A Well-Watered Garden...

Someone shared with me that every New Year he picks a biblical promise to carry with him throughout the year. This idea caught my fancy and I've been thinking it over for the last few weeks, wondering, "If I were to do this - big IF - what promise would I pick?" I keep coming back to the same verse so much so that I'm convinced I will join my friend in his tradition.

This is the promise I will keep close to me as I enter into the unknown 2009:

"The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a
sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. "
Isaiah 58:11

**image by Holly Thompson

Lighting Things Up!

Things are lit up over at Shutter Sisters, one of my favorite photo blogs to follow.

Winter brings so much darkness (especially here in Oregon where it is often gray, cloudy AND dark). As I experience darkness, I begin to understand the reason why I get so pumped about light. The light amidst dark is so hopeful. So encouraging. A beacon telling me that all is well.

I look at the twinkle lights around the window and I see each one as a little tiny lighthouse guiding me through the dark. And because of this light, this guide, this sparkle - I begin to feel safe and secure instead of cold and lost. Thank you light. Thank you, Light.

A Prayer to Own Your Beauty

O God
help me
to believe
the truth about myself
no matter
how beautiful it is!

-Seasons of Your Heart, M. Wiederkehr

A time of anticipation...

Well, the solstice has come and gone. The longest day of the year is past. It's rather hard for me to find much quiet time, so in honor of yesterday's winter solstice I tried my best to hibernate: took a nap, read a little, stayed inside and had a quick moment (all my family really allowed me) of quietness.

And now this morning - we begin to prepare for Christmas. I'm usually a little slow getting in the Christmas spirit but finally yesterday it kicked in and the celebration begins. We'll dig through decorations today. I'm planning the Christmas morning breakfast. And Pandora's holiday music will be playing all day. Celebration here we come!

As we prepare for a celebration, I am thinking a lot about the anticipation Mary must have been feeling as she approached the birth of her child. I remember how I felt earlier this year, so anxious to give birth to Elliot. I remember laboring alone as everyone else in the house slept. I remember finally waking Mike up, Holly coming over. I re-live the feeling of fear and excitement as I realized that Elliot was just about to make her appearance. While the hospital experience was certainly not the best, I didn't care once I had Elliot in my arms and a hot breakfast in front of me. I was happy. Excited. Totally high off of the childbirth. Satisfied and content. What a feeling.

As I remember those feelings and wonder if Mary felt the same way, I enter into the anticipation that comes with this holiday. I feel anxious. I feel excited. I feel happy. I am looking forward to celebrating with my family. The longest night has passed. Light breaks. Anticipate. And soon we celebrate.

Favorite Posts of the Day

Oh my! I have a whole host of favorite posts today. Interested??

I love the ideas for celebrating Winter Solstice found here. I have to admit, I love the day after winter solstice best because it means the days start getting longer - here comes summer!! I know, I know, a bit of a stretch it's the only way I know to remain positive during the winter. :) (Living, Learning and Loving Simply)

What a lovely reminder to be nice! This is a fun post and now I find myself wondering what nice thing I can do for a stranger. Watch out! (Ordinary Courage)

And this has to be my next knitting project. Isn't it so adorable?! (Looking Glass Knits)

Feel like a little smile? Well this brought a smile to my face instantly. (Doors are open everywhere. Open them)

Hopefully Wednesday

She forgot it was Hopeful today. She was so busy grocery shopping, driving around town, fixing a computer, processing payroll, trying to get her daughter to "pee-pee in the potty", picking up the house, preparing dinner, tossing moldy fermented cabbage (ewwww), taking phone calls, placing phone calls, and - whew. She forgot it was Hopeful. She's finally stopped. She's brewing a pot of tea. Dinner is happily simmering on the stove and her daughter's are sleeping. She is becoming quiet and still (sorta).

She realized, as she settled down and began to relax, that even though she forgot it was Hopeful today, Hopeful did not forget her. Looking back at the day she can see the many ways Hopeful was present. In the prayer that she and her husband took time for. In the breakfast that nourished her family. In the groceries she was able to buy because of the job she has been blessed with. In the yeasty, cinnamon smells that fills her house and welcomes anyone who enters. In the small, twinkly lights that line her front window. In the calm, quiet of napping children. In the memory of three days of fun friendship. In the Christmas cards that keep arriving in the mailbox.

Hopeful is here.

