Grace at Home No. 448

Hello, friends! Happy December!

Here we are, barreling along through Advent, and I'm guessing that you're as busy as I am. If you follow me on Instagram (I'd so love to connect with you there), you might have seen photos like these:

My little grandson and his parents were here for two weeks, and what a joy it was to begin the Advent season with a baby in the house! It was a poignant reminder of the way Christ came.

You know, most of my life I've heard warnings not to "reduce" Jesus to the baby in the manger. I've heard preachers say things like "We don't pray to Dear Lord, Baby Jesus." But I think maybe those warnings might lead us to miss the wonder of the Incarnation. The Eternal Son did not come to Earth as a conquering king, but as a helpless infant. Then he grew to be a toddler, a boy, a man—a poor, working man. The one who was there at the foundation of the world came into the world not in a position of power, but in a position of lowliness. 

Isn't it interesting that we often long for power, yet the one we worship laid aside his power to come to us? 

The son of God became a human. The triune God united forever when the Eternal Son "took on flesh." And just as surely as Jackson is my beloved grandson, we are now beloved children of God, adopted by the Eternal Father of our brother Jesus. Today I'm thinking that we should all hang out with babies a little more!

Well, as I've been hosting my grandson, you all have been busy! Here are some highlights from last week's party. 

Looking for some Christmas decorating inspiration? Well, just take a peek at these scenes!

Pam from Everyday Living works holiday magic on a porch:

Andrea from Living on Cloud Nine shares her whole house all gussied up for Christmas:

Marty from A Stroll Thru Life shows how you can add Christmas cheer to any space, even a laundry room:

Need some easy-to-execute ideas for your own decorating? Shelley from Calypso in the Country offers seven ideas for filling glass jars for simple but beautiful holiday decor.

Don't have a Nativity set? Joy from Artful Homemaking shares a tutorial for crafting this precious scene—a great option to do with children.

If you're like me, you love Christmas cookies, and Italian amaretti cookies are a favorite. Well, Theresa from Shoestring Elegance shares a recipe for making your own, and she says they're the easiest and tastiest cookie she's ever made.

On a more practical note, if you need an easy dinner recipe, the LouLou girls share one for Tuscan chicken and potatoes that looks amazing.

Advent is an interesting season—a time of the tension of waiting with the anticipation of coming joy. Michele Morin from Living Our Days can help you to wait well.

Thank you to everyone who linked up!

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space with truth, goodness, and beauty. I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter