I Take Joy | Classics

A Warm Drink for a Chilly Day!

February 9, 2011 by Sally 11 Comments

I am so excited to be back home in Colorado, but I must admit the warm temperatures in California were a welcome break from the subzero cold! Maybe I should have a home in both places–in my dreams!

How can I get my body acclimated to the cold again? Staying in bed with the covers over my head perhaps? Oh yeah, I have responsibilities–that won’t work!

Warm drinks do help me! But I can only take so much caffeine! One of my favorite warm drinks to serve at teas and for my evening Bible study is spicy apple cider. Now I have made the traditional wassail and it is delicious. But there is an easy, “cheating” version, that I am more likely to do this time of year, when I have less time and energy to prepare.

The recipe is embarrassingly simple: in a crockpot, pour in a gallon of apple cider and a bag of Red Hots! Let it warm for an hour or so or until the red hots melt. I have also heated this on the stove and it comes together much more quickly in a pinch. The fragrance is like standing in an apple orchard with a bit of “zing” in the air. (My friends always ask me for the recipe and I just smile and say, “It is an old family recipe.”

Often, I will pour the red hot juice back into the Apple juice bottle and serve it up one mug at a time–just heat on the stove or in the microwave.

Let each of your children choose a favorite mug and enjoy warmth from the inside out! And maybe pull out Laura Ingalls Wilder’s The Long Winter if you need some encouragement that this isn’t the longest winter ever!

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Classics, Food, Home, Homemaking, Joyful Life, Mothering, Reading, Recipes

Christmas ~ A Time to Enjoy Reading Aloud!

December 15, 2010 by Sally 4 Comments

Sarah’s Book on Books ~ a great Christmas gift idea!

On a storm-blown Sunday afternoon in a creaky old manor house in England, I rediscovered the timeless delight of classic children’s books. It took me by surprise. I was one of about thirty international students studying and living in England for the summer, and this was our first British teatime all together. A shy, awkward silence had fallen about us as we tried our best to balance philosophy, sophistication, and hot mugs of tea, when one of our tutors said something that sent us all staring.
“Let’s read Winnie-the-Pooh.”
A swift current of suppressed mirth ran the length of the room, but we were up for some fun, and the tutor assigned each person a part in the story. Pooh’s expedition to the North Pole was the story of choice, and before we knew what was happening we were immersed in the comical, compact world of the Hundred Acre Woods. The story had all of us — tutors, college students, post-graduates, old, and young — laughing until our sides literally ached.”
Read for the Heart pp. 113-114

Reading together as a family is a Clarkson tradition. Hours of memories have been made around good books. During the holiday season, busyness can rob you of precious time spent together as a family. Since all children should sleep at night, should being the key word, start the bedtime routine a little bit earlier and pull out a favorite book to read. If Pooh is a bit daunting by its size, try some holiday picture books or some shorter chapter books. Two that are recommended by Whole Hearted children are The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Cosmic Christmas. Enjoy their reviews!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a book I like each Christmas because it is a funny, family-friendly story. It has inspired me to look at Christmas differently and a little more realistically. For example, what if Jesus had colic? The only thing about this book is that it has some questionable language so is better if Mom or Dad reads it aloud and edits as they read.
~ Reviewed by 10 year old young lady

Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado ( also recently published as The Angel Story) opens a unique porthole into the uncommonly written realm of angels. It is written from Gabriel’s perspective on his mission to give Mary the seed of Christ as Satan is desperately trying to stop him. While it is written from a biblical Christian perspective, this soul stirring book provides a new look on the ” all is calm , all is bright” normal theme of Christmas.

This book is a must read in our home each year.
~ Reviewed by 13 year old boy

What books are you reading to your children this holiday season? May the Lord bless the time you spend together!

Filed Under: Classics, Family Favorites, Holidays, Reading, Reviews, Traditions

Great quotes! Louisa May Alcott’s home.