Favorite Blog Posting of the Day

I'm always looking for a little inspiration to get me started. I regularly find it on some of the blogs I follow.

Here is my favorite posting for the day that has to do with personal growth.

Here is my favorite posting for the day that has to do with food. Yum!!

And here is my favorite posting for the day that has to do with craft. I LOVE these pants.

Enjoy!

Good Morning, Family!

The other day we sat around eating breakfast and I knew I had to capture the moment. Here we all are on a lovely weekday morning. I love this family!

For Today...

I stumbled across this little Daybook idea from the Simple Woman. I kind of like the structure (so me) and thought I would give it a try today. I can't decide if this exercise will bore you to tears, poor friends. Every time I re-read the post, I get a little more bored myself! :) Oh well, here's to a little fun experiment.

Outside my window... It is very, very cold (for the NW). Streets are frozen, snow is everywhere and the wind is blowing quite hard. I have no desire to go across the street to get half and half for my coffee and am wondering how I can talk my sister into doing it for me.

I am thinking... How glad I am that my friend was able to stay safe and sound next door to me so I wouldn't have to worry about any weirdo "Charter Cable" guys knocking on her door.

I am thankful for... Good books, warm houses, and my sleeping children

From the kitchen... Gingerbread made last night - perfect for breakfast this morning! Inka Grain Beverage is sitting out waiting to be made. Mike and Holly will be braving the weather for a hike so I am planning on starting them with oatmeal and Jenny's hand-made granola (can't wait to try it!).

I am creating... This really pretty felt garland. And then I'll start this pretty little snowflake ornament as a host gift for tonight's Christmas party at Yummy.

I am going... to stay inside all day unless I can get motivated enough to go to Costco (I need more half and half and diapers! Ugh).

I am reading... The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. This is the sequel to The Tea Rose. I've just started it and it's great! Thanks Jenny!

I am hoping... that today will be peaceful, encouraging, warm and joyful.

I am hearing... a car warming up its engines and Mike quietly snoring.

Around the house... a couple of dim lights are on, the house is picked up (until Kaia wakes up, of course), out the window I can see waves hitting the shore, out the other window I can see the sun rising.


One of my favorite things... wireless internet. :)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Enjoy life. Enjoy family. Enjoy food and new friends. Oh - and all the other things: grocery shop, visit Gladys, go to Portland, roast chicken, bake cinnamon rolls, etc. etc. etc.

Imagine This...

"...Do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me (Christ) there with you?" - The Shack, William P. Young

Reading this has really changed the way I experience fear. I love the truth that was shown to me in this line. May it encourage you as much as it has me.

Hopefully Wednesday

Hopefully, huh? I'm trying to get there... As usual, hopeful that the gentleness I truly desire to show, will finally come through. Hopeful that the missing sun won't keep me from smiling. Hopeful that this warm and cozy house will be a light shining and inviting someone inside. Hopeful that the cookies we bake tonight will be infused with the spirit of generosity, love and prayer. Hopeful that this Advent season will find a place in my heart and will be felt in my actions.

I love you too

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

PS. I suppose this isn't alway the case, but it's great when it is, huh?!

Where's the Light Switch??

Fear grows in darkness; if you think there's a bogeyman around, turn on the light. - Dorothy Thompson

How often do I sit in the dark fearing the many, many things that reside in my mind? Fear that my time with Kaia and Ells will be shorter than I imagine. Fear that I won't live up to my full potential. Fear that change may come and I just won't like it.

To me, Dorothy is saying when you feel fear, look at it. I need to stop cowering, hop out of bed, switch on the light and get a good look at the bogeyman standing in the corner. Is he real? Is he just a shadow? No matter who or what he is, he can't run my life. He must be faced and dealt with straight on.

And maybe the bogeyman is here to stay. Maybe I learn to live in such a way that he doesn't fill me with fear every time I see him. Maybe I simply acknowledge that he is here and perhaps I ask him why he wants to stay. Maybe I just deal with him honestly and who knows, maybe we can come to an agreement.

Or maybe he's just not that kind of bogeyman. Maybe I need to tell all my friends about him so they can come over and push him out the door so that I can get on with my life. So that I can see the truth and begin to live without him hovering around my corners.

I guess what I am realizing is that the bogeyman, this fear that I have, that I think we might all have, needs to be dealt with. And in doing so, we just might be surprised. Surprised to find that the fear that takes up most of our time is not Truth. And if it's not Truth, I don't want it to run my life.