Advent Emerging

   I love the image below by Rockwell. Do you see St. Nick's book has only the words "Good Boys" on it? The hysterical implication is all girls are good, but that good boys can be confined to a single volume.

   From previous experience, I proffer that good boys may be hard to find in art museums near Christmas, and that Christmas does not always bring out the best of good girls nor their mothers!

   As for Advent: It's been a month. J has worked 3 weeks straight, 12 hour days (at least) with 1 day off. He's ready for a much needed break; we are ready for his presence with us. 

   Yet God's grace sustains us. God's grace holds us close. It helps us do the next thing, share the next word, and shop and wrap joy. We walk into the dark holding the light.

       We began advent with our favorite German inspired advent walk.

       But we also began advent with the loss of another lamb.

      And the terror that comes with watching a cougar haul off a precious lamb while your son plays soccer nearby cannot be described. And it occurred within 90 minutes of sharing these words with someone I love:

The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
    and a little child will lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

  There is a battle between light and dark. Winter solstice has come and gone, and so too the darkness must give way to the light. The darkness hasn't a choice, dear ones. The light is coming, and it comes from a single source.

   Yes, this December, we have dashed the mouth of the lion. We overcame through Christ - it is He who shuts the mouth of the lion from our children, and pays the cost Himself. He is the Lamb of God.  Do you see?

   Through Him alone, we celebrate amidst the pouring rain, dark days, and loss. Through the lashing wind and rain, He emerges, He is enough, and He is good.

      And His rainbows this month? There have been too many to count!

   And Sunday, we finally made it to a local tree farm to cut a massive Nordmann. She's 10' tall and drinks like an elephant. I do miss the fir smell which Nordmann's lack, but maybe this is your tree if you have allergies.

 

   Note to self: A tree with a 5" diameter base in a 6" diameter tree stand means watering every few hours. Brother has been using his hydrodynamics water works to keep her full up. It has been a great gift which has lasted years.

   We have settled into baking and are working on peppermint bark, chocolate gingerbread cookies, baklava, and chocolate peppermint crackles. The kids are really enjoying audible Cinnamon Bear stories while they bake, and make origami decorations for the Christmas tree. We are keeping it very low key this year for everyone. 

  More and more, we are moving toward home made presents and giving the gift of our time and presence. We cannot buy what truly counts. We can only give it.

   There will be a few small things under the tree. We will see if this and this is a hit. I hope so! 

    She offered up songs in the middle school Christmas Cantata. It was wonderful to see her sing with joy after being so sick last year. God is exceedingly gracious. 

   We took in White Christmas at The Gallery Theatre in McMinnville. Darling. They've watched a White Christmas too many times to count, and yesterday watched The Christmas Story. We are writing stories all around us, living stories, breathing stories, and we are being invited into the One's story.

   I keep coming back to Rohr's words during our advent devotional times: Jesus did not come to change God's mind about humanity, but to change humanity's mind about God.

   For those of you facing loss this month: One day, in Him, we will gain those we have lost. When the dawn of new time arises, our lanterns we will lay down. We won't need them - the world will give way to the Light. 

   Even now, all earth speaks to His birth and resurrection - if only we would believe. If only we would ask for eyes with which to see.

   Wishing you a blessed Advent, and the awareness and awe of His glory emerging. 

~ Kim

Advent Bookends: A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy

Today small Peter gave Tommy light for light.

Waking up this morning, I found myself in Isaiah 22. Harsh soul scraping words. The wood man was up and pondering the Sermon on the Mount. During the day, I found myself trying to merge these two passages and understand what they mean. Can we be called to both weep and wail and also hold onto hope that those who mourn shall be comforted? 

This evening we stayed home from a community commitment. Something had to give, and unfortunately tonight it was that commitment. Sometimes, big and little bodies need stillness and rest.

Sitting by the fire, I picked up A Tree for Peter and began to read out loud. We finished the book in one sitting. I desperately needed to be reminded that in the midst of tears and trouble all around us we can and should build.  

A Tree for Peter reminds us of the miracle of Christ in the worst of circumstances and reminds us that every community has great capacity to create and build. God is at work in the world and He wants us to be as well. In the midst of mourning, we are to be builders of that which will last. We are to bring His hope, joy, and healing to our hurting world.

And deep down inside him another dream was forming; he was groping for that, to give it to his mother as a surprise. The dream had started while he watched the men who worked on the houses, while he stood listening to the strange men from the city called builders and engineers. They were the ones, he knew, who, with pencils and papers, with hammers and saws and paint, had made the sad, ugly houses into the white castles of his dream. He wanted to be like them; a man who could, with tools build a dream.... 

That was it. Small Peter laughed out loud, because now he had the surprise for his mother, all ready in words. He looked up at her and said, "When I grow up I am going to be a builder." 

