Imparting Grace: December 2022

Thursday, December 15

Grace at Home No. 490

Friends! It's mid-December!

Can you believe how quickly this year has gone by? At times. . . especially during many long nights in the hospital. . . time seemed to drag along this year. And yet, of course, time never does drag. It flies.

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the season, I hope you've had a chance to take a deep breath and really take in the wonder and beauty of Advent. My Advent looks very different this year from years past. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen this photo:

My decorating is pretty bare-bones this year. I'm not hosting any parties. But the miracle of the Incarnation is such that, even when I feel desperately alone, I am not. God is with me. God is with you. God is with all of us, all the time.

And today I am grateful to share a little of seasonal joy by welcoming you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are a few highlights from last week's party.

Even though I'm not doing a lot of decorating this year, I surely love looking at beautifully decorated spaces, so I was glad to see this Christmas home tour from Shelley at Calypso in the Country.

If you're preparing for a party and need a wonderful serving tray, you'll love this idea for a DIY snowglobe tray from Nicolle at Our Tiny Nest.

Need a quick, fun little Christmas gift for someone? Check out this darling stencilled potholder from Beth at Creatively Beth.

Are you still trying to think of a special gift for someone? Regina at Saved from Salvage gives step-by-step instructions for creating a keepsake ornament.

Need an easy recipe for a luscious Christmas dessert? Lenny from Fat Dad Foodie shares Chocolate Peppermint Pie recipe, and it looks delicious!

Or for a quick and yummy treat, try the saltine toffee from Jodi at Create Kids Club. She even includes directions for making it gluten-free.

If you want to capture some of the beauty of Christmas in your photos, you'll be glad to learn some great photography tips from Pam at An Artful Mom.

Christmastime is a time of joy for so many—but not for everyone. If you know someone who is struggling with depression this Christmas, you'll want to read this post from Dr. Michelle Bengtson at Hope Prevails.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week'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!

Thursday, December 8

Grace at Home No. 489

Hello friends! I am so grateful to welcome you here for the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty.

I truly appreciate the many messages of encouragement you left on my last post. My son is continuing to do okay, although it's really hard to wait weeks for a surgical procedure and to be unable to do anything in the meantime. I'm staying busy caring for him and trying to do a little bit of Christmas preparation—so I was delighted to see what all you've been doing to prepare for Christmas!

Here are some highlights from last week's party I think you'll enjoy.

Want to see a home decorated beautifully but simply for Christmas? Check out this tour from Diane at In My Own Style.

Do you have a small space but still want to decorate? You'll be inspired by this home tour from Julie at My Wee Abode.

If you really want to get into the holiday spirit, you'll love seeing how Debbie from Debbie-Dabble has created a Christmas beverage station in her kitchen.

Looking for simple ways to set a festive table this Christmas? Carol from Comfort Spring Station has some great ideas for you.

The Christmas season is a wonderful time, but it can be a difficult time if you're dealing with grief. If you're experiencing grief this season, Kathryn from the Dedicated House has some really helpful suggestions.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week'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

Thursday, December 1

Grace at Home No. 488

Happy December!

Oh friends. I can hardly believe that we're nearing the end of 2022, and while I hate to wish away any time, I can honestly say that I've been in the most challenging season of my life. Many of you know that my husband has endured multiple hospitalizations and several surgeries this Fall. It seemed as if he had finally turned the corner toward full healing, and we were looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving, when we got an urgent text from our youngest son, who lives more than two hours away from us. The next thing we knew, he texted us this photo:

Thank God, this ambulance took him straight to the Emergency Room, where he was seen right away. I spent all of last week in the hospital with my son, most of it in the Intensive Care Unit. I'm grateful that I was finally able to bring him home with me, and he'll stay with me and my husband until he is able to have a surgery he needs. Waiting for the surgery is hard, but apparently people with this condition have much better outcomes if the surgeons wait a few weeks before doing the repair.

We have not had the kind of Autumn we wanted, and we most certainly did not have the Thanksgiving we'd hoped for. And yet I am more aware than ever that there is so much to be thankful for. My husband is alive! My son is alive! We have access to wonderful healthcare. Our oldest son is home from deployment. We have friends and family who have been so supportive through these long weeks spent a the hospital. The list goes on and on, and I am grateful.

And now I am thankful to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the way we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Believe me, friends: this work of reflecting God's goodness and grace to everyone around us really matters. I know at times it may seem as if no one cares, that nothing you do makes any difference. But it does. It all matters.

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