Hope, Trust, Pray and Sparkle

Merry Christmas dear poppets!

How has your advent been? Glittery? Pensive? Hopefully you’ve had lots of joyful moments, since last I wrote.

A time has just come to mind, when I was a student teacher, having a Christmas craft morning with my class of seven year olds. Instead of decanting larger tubs of glitter into smaller pots, I put the large tubs on the tables for them to use sensibly (ha!). What ensued, was sparkly carnage. By the end of the morning, it was in their hair, on their faces, on their clothes, on their seats (I don’t think it ever came off those sticky, plastic seats). Lining up for assembly later on, I realised that they were certainly the sparkliest of classes.

My favourite sparkly accident was on the dark blue class carpet, and every time I looked down, it was like looking at a night sky filled with the most magical stars. It was a proud fairy moment for me. The class teaching assistant wasn’t quite so enamoured. 🙄

Do you like a biccie or two? I have been baking more than I've ever baked before this year. It's all about the biscuits. The snap, the golden crumble, the melt in your mouth texture. Safe to say I love biscuits. It's beautiful to be able to share these creations with my parish. I'm happy to be a biscuit delivery service to dedicated organists and devoted Sacristans, talented choir masters, lovely priests and a beautiful bunch of kind folks.

Life got complicated again, these last few months, with jobs and stability. Despite the uncertainty and emotional challenges a situation like that brings, I've tried to cultivate a heart of hope and trust in the Lord. Trust in the greater plan. When I feel low, I reach out to the light, to divinity, to the celestial plains and try to stay steadfast and graceful in my heart. It's not always easy, but when the sparks of hope come, they feel like glowing, warm embers inside. And I remember to count my blessings.

* Update - As I started writing this a few days ago, I can report that the job stability is gratefully fixed and dreams have come true! The light has returned! After such a long time of waiting, and hoping, good news has finally come to pass, hooray! It’s the best Christmas present I have ever received!🤸🏻 Talk more about this another time.

The skies have continued to be immensely satisfying and I always have ‘kid in a candy store’ vibes, if I spot some extra interesting clouds and colours.

Here’s my neighbour’s cat coming for a visit. Always lovely to see her. I think 2025 might be the year that I finally have my very own lil furry. Exciting!

I love these sweet sanderlings. They are so in tune with running in and out of the waves, as they ebb and flow and they have a lovely little song.

I played harp and sang at a wedding in church last weekend. Oh how young and fresh faced the bride and groom were (now on a cruise in the Carribean!). It was an honour and quite something to carry the congregation through Shine Jesus Shine by Kevin Mayhew. Do you know it? I love this rendition. The bride was so happy at the end of the hymn. I felt her joy.

This is a practise from the morning of the wedding with me trying to bring sensation back to my frozen fingers, and enjoy the glorious light behind me.

One great thing (aside from actually singing in the choir) is that I get to sit at the front of church, so have a prime view during wedding nuptials. It's a privilege to witness couples exchanging vows. They’re obviously emotional, which makes me emotional and I have to try and hold it together to make sure I can sing for the rest of the service. Tears of happy joy are the best.

There will be lots of singing in the choir on Christmas Eve. At two Masses in fact. Many carols of course (I love carols), a couple of solos (One in Royal David's City and O Holy Night, woo!) and some energetic offerings (like this excellent version of Gaudete featuring a bodhrán 😍).

This Christmas, Simon and I will be volunteering again at a Christmas lunch event in our town, serving lovely food to vulnerable people and then sitting down with them to eat. Can’t wait.

Let's remember to cultivate and connect with the innocent Light of Christ this Christmas. I feel so lucky to be part of such a mystical and ancient time of year. The birth of Jesus. The birth of the flame of hope and joy. A flame of love, that I now feel deep in my heart. Alleluia! 💗

Finally, and with great happiness I have a new podcast called Catholic Prayerscape. I love poetic prayers, prayers that make you think, make you surrender, make you cry and give you hope. A prayer that brings hope is a prayer I want to record and share with you. There will lots of hopeful prayers on this podcast.

Listen to gloriously poetic prayers and feel held and safe in the arms of Jesus. Expect celestial sounds!

I pray that you are bathed in love, hope and joy this Christmas dear friends.

Sending sparkly love to you and wishing that your Christmas is full of awe and wonder. Let the eating of the chocolate tree decorations commence!!

Thank you for being here.

God bless.

Love Holly xxx

ps I love this Christmas card from my mum. I would certainly enjoy opening my door to this lovely bunch of carol singers. ‘Bark the Herald Angels Sing’ sounds and looks like an absolute riot!

pps Here’s my latest podcast episode called Snowfall. It’s got a gentle, haunting melody and is perfect for relaxing. It’s dedicated to a dear soul called David. 💙