sending much love to you this precious Christmas season.😊❤🙏 (Cheryl Smith)

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Well, yes, we have known each other for years ... and I, too, have been blessed by our interactions and conversations. I know you'll have a sweet Christmas with your family, friend. God is good.

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Merry Christmas, Linda, to you and your family! I love the picture of you and your library. I want another little library, but it is not to be at this point in time, sadly. Anyway, I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season.

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The Little Library is awful lonely these days ... so few people here off season, so very cold. Brr.

A sweet Christmas to you, friend.

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Merry Christmas Linda!

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And to you, too, Amber. Looking forward to getting to know you in the new year.

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Merry Christmas to you, beautiful Linda!

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May there be precious moments tucked in there for you, dear one.

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Merry Christmas blessings! What a beautiful family…

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Lisa, thanks. Looking forward to doing the coming year with you.

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Enjoyed your family photos and updates. Merry Christmas!

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Debbie, thank you. Have a lovely holiday.

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Merry Christmas, Linda! I always enjoy people's annual newsletters which share the highs and lows of their year.

P.S. 17 years of blogging is an amazing achievement!

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We do love our blogging lives, don't we, girl! So grateful that we get to walk alongside each other even though we're so far away.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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Throughout your letter I found myself saying, "Me too!" My husband's health is also stable right now, thanks to the attentive care of his doctors. We too take sublime joy in family togetherness, especially when all of us can be in the same place at the same time, and we also take great joy in the successes and accomplishments of "our people." I pray that 2024 finds us growing in faith and serving with joy. Merry Christmas to you Linda!

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There is so much to be thankful for, isn't there, Nancy. It's too easy to focus on what's not going well or the sad stuff that keeps cropping up. But I always want to take joy in Christ, our Savior and what He is doing right in the middle of it all. I'm rejoicing in all you're sharing, too, friend. God is good. Let's see what He does in '24.

(Can you even believe we're saying that?!)

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No I can't! 'Remember when the year 2000 sounded impossibly futuristic? And now POOF--we're 24 years into the "new" millennium already!

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Merry Christmas, dear friend.

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I hope there are glimmers of joy in there for you ...

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