Third Week of Advent

"The important thing is not to think much but to love much;

and so do that which best stirs you to love."

~St. Teresa of Ávila

Dear Friends,

Greetings in this Third Week of Advent! I hope it has been a meaningful journey for you thus far, and that you’ve each had glimpses of wonder in the waiting. I’m planning menus this week, making grocery lists, finishing my Christmas shopping and cooking up a storm. I’m also preparing for a houseful on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and when I came across the above quote by Teresa of Ávila during my devotions this morning it was a timely reminder that all of the planning and preparation in the world can never take the place of love itself. Just as traditions serve our relationships, so preparations are the servants of lifegiving connections with God and with the people he has placed in our lives. I cannot wait to open our home to loved ones next week—this is truly my favorite time of year! But I also want to keep my heart tethered to the truth: only the presence of Christ, as both host and honored guest, can illuminate the meaning in all this sweet much-ado.

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Designed to be printed on Avery Small Tent Cards (2" x 3.5")

Free download: Place Cards

In the name of hospitality, our gift to you this week is a free download of festive place cards. I love thinking about whom to seat where at my holiday meals, changing things up from year to year, interspersing teenagers with adults and placing little children alongside college students. And I love to see each of those names ranged along my tables, in symbol and token of the dear people who will soon occupy these places.

"Place cards may seem stuffy, but a dinner party of any size will only flourish with a bit of such forethought."

~Glad & Golden Hours

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Join us on Zoom this Thursday

I also want to remind you of our live Group Discussion this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Central / 7:00 p.m. Eastern. It was very special last week to chat together about reducing stress and truly engaging with the beauties of this season from a place of rest. I was challenged and blessed by the insights shared and look forward to connecting once more with this sweet group via Zoom for another hour-long conversation. As this will be our last meeting before Christmas, we will be exploring some of the themes of Weeks Three and Four. I do hope you will join us! Contact us for the Zoom link.

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That’s all for this week, friends. Praying that joy will find you amid the messes and the merriment, the to-do lists and sinks-full of dishes and last minute errands and pockets of contemplation.

So much love,