Scripture and a Snapshot - Good News (Advent III - Joy)

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion―

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.

~Isaiah 61:1-3~

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

~Luke 2:8-14~

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Another Holiday Hodgepodge

A hodgepodge is a jumble or assortment of things that might not appear to belong together. Joyce at From This Side of the Pond hosts a weekly link-up called Wednesday Hodgepodge that is a little collection of questions for bloggers to answer just for fun and to get to know each other. I always look forward to chatting with friends over coffee, so pour a cup of your favorite and let's visit for a few minutes!

Here are this week's questions - and my answers - for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season's busyness and commercialism start to take over?

 

I don't like the commercialization, but I'm not sure I actually struggle with it. I tend to ignore it or scoff at it when it's too ridiculous. So the way I approach the holidays is that there's the church or Christian season of Advent and Christmas, and there's the North American cultural celebration of Christmas, and they're very much related but not really the same thing. When I make a bit of distinction between the two, it saves me a lot of frustration as I see the commercialization and frivolous or meaningless fluff everywhere. I consider it almost like Independence Day - it's what we do because we're Americans (or whichever nation we're part of). I don't know if I explained it well! But it frees me from the stress, because I can participate in what I enjoy and don't feel obligated to participate in the things that aren't for me.

 

 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends?

The relief of getting my Christmas shopping done? Maybe the satisfaction of getting my desk cleaned up? That's not small though, I think that's actually a big job. I don't know. It's definitely not a small thing, but I want to savor the family time we have planned over Christmas and New Years. Maybe the small thing within that context might be a good game of Scrabble or dominoes with the kids.

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does your include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion?

 I have mostly kept up the tradition of sending Christmas cards, though my list gets shorter every year. I haven't done anything about it yet this year, but I'm sure I will send out some kind of holiday greeting cards and letters next week. I usually do a sort of newsletter that includes at least a couple photos, and enclose that in a traditional card. I had a pretty good run for a few years of doing fun themed newsletters that weren't just a brag list, but I've run out of good ideas. I am still a fan of exchanging cards with loved ones who live far away, but I don't see a lot of point in exchanging cards with people I see every week so I rarely do that.  

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite?

I do not like shopping for obligatory gifts, such as for a gift exchange at a work party. Thankfully that hasn't been on my holiday to-do list that last few years! Let's see, a favorite task would be wrapping gifts. Not that I do a fancy professional wrapping job, I just enjoy the simple task of wrapping. I do like baking too, but I always feel like I don't have the time to enjoy that and make all the cookies that I want to.

5.  Let's do a little holiday this or that:

• shopping or wrapping - I prefer wrapping
• baking or decorating - Baking
• eggnog or wassail - I love both, but if I have to pick, I guess eggnog
• real tree or artificial - Again, love both, but we have an artificial tree, mainly because it's tidier and safer for us, considering how long we leave it up
• turkey or ham - oh definitely turkey! I like baked ham, but it's not a holiday dish.
• white lights or colored lights - I strongly prefer white lights on my tree, and I like colors outside. I see a lot of light displays with multi-colored lights that are gorgeous, but my preference for our lights is that we stick to one or two colors. 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs - We really don't do either, but I do have an ugly sweater. 
• peppermint or cinnamon - Cinnamon! For scent and for flavor, I generally prefer cinnamon
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day - When I was growing up, we most often did presents on Christmas Eve. Once I was married, we switched to Christmas Day, mostly because we used to get together with my in-laws for the holidays and that's how they did it, so that's what my kids got used to. A couple of times in recent years we've done at least some presents on Christmas Eve in order to accommodate the fact that the kids now have in-laws and we need to do a little sharing during the holidays.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I've been posting to briefly recap each month and think about how I've put my WOTY into "Practice" and it took me at least a week into December before I even got the November recap done. Most of the time, my weekdays are predictable and even a bit boring. I go to work each day, and have a weekly chorus rehearsal and church activity, but it's unusual that there are activities on three evenings during the week. And yet, I'm still not consistent about getting things done as I'd planned. Kind of frustrating to feel like week after week goes by and I'm not really getting ahead. Maybe it's just standing out to me more with the busyness of the holiday season.

How many things have to happen to you before something occurs to you? ~Robert Frost

I found the above quote while searching for good quotes to include in this week's Wednesday Quotes post. The theme is Winter Wonderland, so obviously it doesn't relate except his name is Frost, but I thought it was clever and wanted to share it! You can find the current link-up here: WQ - Walking In A Winter Wonderland. Stop by and share a few thoughts and quotes! The Everyday Images photo link-up is also open and awaiting your photo posts.

How are doing in your holiday preparations? Leave a comment and let me know!

I'm sharing in this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.

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 ©2006-2025 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

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WQ - Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world. ~Sarah Addison Allen

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? ~J. B. Priestley

The very fact of snow is such an amazement. ~Roger Ebert

Thank goodness for the first snow, it was a reminder--no matter how old you became and how much you'd seen, things could still be new if you were willing to believe they still mattered. ~Candace Bushnell

I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again. ~Lewis Carroll

I love snow. As some of these quotes express, snow makes the world look fresh and soft and sparkling, at least for a little while. A gently falling snow makes one want to whisper and to listen, as if one could hear their own breath crystallizing. Snow can transform an ordinary street or yard into a magical landscape, frost etches intricate feathery patterns on a dull window, and even ice can lend a glassy crystal coating to plants and lamp posts.

To be fair, I enjoy snow when I don't have to drive on a treacherous road, or worry about my loved ones who have to. And there's only so long that I can enjoy shovelling walks or clearing off my car. I'm a bit too out of shape and arthritic to head outside for a snowball fight or to participate in winter sports. But as long as it's not too terribly cold, I love a winter walk and the way the night sky is frosty and brittle in winter, and I might even try to catch a few snowflakes on my tongue.

Snow always inspires such awe in me. Just consider one tiny snowflake alone, so delicate, so fragile, so ethereal. And yet, let a billion of them come together through the majestic force of nature, they can screw up a whole city. ~Betty White

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Thus he gives snow like wool,

scatters hoarfrost like ashes,

sends crystals of ice like crumbs of bread ―

who can withstand such cold?

~Psalm 147:16-17~

"Come now, and let us reason together,"

Says the LORD,

"Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool."

~Isaiah 1:18~

In the bleak midwinter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen,

Snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter,

Long ago.

~Christina Rossetti~

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Wednesday Quotes is a bi-weekly opportunity for bloggers to share their writing, poetry, photos, or stories inspired by our theme. We've chosen the themes as a starting point for your creativity, and the only requirement is that your post include at least one related quote. Feel free to combine or "double-dip" with other writing or photo challenges as well. Of course, we'd appreciate a link back to us, if you'd be so kind. Add your link and please visit others and leave a comment! The link is open for two weeks.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thanks to Marsha at Always Write for introducing us to the Wednesday Quotes challenge, and for passing the hosting duties along so we can continue sharing great quotes! Wednesday Quotes is co-hosted by Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee and Sadje at Keep It Alive. 

Quoting reminds me there are other people in the world besides only me. 

And other thoughts besides mine, and other ways of thinking. 

~Gregory Maguire~

Wednesday Quotes 2025 Themes

January 8 - Planning Ahead/Setting Goals

January 22 - Winter Sleep

February 5 - Love Inspires Us

February 19 - Staying Balanced

March 5 - First Impressions

 March 19 - Looking After Yourself

April 2 - Competition

April 16 - Spring Colours

April 30 - Morning Routines

May 14 - Memorable Vacations

May 28 - Telling Your Stories

June 11 - Summer Fun

June 25 - Patriotism

July 9 - Hobbies

July 23 - Being Adventurous

August 6 - Spirituality

August 20 - Writing Letters

September 3 - Chocolate

September 17 - Making and Keeping Promises

October 1 - Autumn/Another Spring

October 15 - Daily Bread

October 29 - Night Skies/Stargazing

November 12 - Good Manners

November 26 - Celebrating Holidays

December 10 - Winter Wonderland

December 24 - Holiday Memories

2026 Themes coming next week!

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 ©2006-2025 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. 