October 16, 2010 by Sally 1 Comment

Too busy talking to friends, so I asked Joy and Christie, (my daughter and her bf) to write the past couple of days as they share some of their impressions. What fun I am having and how blessed I am to have a few days of pure fun! Here are just a few of the great quotes we saw as we walked through Louisa May’s home–the author of so many wonderful books, including Little Women.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
- Louisa May Alcott

So true.

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”
— Louisa May Alcott

“A faithful friend is a strong defense;
And he that hath found him hath found a treasure.”
— Louisa May Alcott

Great memories and tears coming to my eyes several times. What fun we have had running through halls of history, homes of great writers and talking, talking, talking as we go.

The girls brought tears to my eyes yesterday morning. “Who gets to have an education like this! To read their stories and then to see the lives these great people lived and to know the rooms where they lived and wrote, the places they fought battles–makes us so very grateful to have known and seen these things! It makes me want to think, “How am I going to live my life in such a way as to leave a legacy of faith or courage that will help and influence others.”

And so we have been busy every minute, and in the evenings we have had precious conversations with friends where we are staying and being treated to great meals, rousing conversations and heart-felt prayers. Such a blessing to me and a filling of my soul. All grateful to God for strewing my life with such blessings.

Deb, Jane, me and Shelley (below) staying up too late but having fun talking around the kitchen table. What great food and hospitality.

Off to see Paul Revere’s home! and then training to New York City for more fun and friends. Have a blessed day.

Filed Under: Classics, Family Trips, Ponderings, Travel

Just a little something from Europe!

May 12, 2010 by Sally 1 Comment

Seek first the kingdom of God,…..

My kingdom is not of this world.

Loud, noisy cars rushed through the changing lights, threatening our very lives. Honking, chattering, yelling, boats whistling, pubs, billboards, cafes, bikes, hundreds of pedestrians listening to ipods, the underground/above ground train swooshing through the bridge over to our side, and Joy and I thought we must be in the wrong place.

Looking for a small grave yard-where Susanna Wesley, John Bunyon and Isaac Watts were buried. Suddenly, we saw a gate. There in front of us, with a pathway through the grave yard–for walkways to and from the busyness of life, and between modern apartments–were the grave stones–some hundreds of years old-and we sought and found the very inconspicuous tombstone of the three we sought. Just a grave, small grave stone, with the years they were alive and when they died. John Bunyon had a little larger commemoration–but no mention of Pilgrim’s Progress–just his name. There were no lines or tickets to see these and to remember the greatness of what they had accomplished.

These three spiritual giants, had faithfully lived their lives, influenced thousands–millions–Wesleys–to love God, start spiritual movements, (Isaac Watts–”When I survey the wondrous cross and hundreds more) to worship Him in music, (John Bunyon–15 years in prison–writing Pilgrim’s progress)to stay faithful on the obstacle course of life–to build children into godly leaders–yet the evidence of their influential lives and ways they were used by God’s spirit to literally change the course of their world was in no way marked or recognized–at least not in this world. So important to the world of faith, hope, love and kingdom work.

In contrast to this, Joy and I had spent two prior days in long lines spending too much money to pass by the crown jewels and marvel at the amount of gold used, diamonds, rubies, emeralds displayed in all their glory. We had seen castles from afar, clothes that royalty wore and marveled at the distance between the rich and the poor. The cathedrals we saw in England and especially in Paris, were built on the backs of the poor, who had not much food or ways to live well, but were built all glorious for the wealthy leaders who desired such places of glory.

The palaces, art museums, cafes, gardens were attended by thousands, (lots and lots of googling Americans) to observe the splendor of people whose glory was a thing of the past–yet these had had a kingdom in this world, and now they were all dead.

Whose kingdom am I building? Where am I looking for rewards? Whose glory will people look into my life to see–the things I collected or the people I influenced and the kingdom messages I left–food for thought as we have been traveling.

