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Merry Christmas

Julie Anne

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Merry Christmas to our SSB family.  We are about to eat our traditional crépes for breakfast. (Yes, we’re off to a late start because we have two college students who value sleeping in.)

I hope you all have a wonderful day with loved ones reflecting on our Savior’s birth and can ponder His amazing and great love for us.

If you are alone this Christmas or find this day filled with painful memories, please know that you are loved here. People check in time to time. We’d love to support you.

grace and peace,

JA

photo:  centerpiece (including box) made by the Smith kids this year  🙂

 

 

18 thoughts on “Merry Christmas”

  1. Sending wishes of peace and joy to everyone here today.

    Today is a very low key, relaxing day at our house. My college kid is currently on her second nap. The watchdog got a nice long, rain-free walk in. The roast is in the oven and I look forward to dinner!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Merry Christmas to the SSB community!

    I am so. stuffed. right now. I’m trying to put off cleaning up the kitchen as long as I can.

    Our former “church” forbid a lot of the things you normally associate with Christmas. We didn’t put up Christmas trees (though they drape evergreen garlands and wreaths all over the church businesses) or lights. Our minister gave my husband grief over the handmade stockings I put up for us and the kids.

    Yesterday I was thankful that we always did as much as we could. My kids are growing up fast, and I cherish the memories we’ve made. I bought a string of pine cone lights about 14 years ago, and my kids pester me if I don’t get them up fast enough. They still remember the Christmas season they were all so sick, and we all camped out in the living room with the blinking pine cone lights. And the stockings I made are precious to my kids even if our minister pooh-poohed them.

    I have a lot of regrets. But I don’t regret my efforts to make Christmas special.

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  5. Had a lovely Christmas Day began with lots of laughter and smiles but ended in tears. So many memories of this year but knowing that I am loved and cared for by the One whose birth we were celebrating, my family, and friends both near and far is wonderful. So thank you Julie Anne for your blog and thank you to all my brothers and sisters in Christ. May the LORD bless you, and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.’

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Merry Christmas Julie Anne and my brothers and sisters here on the SSB. I am so happy to spend time today with my daughter who I had not spoken to in over a year, my other daughter, and spent time at lunch serving the homeless in the downtown ministry. What a blessed day! Thank you Lord for all you have brought me through and for all the blessings you bestow on me constantly. Oh, and I have some great news! I went back to the church I went to BEFORE the patriarchy abusive church, and I feel right at home, reconnected with several loving people, and already served as a greeter and at the homeless dinner. I am so happy to be back. The Lord seems to have lead me back here and I am so glad! Thank you Jesus! And my younger daughter wants to come with me to church rather than go to the abusive church with her wolf in sheeps clothing father. Yay!

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  8. Merry Christmas All. I love reading your moving & evolving stories of being freed from the shackles of religious bondage. Everyone here has been invaluable to me. Precious people, precious place. Thank-You All.

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  10. Merry Christmas to all here at SSB! And thank you Julie for all that you do in helping to free precious people from the slavery of abusive religious regimes, one human being at a time. All heaven smiles at the deeds of the Righteous…

    Liked by 1 person

  11. I second all the notions and emotions about thankfulness for Spiritual Sounding Board and the ministry here. It’s been an amazing journey to see how the SSB community has grown, and the impact of the SSB writers and commenters have had!

    Meanwhile, it’s been a chill-out, kick-back kind of a day here, doing all sorts of non-writing things to recharge my batteries for the next round. Have enjoyed watching all three Narnia films, and now am into the first part of Pride and Prejudice. And a few naps and some flavorite foods and some connecting with family and friends … a great day!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Sounds great, Brad. My 21-yr old daughter and I have been going back through Downton Abbey series together since she got home from college. We’ll then watch the grand Finale together before we both have to head back to school.

    Merry Christmas Muff Potter, Marsha, Gail, Rhonda! So good to hear from you all.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Merry Christmas to all the folks at SSB. I had a nice day with my family. I’m home now, knocking back a bottle of sparkling mineral water & thinking about getting a neck massage by proxy by watching some massage for neck and shoulders video on youtube. Ha!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Merry Christmas to everyone at SSB! For all of those reading or commenting here who are still wounded and broken-hearted during this season… my hope and prayer is that one day everyone will find the joy and courage to dance like this:

    Liked by 3 people

  15. Merry belated Christmas to all of you and lots of love going out to all of you here.

    My youngest daughter and I have spent the last 2 days in a hotel near her home in Ann Arbor MI. I am pretty sure that a mouse’s apartment is almost as big as hers and I live a couple of hours from here. We have had a very good time together. We are the only family we have within 1200 miles.

    If it were up to My baby girl we would not celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ and surely not a national holiday. Fortunately, it isn’t up to her. ; ) She doesn’t believe In our Lord Jesus Christ and I pray ongoing for her heart to soften.

    Christmas dinner was at Denny’s. I was thankful that it was open and not rely on something we could pick up at the gas station. lol She then gave me the guided tour of the brewery that she manages and then on to a movie.

    Christmas is a season for me. It lasts each day that I remember that God was willing to come as a babe born to a virgin, grow to be a man and bring the truth of our Father in Heaven and be crucified for me/us. The only sacrifice that was strong enough to overcome death and the fate that I deserve. Jesus is the way and my High Priest.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Love your blog. Love you, J.A.
    Your blog is a life saver for anyone who has experienced spiritual abuse.
    Keep speaking up for the victims.

    Liked by 1 person

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