WOTY and Goals - Notes From November

The end of November was so busy and before I knew it we were a week into December and I hadn't done a monthly recap. I considered skipping it, since it's mostly for me, but as it's already time to be thinking about a Word of the Year for 2026, I figured it would be helpful to review the month even if my post is late. And since the end of December will be even busier, this won't be a good time of year to double up!

To be honest, I didn't think much about putting my WOTY into "Practice" recently, because I'm either busy and trying to keep up, or I'm actively taking a break from being busy and need a nap! Some of the habits I've been intentional about practicing have become part of the routine, such as rehearsing my chorus music on my daily commute home, so I guess that's a success. It has been a bit of a struggle to keep up with housework and with any kind of exercise recently. Part of that is the shorter days, because when I'm driving home from work in the dark, I sure don't want to go for a walk after dinner, and it feels like it's almost bedtime before I've even made dinner. Not that I slept more or better in November - my sleep habits are still not consistently good.

Here's a brief recap of the month so far, along with some photos.

Saturday, November 1 - I spent the morning and afternoon at a Sweet Adelines Regional workshop with nine other members of my chorus, and it was a fun and informative event. Hubby and I went with friends to the Blue Jackets game in evening - our friend has club seats and treat us - wow!! Great game, great seats! And then, sadly, we watched the Blue Jays LOSE when we got home. Total bummer.

Sunday, November 2 - After church we had a little snack to tide us over until late lunch from Panda Express when the kids got here. Panda Express was Veronica's choice for her birthday dinner. She also wanted to play Zoo Tycoon for her birthday activity with Nonny and Poppy . . . which was mostly with Poppy because I don't know anything about those computer games. In the evening I went to church for a craft night, and made a Christmas wall hanging. Is it a wall hanging? I'm not sure what to call it, because a wall hanging is fabric, in my mind. Wall art? Anyway, I'm happy with how it turned out!

Week One, Monday, November 3 to Friday, November 7 - A very standard week of work, with chorus rehearsal and Dinner + Discipleship on their usual days.

Saturday, November 8 - Hubby went to work for a little bit. Then we went to a sports card show in Hilliard, and met the kids for lunch at Starliner Diner. We took Veronica shopping for her birthday stuff, which was a fun side trip to Michaels. Following that, we went hiking at Quarry Trails Metro Park. We had time for a short nap at home before hubby went to the Paul McCartney concert. I enjoyed some alone time at home, and called my Aunt Alice.

 

Sunday, November 9 - The first snow of the season! After worship team and church, we got pizza for lunch, and then had a long nap. Hubby had hockey, and while he was off doing that, I made a pot of chili, I called my Mum.

Monday, November 10 - Wow, it was so cold! Winter is definitely here. After work, I did a really quick change of clothes and grabbed a bite to eat at home before going to chorus. Attendance was low so rehearsal was a little shorter than usual, which gave me time to have evening coffee at home. A little different from how Monday evenings usually go!

Week Two, Tuesday, November 11 to Friday, November 14 - Remembrance/Veterans Day was on Tuesday, but it was just a regular workday for us. And a regular workweek for the most part. I worked late a couple nights, and we did find time to watch a movie - Small Group - it was pretty good!

Saturday, November 15 - I spent the day at an SVC coaching workshop and then enjoyed a quiet evening at home.

Sunday, November 16 - After church, we went to the Rusty Bucket for lunch with our 55+ dinner club. As we usually do on Sunday afternoon,s we enjoyed a long nap. Before it got too late, we added oil to my car - it was almost dry! - and did some internet shopping and blogging, but mostly a very quiet day.