She did not answer. She only looked at him and then at Pat. The smile on her face was beautiful to see. It was Pat who broke the smiling silence. "Faith, and what else could he be? He, with his little spade, building castles out of mud and dreaming them full of fine people...."

And small Peter reminds me of Isaiah 58:12
 
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Be a builder.

If Not You, Then Who?

Be the light you wish to see in the world. 

 Do not wish for light.

Do not wait for light.

Light the Light.
Christ. 

 Be the change you wish to see in the world.

~ Ghandi

Advent Subversion

Subversion:  the act of subverting : the state of being subverted; especially : a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within

I knew subversion was my word and yesterday I engaged in some. Searching for a few library books on my kid list, I found the Christmas display stuffed with books about Santa, mice, moles, gophers, bears, children, reindeer, knights, and a plethora of other creatures celebrating Christmas. Nary, a nativity book was on the Christmas stack. Ironically, I was searching for, If You're Missing Baby Jesus. Yes, folks, baby Jesus has definitely gone missing.  But, you can find Him if you are willing to search a bit. 

And I ponder how Jesus came into the world, subversively. Out to change and challenge all mankind to something higher and sweeter, but definitely not safer. No, definitely not safer. And Santa may be sweet and stout, but he comes up short. Santa offers no lasting solutions to the choices and conflicts children face today. Santa is silent when asked, "Who will love me for who I am?" Only the I AM, can answer, "I love you with a deep and everlasting love." Jeremiah 31 Only God's gifts are timeless and without end.

I quietly pulled nativity books off library shelves and placed them with the stacks of Santa books. I might get coal from Santa this year, but I'm willing to risk it. Read a nativity book this year with someone you love.

Because the heavens should open up in a library. 

 St. Gallen Library Switzerland.

Amazing.

Opening up books for the soul.

Picture source unknown to me. From tumblr.

Advent Alevins

Our Monday morning began at the chilly creek. Advent alevins, now fry, were ready for release in our watershed. In the cold, dark, and deep they will seek safety, buried snug in a watery world, until they begin their long journey to the ocean.

Dishing up fish.

 Hey, there's fish in my cup!

The kids have been caring for these fish for about 8 weeks. They've charted fish growth and water temperature all while interacting with our community at the local water conservation office. (Some days that went better than others!) 

As I ponder these tiny fish, I find myself asking a question. In an oftentimes overwhelming world, how do we grow confidence and care in children? How do we get them confidently on their way to the ocean? How do we help them care about small moments? Surely, it's the little things that count. Each moment matters. Each person matters. Each tiny fry matters. We are not to despise small beginnings, or what masquerades as a small moment. 
 
Zechariah 4:10

Tiny fry have something to teach us. Now in the creek, finally released from their small controlled tank, they will make an incredible journey. Navigating waterways and obstructions, they will find a way to thrive in their watery world. They are little, but they will swim strong.

After creek adventures, children head to school and so do I. I help a young reader with his reading assessment. I can't read him his reading assessment, so we talk about what he does know that will allow him to succeed when he reads.  I can try to instill confidence, and I may or may not succeed.

I can't tell him about Christ, but I can try to care. I can't tell him to pray before he works on his paper. I always tell my own children to pray. I want to share, "let God be your calm when you are anxious", but I can't.


Little boy with future looming large and many streams to swim, reminds me that Christ is enough. Christ is confidence. Christ is for us. Whether I can utter His name or not. Christ cares so much for little boys, He became one. Surely, Christ remembers being assessed. And Christ is with us in all our moments. He is praying for us, when we don't know what or how to pray. 

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding (praying) for us. 

Romans 8:35

Christ cares about little schools of fish swimming their way to the ocean, little boys, and reading assessments. Let us work to seek confidence from Christ, for He cares for us.

Advent Upon Us

25 Days of Pondering and Praise

Waiting for Advent. Always waiting.

Trying to come by contentment. Finding stability in the stable.

Eyes to see. Reality.

Reminded to turn towards the Lord.

Fall has pulled me in every direction but home.

I stop for a few hours and sweep the place clean.

In order to be filled with Him, I must make space for him.

A few times a year, when the weight of the stuff becomes a burden instead of a blessing, the urge to unload takes hold. A local Seventh Day Adventist Church graciously takes our hand me downs, and shares them in the community without cost. They are only hand me downs, but I'd rather give them away than donate them for a tax return slip. I am reminded that the greatest gift I'll receive this season is offered to me without cost. And so our season of Advent waiting begins with a cleaning out. A sifting of sorts. By making space for the Savior.

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, 

or believe to be beautiful.

~ William Morris

  Six winters ago. They grow up fast. Savouring the moments this season.

  

 Advent Waiting and Wishing List

Hang some mistletoe in your home today. 

Give lots of kisses and hugs!

Begin an Advent Calender. 

Give one away in your neighbourhood, church or community. 

Spread a little cheer. 

Reserve advent books at the library. 

Our children became voracious readers during the Christmas season.