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Encouraged By The Son

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Pam

It has been two weeks since my return from Prague and the ambitious plans of keeping up the walking has not happened – yet. The return week is a blur but I remember sleeping, doing laundry, rejoicing in the simple and familiar. The second week Christmas (minimally) unfolded and today I took a walk. Two miles, and mostly flat and familiar, kept me humming Christmas tunes. I am so happy I went to volunteer abroad and am equally happy to finish and return. Yesterday I had attempted a recent tradition with my girls of shopping at University Village. They are both in different states but I hoped it would warm my heart and I might find a treasure to gift them. Instead, I was reminded that frivolous spending is not necessary for them to know I love them and it poured rain ALL morning. Even crossing the water to Seattle had become more expensive. The coffee was good but I may skip this in future unless they are about. My love for my girls got me out the door. Today, the sun got me out the door. We have had typical Seattle weather since my return and good thing I don’t worry about my hair as much as I used to. Besides, I look good in a red stocking cap! The Son makes Christmas. In this short time I’ve attended church, a play, a Bible study, a Christmas concert, several exercise classes (including fun with gift exchanges), and will enjoy Christmas dinner with dear friends.

With so many approaches to this sacred holiday, I’m looking at what motivated me to put some things out to remind me of the season. I’m trying to write through Luke’s account of Jesus from start to finish of the Son of God’s time incarnate. I say Merry Christmas at every opportunity. Will make fudge tonight and have delivered the small loaves of orange/cranberry bread. It is my older sister’s recipe and it has been years since I’ve made it. The recipe card was lost in another section of the box so, an hour later, about 1/3 of the cards went into the recycle and the lost recipe was found. Recipes are like clothes. I have too many denim shirts (or blue and white striped) and saved the same recipe for a coconut cream pie over and over. Ask me if I have ever made a coconut cream pie? Not once.

I hope to have more Christmases. I am feeling the loss of Emma and Susie and Jane deeply. My baby sister turns seventy in five days. I will be on a plane in four. It is not a perfectly executed Christmas but neither was last year when I had time to be ready. Whether or not cards get written that announce Jesus came, He came. Whether or not I found the perfect gift, He is the perfect gift. Whether or not every moment references Him, He holds my life in the palm of his land. He makes everything good. This is the best Christmas EVER! Reminders of Emma, Susie, Jane, and recent Christmas snow.

"Thoughts from a genuinely evaluative mind."

Pam writes so that must make her a writer. Recently retired, she can now fill days with family, friends, missions, writing, creating, and showing up for whomever needs her. Pam loves the Lord and people. The Bible is God’s love letter to us (and who does not need more love) so she studies and writes some more.

Pam lives in the Pacific Northwest but was home-grown in Southern California. She attended San Jose Bible College and finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at UCLA. She became a teacher, then a Research and Development Chemist, then she built two successful real estate businesses in two states. Pam also pursued study at Fuller Theological Seminary and just completed six months serving in missions abroad.

Pam has two amazing children, married to two precious in-laws, and five sweet grandchildren. Pam is a gifted connector and communicator and the Northwest has the perfect climate for staying inside and writing – or baking! She has been writing since a wee one and is currently converting many years of blogging, by topic, into ten books. The first is a collection from 2011 titled, Beautiful Enough. The second is a yearly day-timer titled, Weekly Planner - Lessons in Life, Glory, and Grace. Number three is in progress with the working title, Christmas Today.

Ten facts about Pam in no particular order:

  1. On the team that developed an insulation for the Alaskan oil pipeline.
  2. Loves looking at homes, decorating, and has flipped five homes.
  3. Likes being tall.
  4. Films have helped define her vocabulary.
  5. Comes from Colorado tenement farmers with history traced to Wales.
  6. Was lost but now is found.
  7. Baking makes her happy – as does eating sweets with coffee, of course.
  8. She thinks mission work is the most important work in the world.
  9. The church started in Rome so she is learning Italian.
  10. Pam is a work in progress!

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

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