I so love having these days, alone with Joy, to talk to her about these great ideas, the Lord, life, messages, love and enjoying it all alone without disruption of telephone, computer, email or cooking and washing dishes. A real gift to us, planned for for years, and reaping the deep rewards of making time for our relationship–I am so blessed. Grace and peace from Austria–my seconds on the internet are now up!

Filed Under: Beauty, Classics, Family Trips, Ponderings, Travel, Trust in God

Adventurous Summer Reading

May 6, 2010 by Sally 5 Comments

My name is Marissa and I have been given the opportunity to write some book reviews for Mrs. Sally Clarkson’s blog. This spring and summer I have challenged myself to read 50 books. While looking for interesting books, I used Sarah Clarkson’s Read for the Heart as a reference. I found about 40 of the books I am going to read for my challenge in her reference book, it was a great help!

One of the books I read that Sarah recommends in her book was “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George. This book is adventurous from front cover to back cover and is a great read for children and parents alike. This book tells of the adventures of a boy named Sam Gribley, who runs away from home and lives off the land in the Catskill Mountains. This book was such a great read! I found out it was part of a trilogy, so I read all three books and they were equally entertaining!

Another book that Sarah recommends in her reference book was The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book was so engaging, that it only took me a week to read. Between myself, my mom, and my dad, we were all in a competition to see who would finish first! In this novel, from ”An Unexpected Party” to “The Last Stage,” this book was packed with adventure as well as lessons learned by Bilbo Baggins. I recommend this book for Jr. High or High School age kids, just because of the goblins, dragons, and other things that may be frightening to younger children. The adventure all starts when a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins is asked to be the burglar of a group of dwarfs who are trying to recapture the kingdom that was stolen from them by the dragon Smaug. The party of dwarfs and Bilbo set out on a quest to regain the dwarfs kingdom, but encounter many troubles along the way.

I have also just finished an audio of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. I must say, it was a good book, but I didn’t enjoy listening to the narrator sing the songs throughout the book. It just wasn’t my cup of tea! Everyone has their favorites, this just wasn’t one of mine.

Maybe this could be a challenge you would want to join me in? Let me know some of your favorite books or not so favorite! I have just started my challenge a little over one week ago. So I have 2 books down and 48 to go! My next selection from Sarah’s reference book is Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.

These books are all great reads and there are many more listed in Sarah’s Read for the Heart that can be enjoyed. Sarah’s book was a tremendous help in finding books that would appeal to me for my 50 book challenge. To purchase Read for the Heart click HERE.

Filed Under: Classics, Reading, Reviews

Two are better than one, a cord of three strands is not easily broken….

September 18, 2009 by Sally 4 Comments

Deb, Sally and Shelley sharing spinach salad, grilled salmon and triple mousse cake.

For whatever reason, the puzzle of my life, is that over the years, we have had very few support systems or time with our families. We usually spend most holidays alone and have not had much family around to be close during times of crisis, celebration or life. We love our family, but it is just the lot in life our family has been called to live through. So, we understood early that we would not last long or well without community. But in this time in history, isolation from neighbors and even in mega-churches, loneliness from family discord and being different from culture at large, is epidemic.

God has been good to show us how to cultivate our own small bits of community so that we, and our children, can last longer. We have survived many years of loneliness, especially in their area of our ideals. We have been blessed with many, many kindred spirits nationally, but not always that support group right in our home–especially since our ministry has dictated that we move quite a bit.

One of my favorite groups that has evolved over the years is my small history group. My three older children had other families and groups that we did life with and enjoyed, but now that Joy is my only child homeschooling, she needed a community–especially during these high school years.

