Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

I had the best of intentions to write a Thanksgiving post a few weeks ago. My life is full of blessings from the Lord, and I have much to be thankful for. But I got busy packing to travel home and then I was busy cooking and then I was working on Christmas cards and then.....well, the post didn't happen. But let me say, for the record (though in less flowery language than I might have chosen for an "official" Thanksgiving post), that I am grateful. For God, for Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation, for my precious husband and our life together, for my dear family, for my home and job and friends and yes, even for the struggles and sorrows. God is good, all the time, and I am thankful.

That said, I got sick the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but pressed through it to get our Christmas tree up (thanks, Brian!) and decorated. Then we had our Christmas music program at church, with the requisite rehearsals. So I've been busy! I'm not complaining...we're all busy, right?

This brings me to today...when I would really like to post about Advent and Christmas preparations and ideas and decorations and inspirations. I took some pictures of the decorating I've done thus far, fully intending to share, but I hate to show them, because just outside of the frame of every shot, are scenes like this:

Just keeping it real (in the spirit of The Pioneer Woman).

So I'm heading home to see what I can do about the behind-the-scenes mess. And maybe by the weekend I can manage inspirations and ideas and deep thoughts and pretty pictures!

But really, isn't this part of preparing for the advent of the Savior? John the Baptist was sent to declare to us: "...Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him." Mark 1:3b. So as I make straight the paths in my home, I am going to be preparing the way in my heart. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing....


Won't you join me?