12 Days of Christmas (2017) – Day 9
GRAND PRIZE!!!
One of you WHO COMMENTS ON ALL TWELVE POSTS AND ALSO SHARES ABOUT THE SERIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA will win a grand prize from me, pictured here.
REMEMBER…in order to win the grand prize, you must leave a comment on all 12 posts. You can start with Day One HERE.
OK, let’s get started with our ninth day’s guest, Kristen Kill!
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Last year St. Lucia was late to breakfast. She nearly missed it entirely.
In our family, one of our favorite traditions is celebrating St. Lucia Day. Originally a Scandinavian holiday, St. Lucia is a light bearer, bringing warmth and hope in the early morning. The oldest daughter of the family typically bears the honor of wearing a crown of light and evergreens, a white dress with a red sash and waking her family with delicious saffron buns, reminiscent of when Lucia herself delivered food to Christians persecuted and hiding in the catacombs- and of what it means to hold out hope in the darkest days of winter as we wait for the birth of the Christ Child during Advent.
We’ve never been a stickler for only letting our oldest embrace being St. Lucia, but as I asked my girls the past few years, busy schedules and the pang of waking early, coupled with the year I almost lit their hair on fire, seemed to dissuade them from the celebration.
I casually mentioned the approach of December 13th, made some muffins the night before, and planned to leave the morning void of any fanfare. But when the day arrived, it was not my oldest daughters, but my littlest who snuck into my room asking when things would be ready for her to surprise everyone. She was shocked that I hadn’t woken her earlier. This tradition had found its way into her heart and she was expectant to bear light and love to her family.
We searched in her closet for her white summer sundress, clipped some greens from our tree and tied them together with twine for her crown, and the candles for our little light bearer? Well, we placed an LED tea light on top of the plateful of muffins.
At the last minute, I realized we were missing anything red and I pulled an ornament off the tree and looped it on to her crown. It was the most haphazard St. Lucia breakfast we have ever experienced, but maybe the most delicious, because it was the year we remembered that no matter what we do, it is God who gives light to warm our hearts in dark seasons, who shines beauty that we can feel and taste, and savor like saffron buns.
Taking time to rest and receive from God re-orients our hearts to Him in a world full of darkness. Take time to discover the practice of peace God desires for you in Kristen’s new book, Finding Selah. We are giving away a copy of her book today, along with a beautiful cuff designed to remind you to take time to pause and remember light in the midst of your busy life.
Day Nine Giveaway
For the 12 Days of Christmas series, I am giving away the bracelet pictured below and my new book coming out January 9th, Finding Selah: The Simple Practice of Peace When You Need It Most.
A contributing Editor at The Better Mom, and co-host of At Home With Sally and Friends, a popular podcast with Sally Clarkson, Kristen is passionate about encouraging women who feel stretched thin. She believes that tension is where we can learn to live expectant for the music and melody God is singing over of each one of us. She writes about home, creativity, and flourishing at her blog Hope With Feathers (kristenkill.com)
After spending the last seven years in the hustle of New York City, she and her husband, Josh, are learning to go slow as they raise their family and walk their anxious hound dog in the Pacific Northwest. Her first book, Finding Selah, releases from Zondervan in January. You can find her documenting life on Instagram and Facebook
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Great reminder. Thanks for sharing
What a sweet tradition! And what a precious picture of your daughter. Bless her heart for bringing it back.
What a sweet tradition! We all need to look for little things that bring us peace.
Beautiful reminder in such a crazy season.
What a beautiful tradition.
So beautiful!
It is a great gift…your children showing you the Christmas that lives in their heart. One of our sons (grown & on his own) seemed to be the one ‘distant’ from family & traditions…until this year…
Intention was my word for 2017…Peace is my word for 2018…I look forward to reading your book…Praise & Blessings over your ministry & family!
What a neat tradition! Thanks for sharing.
Such a timely reminder in this season of running and doing that it is not what we do, but rather what God does that brings light to our dark seasons.
I have never heard of this tradition. So sweet.
Impromptu events can be the most memorable. Our family has def learned to roll with Plan B’s.
Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you.
What a beautiful tradition! I look forward to reading your book! Thank you for the chance to win some beautiful gifts! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas tradition and God’s goodness in giving us great memories and reminding us how very blessed we are! Merry Christmas!
reminds me of how I loved reading the American Girl books when I was little. This tradition was practiced by Kirsten :)
Everything is going high-tech, at jet speed and changing. We need to hold on to our traditions that ground us to who we were and are. Thank you for sharing yours. I am excited to read your book when it comes out in January. Congratulations!
I LOVE this bracelet! An awesome reminder that in the end, God wins and we can have peace in very tumultuous times.
Was unaware of this tradition- very cool! Would like to know of other peace activities! Suggestions…..
I have loved listening to your traditions! Our kids are growing up so fast, it’s so important to find or continue traditions so that your kids will remember and continue those with their children when they grow up too!
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed learning about St. Lucia and your beautiful, heartfelt tradition! Thanks so much.
That is such a fun sounding traditions, our little family is trying to find ours right now!
I have never heard of St. Lucia or a tradition like this! So fun to learn! How delightful!
What a beautiful tradition and sweet story! Thank you for sharing!
I love Kristen Kill and her heart!