So two years ago, I asked two other families to join us in a history group. (They were already the families that travel with us to our conferences to help and work like Trojans and so we have logged some wonderful time together.The first year we studied the 1800′s up to the depression years of world history. (We used beautiful feet loosely as a guide for the literature we would all use.) We would meet 2 times a month. We would all read at home a piece of literature at a time about the subject, but then I would assign reports to be done by everyone–even the moms–on an aspect of history during that time. We do reports on musicians, artists, economics, styles, athletics, events, as well as wars, biographies, and such. Sometimes the kids have been real dramatic and dressed up or done movies or video projects and sometimes they are just reports. But, it has been fun because we all enter into the fray of what we are studying.

Then last spring, realizing that we also needed just fun time and people to pray with, we decided to meet for dinner once a month, taking turns at each other’s houses. Great meals were eaten and lots of great prayer times as families and out of it, a men’s Bible study arose.

In August, the Lord put on my heart for us three moms to do a planning time for the year and just to have fun together. So we got a room at a beautiful retreat center near us–Glen Eyrie. I had brought with me a surprise tea time in a basket.

My own tea set, white-chocolate, apricot, pecan scones, raspberry jam, clotted cream (own recipe), tea, fruit, chocolate, cute little bookmarks for favors, candles, beautiful music and lots and lots of fun in our hotel room.

We talked and giggled and caught up on being friends, a lovely dinner out together–splitting and tasting each other’s meal and then home to bed.

The next morning was the planning. Each of us had time alone on the beautiful grounds walking and our own quiet time.

mountain scenes at the Glen

Then came the planning–driving up to Pike’s peak; hiking to the Waterfalls in the mountains, movies of world war 2 to watch on movie nights, 101 areas of reporting for us in the next 3 months; trip together to Kansas for the big Swedish festival and smorgasbord in October, Harvest Party inviting lots of friends in November; Progressive Christmas dinner in December with all of our older children home; and of course traveling to the Mom’s conferences and working together.

We have one more memory together and decided to do this planning together every year. Sometimes just providing the plan and environment sets the stage for developing committed friendships. It’s why we do our mom’s groups once a month. It is why we do the mom’s conferences.

Now the kids caught on. They started an Inkling’s group, just like the English authors Tolkien and C. S. Lewis and their friends had. These famous authors (about 8 of them) met at a pub once a week to talk about each other’s writings and lives. So, we helped our kids organize an Inklings group that meets twice a month. They have to read a great piece of literature and have a “tea” time–or snack time–great hearing all of these teen guys and girls talking about great ideas and sharing fellowship. About 8 or nine are in so far. But we see life happening, and positive peer pressure and ideals being formed and friendships forged.

Let me know about the groups you have started–might just be what someone else would be blessed by. Now, off to the mountains for our yearly trip to see the aspens–may be too early, but it is our only week.

Thanks for all the great letters and emails about the mom’s leadership conference. We have more plans up our sleeves but to know of your support was very needed and encouraging. Blessings of his grace as you need it today. Sending my love to my cyberspace friends who are such a blessing to me.

Filed Under: Classics, Education, Food, Friends, Nature, Reading, Tea

Beauty–created by God for his glory

June 20, 2009 by Sally 3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, Sarah spoke at a tea in our home about beauty. Beauty is one of the attributes that we see in creation. There is something in God’s very nature that must express itself in beauty. We have noticed over the years, that often, when a culture adopts a godless philosophy, like communism and socialism, the beauty begins to disappear from the culture of the people. Buildings and furniture and art become either more utilitarian or abstract. However, beauty is one of those attributes of God’s world that hushes us in quiet admiration. Just the other day, when we went out walking, there was the largest, double rainbow in the sky than I had ever seen. We had to stop and marvel and call Clay on the phone to be sure he had a chance to see it.

We have had 45-55 degree weather here in Colorado lately and rain most days. Consequently we know why this state was named Colorado–the dark blues of the sky and the greens of the trees and grass and a proliferation of wild flowers are evident of a very colorful artist who designed this colorful state.

Back to the tea–We had mother’s and daughters and had lots of fun together. Each person had to bring something that they thought was beautiful and tell a story about it. (One of the great stories was a beautiful stitchery that had been framed that one of the mom’s husbands had made for her when they were in high school. Then they each had a quotation about beauty under their luncheon plate that Sarah had cut out.

