Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas from Washington


From our family to yours...
Merry Christmas!

Perhaps we would've handed the camera to a passerby for a family photo, but we had all just witnessed a rather dramatic phone theft... snatched right out of this woman's hand! Last minute, must-have gift I suppose. So, I kept my camera close. Ah, the elusive family photo. Grin.

The Capitol Christmas Tree


Also today, we stopped at the U.S. Botanic Garden to see the Garden-Train Exhibit - a holiday/train display made entirely of plant-based, natural materials. A must-see. Amazing.


Sunday, December 20, 2009

December Snow : 1000 Gifts


Preparing to celebrate the Gift of Gifts, under a thick blanket of December snow, my list continues...

0201
Christmas cards falling through the mail slot.


0202
My three walking through the church mid-week with baskets full of goodies. Delivering gifts of love to those who serve.

0203
The safe arrival of a sweet baby girl.

0204
Carrot noses.


0205
Cold, pink cheeks.

0206
A red scarf.

0207
Snowballs.


0208
Wool mittens.

0209
Sleds. And the big hill at the neighborhood park.

0210
Old Christmas movies at the end of a snow day.

0211
A puzzle in progress.


0212
Christmas books.

0213
Finding Hannah reading to her brothers.

0214
Spiced nuts.

0215
Coming inside.


0216
Piles of snow gear in our school room.

0217
Standing by the fire in their socks.

0218
Family Advent readings.

0219
The Gift of Gifts.

What shall I render thee for the gift of gifts,
thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,
his self-emptying incomprehensible,
his infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.

from Valley of Vision



The lists continue...

holy experience

Monday, December 14, 2009

Warmth of Home : 1000 Gifts

Blessing upon blessing. My gift list continues...


0185
A quiet Sunday morning home caring for a sick one.


0186
Paper snowflakes.


0187
Beanbags and books pulled near the fire that burns all day.

0188
Candles in windows.

0189
A warm home.

0190
Birthday packages.

0191
Amazon. Free shipping.

0192
Christmas cards.

0193
Clementines.

0194
Wool clogs.

0195
A jar of flowers and a handmade card carried down the sidewalk and left on the front steps. Sympathy shown to their young friends... missing their dog.

0196
A date with Dad - Handel's Messiah. (And free National Philharmonic tickets available for children.)

0197
Lessons and carols.

0198
Stories of rescue.

0199
Prayers over sleeping children.

0200
Peace. That passes all understanding.



And He shall be their peace.

Micah 5:5


holy experience

Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Lego Party

Will had a bunch of boys over yesterday to celebrate. It was an evening of Lego madness.

The Christmas wreath was replaced with a Lego '6' to welcome his guests.

As the boys arrived, they found a building station on the table. My husband then led them through several Lego games: timed building contests, Lego toss, hot Lego...

We had pizza, cake and ice cream. And sent each boy home with a bag of goodies... including building brick candy I found at a mall candy store.

It was a wild, extremely loud 2 hours! Indoor/winter boy birthday parties are so fun. Grin.

It was a very happy birthday for my sweet boy.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Six


Happy Birthday to my
always-moving,
ever-creating,
people-loving,
quick-to-hug,
tender-hearted boy.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

O Holy Night


As we painted, we talked of the wild, night sky...
that night filled with angels announcing His birth.

And the Word became flesh, entered the world as a baby,
and made His dwelling among us.


Thanks to That Artist Woman for another beautiful project.

Will (top painting) needed a little help with cutting the silhouettes. Both loved the final outcome. They are now framed and hanging for Advent.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Living Hope : 1000 Gifts


With a heart overwhelmed by grace, I start another page in my gratitude journal...

0175
A wintry forecast. A child's hope and excitement.

0176
My three running to windows with eyes wide... "It's SNOWING!"

0177
An early family birthday celebration.

0178
And early gifts to build.


0179
Simple and beautiful pomanders.


0180
Our daily Advent devotions.

0181
Her love for music. A beautiful recital.


0182
The beginning of life. The safe arrival of a precious little boy. A dear family expanded.

0183
Meeting his Savior at life's end. The full life and merciful homegoing of a dear, old saint.

0184
Our living HOPE.

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you... 1 Peter 1:3-4


May grace and peace be yours in abundance...


holy experience

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Boys

Careful. You never know who might be waiting for you at the top of the stairs.



Monday, November 30, 2009

Abundance : 1000 Gifts


Coming off of a weekend full of family and remembering his abundant gifts,
my gift list continues...

0161
My parents. Here with us.

0162
The bustle of the grocery store Thanksgiving week.

0163
A cart full.

0164
Abundant food to nourish and enjoy.

0165
A Thanksgiving morning 10K.

0166
Our church's Thanksgiving worship service.

0167
Hearing the testimonies of His provision.

0168
Running with delight through the field of Christmas trees.

0169
Apple cider doughnuts.

0170
A deep inhale of cold, crisp air.

0171
Smoke rising from chimneys. That wonderful smell.

0172
Decorating the tree with my three exuberant children.

0173
Ornaments that remind us of years past.

0174
Lighting the first Advent candle. Beginning our Advent celebration.


Great is Thy Faithfulness...

holy experience

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving


O My God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing sense to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrow and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou are to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.



Praise and Thanksgiving from The Valley of Vision,
a collection of Puritan prayers arranged by Arthur Bennett

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

My Favorite Cookies


These cookies stay soft, freeze well, and look lovely stacked in cellophane bags. They are a holiday staple in our house. Simple and delicious.

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup additional sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the 1 cup sugar. Add egg and molasses; beat well. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture.

Shape dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, using about 1 heaping tablespoon of dough for each. Roll balls in the additional sugar to coat. Place balls about 2 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 degree oven about 10 minutes or until light brown and still puffed. (Do not overbake.) Cool cookies on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

from Better Homes and Gardens, New Baking Book

Monday, November 23, 2009

Delight to Praise : 1000 Gifts


I think we delight to praise what we enjoy

because the praise not merely expresses

but completes the enjoyment;
it is its appointed consummation.


-C.S. Lewis, from his Reflections on the Psalms


Delighting in His gifts, my
list goes on...

0152
Dancing in the kitchen with Hannah.

0153
Her love for the piano. The recital piece in process, filling our home with music.

0154
Our leaf piles at the curb. The wonderful husband who got them there. And the wonderful leaf-vacuum truck that takes them all away.

0155
Hot Chocolate. Daily.


0156
Simple toys.


0157
A walk to the library. Beauty along the way.


0158
Saturday evening soup. Delicious recipes shared.

0159
Time to get down on the floor and play. Just Peter and me.


0160
A fine art gallery of their own. Gathered. Created. Enjoyed.



Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise...


holy experience

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