A brilliant star lead three worshiping astrologers to a lowly manger where the child King lay.
The Lord who would would change the wold forever, sleeping in straw.
Isn't it a wondrous story?



Merry Christmas!

It's party season, people.

Winthrop house:

Christmas with momma

Cookies for Sarah's Circle

It dawned on me the other night how pivotal each book read is in comprising a year.

I've read a lot of fiction and a lot of work-related books and truly, I loved them all!

Here's a collage of the books I recall finishing, in the approximate order I read them.

2010, this is our story:

When I look at those covers, it's like my whole year flashing before me.

Books lend wisdom and escape, but they mean hardly anything if they don't affect what you do the moments when you're not reading. Each of these books changed a little (or big) part of me.

Books I recall trying to read but not finishing include The Unbearable Lightness of Being (I'll try again!), Lies My Teacher Told Me,  The Bean Trees, and  No Country for Old Men (I love Cormac McCarthy but this was just a little too much for me).

I was reluctant to read 7 Habits.

Heart Soul Mind Strength really surprised me.

My top three are Gilead, Hearing God and The Poisonwood Bible.

I am giddy at the thought of what my collage will look like next year.

I'm really proud of these guys, they all mean so much to me.
Especially that one with the glasses at the mic :)

I don't have the best sense of rhythm; it's better when we're together.

Sometimes we step on each other's toes, we've learned to apologize.

Do dancers need music, or do they make it?

Photos by the wonderful ORKFOTO

Home this morning from a profoundly good conference.
Good is the best word for it.

I entered expectantly.
Expecting laughter with friends, prayer, and to be cared for.
I received all of those things.
I even cried for the first time in a long time,
(I learned this from my friend Karen.) It felt great.

We prayed often & one time while singing an unexpected prayer sprouted from my heart. I repeated it a few times to myself and then I was covered in assurance. I know with every bone in my body that the Lord heard that prayer, and He plans to fulfill it.

That doesn't happen very often for me, especially not lately.


I left desiring to spend more time with friends & more time with Jesus.
(And much less time on other distractions from the good & beautiful.)
I left desiring forgiveness and reconciliation.

I left convinced that my focus must shift
from the details of what exactly I am doing
and where exactly I am going ...
into a passion for devoting myself joyfully to whatever task is entrusted to me.

Focus is an interesting thing.
Mostly in the way that we can be so out of focus for so long that we can't even recognize it.

A little hint over the summer caused my focus to shift a bit, to sharpen. I tried to continue on partially focused, but it's nearly impossible to ignore something once it's been brought to light.

What I realized is this, I approach so much of life as "win or lose."
Isn't that silly? Who does that? Apparently me.
Most opportunities presented to me are battles to overcome.
Maybe not approach as much as depart, reflecting on the battle.
I'm sure this is a sign of being so young.

But what's the shame in being young, if you've got energy and you get to play "airplane" with so much love?

There's nothing quite like holding out for something,
while loving every moment until it comes.

I knew snow would be required to get this bray
singing the seasons. And I was keenly thankful
for every 60 degree autumn day until it came.
Until we woke up one morning, classic, to see
snow flurries falling in front of our window.
Chicago is covered in {thankfully still} pretty,
white dust. I think it's safe to say I am now truly
in a wintry spirit.
& It's been too long since I've posted anything as handsome as this first picture.

Work during Christmas time.

Thursday ...

 

Friday ...

Monday ...
Off to a regional work conference all week with good friends (fun, true people) who I just so happen to work with. We'll be in search of The Good and Beautiful Life.

L I F E is G O O O O D !

Alright, friends, please. Please.
Short ... medium ... or really long?
Bangs, no bangs, or the infamous blonde bangs?

    

It's hard to see, but the first photo is an asymmetrical cut. This last one is from high school, do I look exactly the same, or what?

Long, morning, winter drives. Stop at Whole Paycheck for ethical snacks. Friends singing and fogging up the windows. Gouda, barbeque, coleslaw burger. Outlet mall. Balderdash. Winter walk. Dropping friends off and seeing their parents--there aren't enough parents in the city. Heath Bar. The end products is a really stellar demo recording of Jake's band. Good times.

An Advent for Kelsey
Beginning the second Sunday of Advent

Meet my friend Kelsey. What I love about our friendship is that we get right down to the core of things. Kelsey and I talk faith. I love to hear about her thoughts and experiences. When Jake and I were in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we went to church with her, and her man Nick. (So sorry I'm not photogenic, Kels). Their church would not be categorized as worshiping in a liturgical style--but I have noticed their observance of some liturgical seasons. It's really beautiful. Clearly I don't think we are mandated to worship in one way or another, but celebrating the church calendar and daily liturgy adds a richness to my faith that I wish more friends could experience. It's cool to see how different churches incorporate liturgy in their own way.

Moving right along ... last Sunday Kelsey's pastor gave a beautiful talk about seasons being the rhythm God designed to bring music into our life. I whispered that Advent is my all-time favorite season and Kelsey asked why.

1. The most basic reason is because celebrating the birth of Jesus means so much more to me when I take a whole month to anticipate it. When I look at the need for a Saviour in our world. A whole month of longing ends in the bright coming of a King!

2. Also, Advent is a breath of fresh, spiritual air when folks are burdened by the unnatural, commercial stretching of Christmas.


It got me thinking. People love to count down to things. Religious or not. And for anyone who celebrates Christmas, isn't most of the excitement in the counting down of days?

When Jake and I read the Bible together, we use this book. It teaches us how to incorporate the church calendar and seasons of liturgy into our daily life. I'm incredibly thankful for the daily meditations and thoughts the books lends. So I'd like to just share one with you right now, from page 54:

" Week Two of Advent, beginning the Sunday between December 4 and 10

We lament the sin and suffering in the world. We repent of any part we play in it. And then we exercise hope. 

Romans 8:22-25

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. "

It is evident that the season is upon us. Happy Advent!

When the gloom hits hard, I hit hard back.

With gingerbread coffee, a cozy outfit, a painting project, and as many candles as possible.


Hello winter, we're going to make this work.

Florence will mediate.

Where did the month go?

Beside the fact that the passing of time freaks me out to the bone ... I know my months are filled with wonderful things, even if I can't bring them all to mind. So in an effort to remember, I'm going to reflect on this month. I'm excited to see what I remember most and what I don't.

- November began with our anniversary. (On our way home, I saw Milwaukee for the first time.)
- Pumpkin bread pudding entered my life this month. No pretty picture on a plate, we ate it straight out of the pan.
- John and Glenna hosted a "tamale tuesday."
- There were plenty of invigorating retreats, meetings and formations for work, which got my mind swirling.
- We were in Michigan twice. The first to see Brian in his musical (breathtaking) and the second time for - Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday of all).
- It took us twice the time it usually takes to drive to Michigan for the holiday.
- We spent plenty of time with grandma and grandpa.
- We dined high-class with friends downtown.
- Food poisoning hit Jake hard and we almost went to the hospital (no photos).
- Grandpa and a few friends did go to the hospital. Prayers abound.
- And November saw many lovely landscapes.

Farewell, November.

And thanks.