Finally, she read a beautiful passage from The Secret Garden. When Colin, the crippled boy from birth, is wheeled into the Secret garden that his two friends have been working on, he marvels, breathlessly at the beauty of the garden, the roses, the robin, all the vibrant colors–and he says, “I know that now I can get well because of what I have beheld.” She then talked to the girls and moms about the intrinsic beauty that God had placed in their souls–to reflect Him in their lives, the way they live, the way they serve, the way they dress–and a reminder that when we subdue and create an atmosphere of beauty and creativity in our homes, we were giving one more testimony of His reality in our lives. The end was even better than the first, because she had made a lemon cake with raspberry filling. She also gave each daughter present a real pearl necklace on a ribbon. Jesus, the author of beauty, was considered the pearl of great price–the only one worth giving up everything for, in order to have it! Joy was the trusty servant!

And so a great memory was made by gathering people and celebrating life.

What fun I had speaking in Denver this week and being with so many new and old friends. Especially grateful I am to two friends, Deb and Jerrine, who went with me, prayed with me, whisked me away to tea for a quick lunch–which included scones and yorkshire gold tea! and were just the pals I needed.

Now I look forward to Father’s day, cinnamon roll breakfast, church, salmon lunch with basil potatoes and homemade rolls and then off to the airport. California here I come. Looking so forward to it! I would appreciate your prayers as I attempt, with a generous talented friend, to make a new Bible study video set for each chapter of Seasons and for Mission, also will see lots of great California friends, speak 5 times and need health and strength and just the right words–and of course I can’t wait to be with a couple of bosom friends who I will share girl time with and tell secrets and have fun. There is nothing like an old friend who knows you and still loves you and gets you as you are. Cheerio.

Filed Under: Beauty, Classics, Family Favorites, Food, Home, Homemaking, Hospitality, Joyful Life, Our Family, Reading, Table Settings, Tea

Favorite books that describe life-giving homes

April 28, 2009 by Sally 10 Comments

Hi, Just a short note–I just had to connect you to my friend’s blog today. Brenda Nuland and I are so much alike, it is as though God created us out of the same mold–we even both don’t like to fly in airplanes–which is a faith issue for me about 20 times a year! She is a dear friend and my older children have gotten to know her oldest daughter Stephanie, as she is on the way to Boston. Brenda has a wonderful blog that always feeds my soul and she and I love so many of the same things. She had a post called I Heart Hobbit Houses. You can go to her blog here to connect and read down in her article to connect to the article. I love it because she asks for recommendations for those who know of books that have great descriptions of homes and also great descriptions of food I thought I would put some of my list here and ask all of you to tell me of your favorite homey books. Here is a short list off the top of my head.

Brambly Hedge–delightful children’s picture book series from England–more contemporary than Beatrix Potter and has the most inviting pictures of the inside of an English Home that is lived in by precious animals–lovely– and worth buying second hand for your own library.

Pilgrim Inn–a favorite book from an old English author, Elizabeth Gouge, whose story is about the redemption of people in a home, and family after World War II-a book for adult readers or older teens. Also shows the mending of a marriage and grace that comes through acceptance. Makes the home come alive through loving, giving grace and living as a family.

I love Edith Schaeffer books–The Hidden Art of Homemaking and What is a Family for instruction and stories about her own family and the life of using her home as a place of ministry and of course the story of L’Abri is a must read for families to picture the hand of God at work in the life of people who live by faith–heart warming stories–but all of these books are non-fiction

The Winter Cottage by Brink–pancakes a focal point and so funny as well as a cozy cottage–read aloud for kids lateo-elementary or read aloud to children.

Also, I collect old Eloise Wilkin (an artist) books because her beautiful pictures of children in family, playing, doing chores, helping mommy and wonderful pictures of home–are a great way to put pictures in your children’s minds of the importance of family and home–these are simple children’s picture books–but the first imprint I put on my children’s brains about family, home and Mommy.

