Well, we’re home and had a great trip. Started in San Antonio and made our way north to Dallas with a family wedding in the middle in Round Rock. We ate a lot of bbq and Mexican food, of course. Toured all the San Antonio missions. We’re not usually Christmas time travelers, so it was nice to see the San Antonio Riverwalk and even the Alamo all aglow. We attended a beautiful family wedding outside of Austin and it was just a lovely evening. Poor planning on my part landed us in Waco on Sunday and the silo stuff was closed. I didn’t even think about that. It was reminiscent of Clark Griswold and Walley World being closed for maintenance. Dallas really had on her holiday glitz and glam and was so festive with Christmas music playing in the streets. Our hotel was across from Neiman Marcus and the window displays were amazing. We darted in there to buy a gift, one afternoon, and Davis was on my heels the whole time. It was as enjoyable as when a state trooper gets behind you on the interstate. We did a lengthy JFK tour with a historian and he taught us so much we didn’t know. It was really a nice trip. 

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 Blair attempts to do her daily devotional with some obvious distractions. 

Whenever I visit big cities, I’m always happy to get back to my quiet corner of the world. Mississippi is a pretty tranquil place. Sure, the lights, sounds, and activity are fun for a while. Some of us are drawn to the big crowds of nameless faces and the constant whirl of activity and noise. There are those who can’t imagine anything else. And there are those of us who prefer to be among those who can call our names with room to spread out and enough quiet to hear the sound of the crickets. Whatever we’re use to is home to us and when we’re weary from our travels or needing comfort or frightened by the world, it’s where we long to be. 

Traveling at Christmas had me thinking about Mary and Joseph and how homesick they must have been. Tired and scared and not one familiar face in the crowd. There was nothing that offered anything close to the comfort of being in the arms of home. Whatever I do this time of year seems to bring me back to the first Christmas story. The holy season pulls our minds out of the ordinary grind and to the miracle of that night and that Gift. Jesus left the comfort of His own home that night to come live with us in order to save us. He’d experience what it was like to feel sadness and rejection- to be cold, hungry and tired. It was part of the gift-“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” (Hebrews 4:15) If we accept His gift of salvation, our home will forever be with Him. Yeah, we’ve all got a spot where we’ve chosen to bed down here on earth- a place that suits us, but it’s just a temporary nest. In the presence of God- that will be our ultimate place of comfort, peace, and rest. Our home sweetest home. 

My mother is almost halfway done with her radiation treatments and is doing really well. She’ll be done before Christmas and we’ll be glad to put that behind us! And I know you’ve probably heard about Mike Leach, Mississippi State’s football coach. Things seem very bleak and all of us, fans, are just stunned by this. Remember him and his family in your prayers. There just seems to be so much sadness in the middle of this joyful season. In times of merriment, sorrow seems amplified and the low-spirited feel more alone. Let’s look out for each other and prop up those who need it. 

This will be my last post of the year. The holidays have started to pack my calendar and I’m sure the same is true for you. I hope you all have the most wonderful Christmas season. I wish I had all of your addresses and could send you a fruitcake or something. Well, nobody likes fruitcake anyway. Maybe a card, at least, but I didn’t get around to those this year. Just know that I appreciate you and feel like you’re part of my family. Whether I know you personally or we’re friends who’ve never met, I can’t tell you what it means to me that you stop by here to see me. I know my menopausal brain is more befuddled, my attention span is almost nil, and my posting is quite sporadic, but y’all are some good people to not leave me. May God bless you and your families this beautiful holiday season! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

JONI