Peppernuts

This girl ... she's not been with us for Christmas since 2013

when she was five.

So when this photo came to my phone 

I knew she was thinking about this past summer

 when they were back in Canada with us.

 One warm night after dinner I decided it was as good a time as any

and showed her how we roll and cut Peppernut cookies.

Then we baked them for our Christmas in July.

I guess they made an impression on more than one grand,

 because on this random day when I got these photos,

her mom told me she had done these all on her own.

How can it be that in these small ways,

God continues to care for the little things I thought we'd miss out on -

that even though she lives on the other side of the world,

and rarely participates in our traditions

she pulled out the cookbook and made a new memory.

Knowing that our special summer moments stayed in her heart

is a gift I'm cherishing these days.

Another way to see God's grace.