Loved the melted cheese passages in Heidi–also a must read aloud–a picture of salvation through a great story–beautiful picture of creation. This author wrote to give children literature to lead them to Christ. (We translated one of her stories into English for the first time in our book that we publish called the Gold Thread–the Story was The Rose Child and can be found through our website

Just David–also one of my favorite books in the world–such a picture of a child’s heart redeeming a whole village because of is wonderful integrity–we published this, too. You can find this through our website

Also, the meal in The Little princess–also a must read aloud in our home-the meal she took on her porch was delightful

So many more, but wondered if all of you could tell of some great books and favorite children’s books along this line. Have a great Tuesday!

Filed Under: Classics, Family Favorites, Reading, Reviews

Beauty–an essential source of Life!

January 23, 2008 by Sally 13 Comments

I so enjoyed seeing so many of you at the conference in Colorado Springs last weekend. You are all my heroines. I receive so many emails and letters and thoughtful expressions of support and encouragement for our ministry. I really keep going because of so many of you. I am sorry that I am not on top of all of my correspondence, but I do read every letter and comment and it really helps me to keep writing and speaking. I have been quite weary from the past few weeks of events, and so especially appreciate those of you who have prayed for me!

Sarah, my lovely daughter, is one of the speakers at our conferences this year. So many women said how much she really encouraged them and touched their heart. I thought I would put an excerpt from The Mom Walk that would give you a little glimpse into her life and how she has been a blessing to me. This story was about January and a friend sent it to me yesterday, so I thought I would pass it on. Please encourage your friends in California and Texas to come to a conference as we still have some room left in both conferences. It seems that the encouragement of the Holy Spirit is palpable! We teach freedom, grace, love and joy in the journey and have lots of foundational encouragement for your precious moms. Hope you have a good week!

Blessings,

Sally (Sally@wholeheart.org)

“When the soap had been measured into the washer, I grabbed a pile of clean shirts and ran upstairs in a huff to Sarah’s bedroom to find out when she was leaving for work and why it took so incredibly long for her to remember to get her laundry off the dryer. I knocked on her door loudly, still catching my breath. Her muffled voice from the other side of the door calmly bade me enter, and I did in a great hurry, feeling a need to keep up my momentum. But as I stumbled in, the sight of her stopped me dead in my tracks. I just stood there and, for an instant, was quiet.

Amid my own hurry and bustle to get the day started I had quite forgotten to spend any time in quiet. Surely with the holidays we’d had enough times to sit and be in beauty. But apparently Sarah didn’t think so. She was beginning her January in quite a different way, and I was magnetically drawn into her world. She sat in her maroon chair, regarding me quite serenely with a book in one hand and a pen in the other. Haunting piano music was playing through the room (I found out it was the soundtrack to the new Pride and Prejudice movie) and three tiny vanilla candles flickered in different spots around the room.

The unhurried beauty of the room was strongly present all around me, evidence of Sarah’s determination to make room for loveliness and serenity in her days. She had matted small prints and postcards from our trips and arranged them along her walls and in lines above the shelves that held her numerous and much-beloved books. A barely wilting Christmas rose stood in a tiny crystal vase on her windowsill, and there were pine branches still fragrant in a basket by the door.

A basket of cards and writing paper with her favorite pen sat next to her rolltop desk, guarded by the brightly painted eyes of her Matryoshka dolls. I noticed a new picture on her shelf too; a brightly sketched pair of birds, done by an artist she had just discovered in Canada. There was color, symmetry, and music, and everywhere I looked, I was confronted with the richness of a soul made visible in the world it created and quite determined to enjoy this moment despite the rush. I felt stopped in my tracks by the sudden presence of this choice to begin the busy day in an instant of soul-beauty instead of frenzied worry and hurry. I felt I was somehow catching my mental breath.