Monday, November 17 - My lunch break was spent at the dentist for a cleaning. We grabbed Wendy's takeout for dinner when I got home from work, then went to the hockey game.

My team (Blue Jackets) won, and his team
(Canadiens) lost - explains the differing expressions!

Tuesday, November 18 - I worked late and the drive home was horrible because it was dark and raining. Ugh. After that I was ready for a lazy evening at home, and a phone call with my daughter.

Wednesday, November 19 - Work, Dinner + Discipleship, then grabbed some groceries. I even baked challah before going to bed!

Thursday, November 20 - just a regular work day.

Friday, November 21 -  I left work early so I could get ready for an SVC performance. Scioto Valley Chorus was the headline performer at the Harmony for Hunger charity concert.

Saturday, November 22 - I slept late, did a little cleaning and had a quick lunch, then we went to Lancaster with Harrison and family. We visited the Ohio Glass Museum, an antique mall, and had dinner at O'Huids Gaelic Pub. After we got home I did a quick grocery shop and mixed pastry for butter tarts.

Sunday, November 23 - Worship team and church, and then quick lunch. I finished baking the butter tarts and had a short nap before we went back to the church for a meal packing party and Thanks+Giving dinner. Hubby went to hockey and I hopped on a google meet with a couple of SVC friends. When he got home we watched a little TV and had coffee.

Monday, November 24 - work and SVC rehearsal

Tuesday, November 25 - work and shopped for the Thanksgiving groceries I still needed.

Wednesday, November 26 - I went to work but hurried home as soon as I could because Spencer was coming!! We got pizza for dinner and enjoyed the evening with him, and I did a little prep work for Turkey Day.

Thursday, November 27 - Happy Thanksgiving!! We slept in a little and were mostly lazy in the morning, but I got the rest of the baking done, and got the turkey in the oven on time. Harrison, Angela, and Veronica got here mid afternoon and we watched football, finished the food prep, set the table and had dinner about six. We enjoyed dessert and some TV and just hanging out together in the evening. Also celebrated hubby's birthday with his favorite chocolate cheesecake!

Black Friday, November 28 - I did have to go to work, but cut my day a bit short so I could maximize time with my son. When I got home, we snacked a bit, then Harrison and crew came over again and we went to a comic book store and to see the lights on the riverwalk in Gahanna. Got subs to go from Dibella's and ate at our place. Had dessert and coffee before Harrison and family headed home.

Saturday, November 29 - It was a very relaxed morning, and I ran over to Tim Hortons to get takeout for our breakfast and we just chilled. Spencer got on the road about lunchtime. After a little obligatory cry as we watched him drive off, hubby and I watched football and got out the Christmas decor. We set up the tree but left the decorating for Sunday.

Sunday, November 30 - First Sunday of Advent! For lunch we made stuffing waffles and had hot turkey sammiches for lunch. Napped and relaxed, and decorated the tree in the evening.

*********************

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;

I will put them into practice with all my heart.

~Psalm 119:34~

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My Word of the Year for 2025 is Practice. Put the things I've learned and that I know into practice. Practice doing what I know I should do and want to do. Practice how I want to perform. Practice―and get better at―the things that are important to me. Make a practice of healthy and beneficial habits and routines. In 2024, my WOTY was Rhythm, and one way I tried to establish a rhythm was by keeping a very brief daily diary, to watch for daily and weekly patterns to develop and to be intentional about keeping the good ones going. In 2025, I'll continue keeping the daily diary, but with a focus on how well I'm meeting my goals in the disciplines I'm practicing. See my WOTY post for 2025 for how I chose this word: Word of the Year 2025 - Practice.

Don't miss a coffee break! Subscribe to A Fresh Cup of Coffee by email. ©2006-2025 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human.  https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

 This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.