It Finally Feels Time to Sing Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

As the sugar rush wears off and the fog envelopes us, we still ourselves from all the activity to rest and reflect. We reflect on time with family, reminisce over memories made in 2013, and ponder the coming of 2014.

I can't help but ask myself: What will we testify to in 2014? What will we live? What paths will we walk? What hope will we impart? What hope will we gain?

 Where in the world will we create altars? 

What will we bow before and below?

What nature will we nurture and protect, and what in my own nature needs to be nurtured and protected?

Quietly, I will enter 2014. Praying for peace. Praying for the path to be made known. Trusting in His presence.Watching for His Spirit at work in the world.

I feel it is finally time to sing Stille Nacht (Silent Night), for certainly He has arrived. He didn't arrive quietly, but in order to receive Him, I must be silent. 

And so, may the new year dawning be a year of His presence and peace. May His indwelling Spirit abide within us, and may we learn to recognize His presence - which is indeed all around us. May I be what He has created me to be, and thus content in Him. May I bring my offering, as meager as it may be, and lay it at His feet. For if the rocks can praise Him, certainly so can I.

(Photos: mine)

Advent from Another's Perspective

We don't usually write St. Nicholas a note, nor sit on his lap. But, this year they couldn't resist the urge to write, and I wasn't about to stop them. Friday, we marched their notes down to the post office and put them in Santa's big red box. Thankfully, they don't charge postage for letters to Santa and they don't make you wait in their line! But, I'm wondering: Does a note to Santa go to the North Pole or Turkey?

Dear Santa,

I would like these three things:

1. more hex bug batteries - lots of them.

2. more helicopter blades.

3. a refrigerator box.

Your Friend, 

Brother 

Shh. Don't tell. He's getting two of the three, and the other one will arrive in time for Epiphany!

Sister's note was more typical for a ten year old girl: She wants an ipod and a pony. Here's to wishing!

Once an angel, always an angel :-)

The star of Jesus

above the manger

was made of tinsel.

Jesus liked to help

and love as well

as the dove.

by Brother

A "neighbor boy" for one more year. Next year, the costume will be to small. 

 

 

 

An ox

looked upon

the helpless 

babe, lying

in a 

manger.

A star

above,

shone light on 

the Savior

who was

God's choice. 

  

by Sister

 

 

 

Talking to the birds, quietly being fed by his feet.

Ah, He gave us a voice, and we too, get a choice.

Drawing Near, the Magi and Me

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, 

thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, 

to give you hope in your final outcome.

Jeremiah 29:11

Christmas draws closer, and I seem to draw quieter. We finally have a tree up. A Noble, and I dare say, she's not very noble. She's a bit shaggy around the edges. I feel the same this season. Still, she's deemed worthy and desirable. She's adorned, decorated, and decked out, and we lay presents at her feet. 

Last night at church, big and little girls ponder what we will lay at Jesus' feet for His birthday. The conversation requires conversing with one's heart. Both young and old are still, dig deep, pause, and ponder. A few are anxious to share, and yet others, are silent. The silent ones are still on the journey, with their gift in hand, and the destination is yet unknown.

I'm currently of the lot that is still trekking. My back bothersome to me these days, it feels like I've been riding a camel. I'd like to identify less with the Magi, but it is they who are speaking to me most this year. As Epiphany beckons me, I'd happily add inspiration to my saddlebag. Yet, my trek seems to lack inspiration, and leans more towards identification with ordinary men. Magi men to be precise: camel riding, dust ridden, tent camping, star gazers who wander and wonder when they'll arrive at their destination....

The Star of Bethlehem from producer Stephen McVeety (Braveheart and The Passion of Christ) is fascinating. See it this season or soon.

Advent Art and Slappy Happy

Tonight, we are inspired out. After several full days, the kids were very happy to head to bed. Surely, Mary knew sleep loss in order to appreciate and birth beauty.

Last night, beauty was found in breaking bread with friends, some old and some new.

A St. Lucia Day Loaf

This morning, we crawled out from under warm covers to see the beauty of the Samurai.

