A Christmas Sampler, and some changes in the pantry...

 

I had planned to share something else with you today, something small I'd been making, and then next week I would have this Christ-mas Sampler to gift you...but life got away from us 'again' this week, with more unexpected things to manage, so my original project for you is still patiently waiting on my fingers to stitch it. 

However, this may have worked out for the best, because Christ-mas is not far away now, and you may need a bit of time to sew your own version of my Christ-mas Sampler from 2014. I've updated the pattern sheet to 2024 so you can stitch our current year, but I love that this has been displayed in our home every December for the past ten years. 

In 2014 my favourite colour was this soft teal, and the tiny doves on the teal fabric added such a lovely festive feel (always makes me think about the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove on Our Lord after He was baptised), and the pretty red fabric with stars was a reminder of the sky full of angels announcing His birth, and the magnificent star that sat above the holy scene. Still gives me tingles when I read of that night in the book of Luke. 

I didn't use Christ-mas back then in 2014, just the full Christmas, and that's okay because we know what Christmas or Christ-mas means...it's in the name! CHRIST. :-)

Use the link below to download the free pattern...

DOWNLOAD The Christmas Sampler pattern

Today I made the decision to empty the walk-in pantry and clean the little shelf of jars just near it. As I have mentioned recently, I can no longer eat gluten as it makes me cramp up something dreadful, and unknown to me was causing a lot of pain in my hips, knees and ankles. It's been about eight weeks now and I can honestly say that I no longer desire gluten because I know the painful effects it has on my body and would rather feel like I do today than when I was eating it day after day and struggling to sleep due to pain.

I did go back on it for two days about a month ago, but I was so sick that the doctor agreed I needed to stay off it for good. 

At the moment I'm trialing a different muffin or cake recipe every 5 or 6 days, and most have not been very pleasant, but there have been three good ones that even my family enjoy. Yay! I'm not using packets of gluten free flours as they're simply not that healthy, although I did use a better brand pre-made GF flour mix for a pineapple upside down cake two weeks ago that the family devoured rather swiftly - I'll keep that flour for cakes, and might try it for scones soon, but for muffins and smaller baked items I make them with an assortment of individual GF ingredients I have in the pantry. 

Now, back to the pantry!

Today everything was removed, the shelves scrubbed, and all the gluten items put aside for Blossom. My husband decided to try gluten-free about three weeks ago, as he has a lot of arthritis and other pains, but I was fairly sure he'd not stick with it (we had sporadically tried this every couple of years for a short time, as gluten intolerance and coeliac disease are highly likely with Hashimotos, which we both have...but we didn't stay the course)...but he has, and he's feeling so much better! He told me last night "I don't want gluten anymore".

And that's what got me into pantry scrubbing, sorting, emptying, checking, and re-supplying mode today. 

All the jars were cleaned out, all traces of gluten removed, and everything GF was stored away for use close at hand. I love this old bookcase near the pantry door, and since adding the little jar toppers this year I love it even more. 

The good thing is that now my husband can access everything in the pantry or shelves without asking 'Can I eat this?', because it's all gluten free, just as he wants, and just as I need. Praise God!

I even found my old reindeer mugs packed away behind things on the top corner of the pantry, and they hold memories that bless my heart, as I bought them in Charter Towers for Christ-mas 2009, our first Christ-mas in that lovely little country town.  

I want to embrace the season more this year by including some decorating, putting the tree up earlier than usual (usually two or three days before Christ-mas), and filling our home with carols through the day...and baking some lovely things to share with our loved ones. I came to realise through 2024, that celebrating our Lord together at Christ-mas time as a family is far more important than I knew. You see, we celebrate Jesus the moment we wake up each day, so while Christ-mas was still lovely, we were hesitant about the pagan side of things, and therefore our decorating and celebrating was somewhat muted. And sadly, most years we were waiting for it all to be over. I'm being honest here, because perhaps some of you have felt the same?

Annabel, my dear sweet friend and prayer partner, lost her husband suddenly last January. Andy had requested a big and wonderful Christ-mas the month before, he wanted it to be the best Christ-mas ever. So that's what she gave him and her family - the best Christ-mas ever. When he died, she was so very thankful they had made his final Christ-mas even more than special. All year I have pondered this, and can truly say it's made me look at Christ-mas through fresh eyes, a larger heart, and a flood of excitement. 

We never know what's around the corner, and unexpected life circumstances will happen, but we do what we can to prepare for them (and our family have had a good amount of practice the last few months). God prepared the world for Jesus more than 2,000 years ago. God prepared my heart to receive Him in 1991. This Christ-mas I am preparing my heart afresh, and embracing the yearly season where it's okay to say "Merry Christ-mas" to everyone you meet, and sing "O Holy Night" as you stroll the aisles at the grocery store, and to send cards that draw eyes to a manger, or a star, or a woman heavy with child atop a donkey. 

Yes, this Christ-mas, I'm celebrating all the season has to offer. I pray you are too, and wish I could invite you around for some hot chocolate and cranberry muffins...but what I can do is pray for you. xx

God bless, lovely ones, 

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