When was the last time you laughed hard, you spoke from her heart, you enjoyed the sweetness of friendship shared?

Oh, to have one great friend (aside from your spouse if you are married) is one of the greatest joys in life.  Earlier this week I had the delight of a sweet friend bringing my first Christmas present of the season to me.  To say I was delighted is an understatement.  She brought me a felt Peanuts scene from “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown”! I squealed like a little girl.  May I just say, Snoopy is one of my favorite things!  I bestowed the gift of a Peanuts Nativity upon myself last year.  To be blessed by a friend who knows me and cares, what a way to start a week, a month!

One of the things I enjoy most about Christmas is that it makes me more determined to do things that I let slip by so often in the midst of the fullness of life.  To be more intentional in friendship and family is my focus.

I have had the delight of amassing some new Christmas dishes at my local thrift stores this week.  Tonight was a Christmas Tea at my church where, as a table host, I set a table for eight.  Such fun!  I have a lovely set of Christmas dishes from my aunt given to us many years ago but the idea of carting them back in forth made me nervous.  So, fifteen shopping dollars later I was blessed with a delightful set of eight dishes, tea cups, butter dish, clotted cream bowl, water glasses and a few decorator pieces to create a table.  Delight!

Yesterday, my Mom to Mom group met.  I get to serve as a Titus Mom (mentor mom) at a table of moms of preschool aged children.  I will miss our Christmas Brunch later in the month due to holiday travels.  It was fun to take my “new” dishes to set a table for them.  Today, enjoyed having old friends come for a late lunch and got to use my table setting and centerpiece again.  Then, all was packed up and the table you see here was my joy to share with a mix of new and old friends.  My friend, Lisa Meiners of Deeper Still Ministries, inspired us with a message of LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE.  It gave me fresh perspective on that three word combo that always brings me such happiness. Singing “These are a few of my favorite things…” together was the culmination of our evening.  My heart soared.

So may I encourage you to be intentional in the days ahead.  In the hustle and bustle of ending a year, shopping for Christmas, and the normal day-to-day routine, grab a friend and a yummy drink and share some conversation.  Pull out your favorite dishes and invite your girlfriend to sit at your dining room table and laugh.  Surprise someone dear to you with a gift that delights their heart.  Live this month with a determination to make it your best December yet!