More from Kathy Norman

It is a blessing to connect with you through the devotional “Community of Light” as we celebrate the Christmas season together. I have loved to write since my stint as a journalist on my high school newspaper staff. After a multi-faceted career as a missionary in Colombia, schoolteacher, freelance writer, and assistant in my husband Vic’s medical office; retirement has blessed me with time to blog and to work on my first book. Vic and I are writing a book together about the practical strategies for creating a healthier chemical-free life that helped me recover from the physical symptoms and spiritual struggle of coping with the chronic illness fibromyalgia.

Because we live in a toxic world where constant exposure to harmful chemicals in ordinary things we use each day like cleaning products, cosmetics, personal care items, and processed food makes us sick, I look for practical ways to eliminate as many harmful substances as possible from my daily life. I make my own cleaning products out of natural ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda and buy nontoxic cosmetics, laundry detergent, and personal care items. Since processed food is loaded with harmful chemicals, I focus on real food recipes that are convenient and fun. Because I make practicality a priority, I still have time to write, play competitive Scrabble, travel around the country in our motor home, chase after my grandchildren, and search for unique nativities to add to my collection. I have been collecting nativities for over 40 years. These are two of my favorites.

I found this South American nativity in Barranquilla, Colombia when we served there as missionaries for six years. It is made out of rustic unfired local clay.

I added this nativity to my collection when we took a volunteer medical mission team to the northern Andes Mountains region of Ecuador. It is made of bread dough meticulously shaped by hand, left in the sun to dry, and then painted in a profusion of bright colors.

May your Christmas be filled with brightness, color, family, friends, celebration, and joy. And may we always be known as a community that shares the light of Jesus at home and around the world, not only during the Christmas season, but during every day of the year. Merry Christmas!

For real food recipes, chemical-free living tips, and life hacks about everything, check out my blog: http://www.kathyknorman.com/blog