“Hi, Mom,” she said, raising her eyebrows in a can-I-help-you sort of look. I waited a minute before replying, letting my pulse (if she only knew) return to normal. “Here’s your laundry,” I said slowly when my breath came back. In the presence of her room I didn’t even remind her that it had been sitting on the dryer for two weeks. Nor did I notice the lumpy pile of new laundry, expertly concealed with a blanket next to her closet. I simply smiled and took the paper she handed me as I walked out of the room.

I had thought the note she handed me was some sort of information, but as I glanced down, I saw that it was a card for me, written just that morning. Dropping into my desk chair, I opened it and read:

Sweet Mom,

Just thought I’d tell you that I’m praying for you as you go back to routine life. I just know that God is going to bless you soon. You are so faithful and have such an enduring heart (I’ve been reading Revelation and one of the big themes I’ve caught is endurance), and God is going to bring greatness and beauty out of your perseverance. God will redeem all of us kids because of you. He’ll bless you with the fulfillment of your dreams, and He will make my way and all of our ways straight before us. He will do something new!

So don’t be discouraged as you sit and pound away at your book and tame all the messes. Great things are going to happen and I love you so much – and that’s got to count for something.

So blessings and love and peace of Christ be with you.

Your Sarah

In that moment I felt as if I had been given a gift through my daughter. It was as if in the rush of my day, God had put it on her heart to stop me in my tracks and call me back to a spirit of calm and beauty. Sarah embodied for me what my soul held so dear – a life reflecting the beautiful reality, goodness, and love of God because of her filled soul.

Sitting in my chair and catching my breath, I realized that my sudden rush of feeling overwhelmed, I had completely lost sight of what mattered. Yes, the house needed to be cleaned and presents delivered to their various new spots and food needed to be bought for the cupboard. But it was all so that our home would be a haven, a place rich with life and warm with thought, love, and beauty. My spirit that morning, thought, was one of frenzied worry that cared only that things get done, not that people be loved or life enjoyed.

Glancing up as I thought this, my eyes caught a glimpse of Sarah’s present to me that year. For Christmas she had given me a hand-drawn scene of an old country home by a pinewood, bathed in the light of a brightly setting sun. In the sunset sky, she had inscribed my favorite verses of the year (Psalm 16:5-6) in carefully formed calligraphy:

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup.

You support my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places,

Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

Beautiful to me…Sarah represented a physical reality of the philosophy that the Lord wants me to continue to embrace. The Lord’s presence in my life is beautiful, and I want my spirit to be one that accepts it in thanks and appreciation – even on January Monday mornings…

…Instead of hurrying downstairs, I took a deep breath and walked away slowly, planning what I would do next. I consciously made a decision to brush away my previous mental list of important things to accomplish and replaced it with the high priority of focusing my efforts on how to communicate love in the hours left in my day.

I put on the kettle to make Joy a cup of vanilla-almond tea. I lit every candle I could find in my little living room and turned on my favorite Celtic CD. I lit the gas fireplace so that we could have a glowing fire and made a piece of cinnamon toast to accompany my little girl’s tea. Then I called her in and invited her to snuggle up next to me on our cozy, overstuffed couch. I kissed her sweet head and told her how glad I was to have time alone with her. We finished reading together the end of the book, Heidi, cloaked in our own spell of beauty and intimacy…

…At the end of our time and to my great surprise, she suddenly turned her eyes to me very tenderly and said, “You know, Mom, I would rather have time alone with you when than even my Christmas presents and parties. I missed you when we were so busy. I just love it when we spend time alone. It makes me feel so special.”

God had used Sarah to gently remind me that, after all, I had another sweet girl just waiting for me to help her become another princess for His glory. And it wouldn’t require hurry or bustle or modeled irritation at the busyness of the world. It required love, and love expressed tangibly through time, words, and lots of beauty Love, it seemed, truly was the greatest gift after all.”