A creative and warm art teacher arranged a tour of the Samurai exhibit for her kids.

Sketching.

A particularly moving sculpture of water.

Brother and a Monet

He liked the electronics, a few pictures, and the gift shop books.

Who cares if it's a Picasso? It's time for fuel.

Happy at Slappy Cakes.

Pour out the pancake batter, add toppings, heat, and eat!

Chicken Fried Bacon with Caramel Sauce. Undecided.

 

Then carolling, cookies, cocoa, and a bonfire...and now you know why it's bed time!

Happy St Nicholas Day!

 The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God's giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves. 

~St.Nicholas of Myra

"My ear stings. She basically rubbed sand paper on it." 

"You know what you did. You took a handful of snow, and pretended it was talcum powder and rubbed my face in it."

"Well, they always do that in the Bobbsey Twins, when it's winter and whoever it is, someone, puts snow down their back. That's what they do."

"Rub it all over someone's face?"

"Yeah, and you put snow down my back. Come, help me get our wet things."

"Okay, but then I'm never leaving this house again!" 

"Let's pretend we are kids. No, let's pretend we are people."

And off they go to gather wet snow clothes. Why? So they can dry out and go play in the snow all over again!

Link Love

St Nicholas Center

The Gift Bringer, The Story of Young St. Nicholas

Fresh Cake Donuts, A tradition for us, at every first snow of winter.

Quietly Thankful

 

Friday Musings

  If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need. 

~ Cicero

The last few days, I'm asking myself what this space is about. There's lots to write, but what is worthy of the effort? Precious and rare, are moments to put pen to paper. Lately, limited time has kept me from finishing several posts. These include, but are not limited to:

• Gettysburg Battlefield, PA 

• Philadelphia with Kids

• A Letter Across the Divide to home schoolers and public schoolers about love and what we've seen on both sides of the spectrum.

• Schooling resources such as Life of Fred Math and Life of Fred Physics that I'm stoked about.
  

• Homer's Odyssey at Corban College (go see it!)

• Day to day life for family far and near.

That said, we are struggling to keep up with life right now, as are many. We are so ready for Thanksgiving break. We are ready for time. Time to be together. Time to sit by the fire and read. Time to work on craft projects, and time to bake with family. Time to BE. Time to DWELL. Time to LOOK. (Under rocks, for some of us :-) Time to see what is around the next bend. Time to think about GRATITUDE. Time to accept GRACE. Time to MUSE. Time to PONDER.

I have a million little scraps of paper tucked away in drawers and many book projects I'm working towards. Writing: It's what I do. Ah, but which project to work on today? They all feel inspired by the Lord! I'm throwing caution to the wind today and posting a teeny tiny tidbit of something I'm working on. This is rough, rough, rough, but I'm gonna be brave. It's time. And no, I'm not going to tell you more about the project, but I am several pages deep in it.

He'd always been a noticer. He took it all in. His sharp eyes missed nothing. Growing up around ink and paper, he'd doodled as much as he could: plants, animals, trees, and every kind of insect. Some people looked for the pot of gold – He looked for the rainbow. He knew printing wasn't his destiny, but he'd use those skills to find his destiny. He'd make it happen. Like the ocean, his destiny spread out before him, and he set sail. The waves pushed him towards a distant shore. Daily, the mast of the ship, reminded him of the tall trees he so eagerly sought.

That's your story tidbit for this Friday. But, because books are pivotal to healthy and happy people at our house I'm also sharing these book links:
Stealing Magic (Thorne Room Mystery)
Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave
Creating Innovators
The Secret of the Ginger Mice
The Natural Navigator
Anna was Here

Right now, I'm also totally obsessed with Matt Redman's, Your Grace Finds Me. My bones are soaking up this song. I am thirsty.

Wherever the path takes you today, be intentional. 
Time to RISK. 

(Photos are from the Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. On a recent day, car work found me wondering new paths for a few hours, and of course the path also went to Powell's Books.)