Before, After, and Always: Amen

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6


"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" Luke 2:10-14

What's the Date Again?

Interrupting the Christmas season with a trip to (somewhat) warmer climes can really throw a gal off.

Glory

It's unendingness soothes me.
To look out to the horizon, where the water kisses the sky, understanding that in no way is it an ending; it's just as far as my weak and limited eyes can see. There is something of glory in knowing that I can't take it all in. I can't fit it inside parameters. I can't make it small enough to understand. There is such beauty in the vastness.

Not much can compare to looking out into infinity. I want to cry at my smallness; laugh at its absurd bigness; I want to run headlong into it and get utterly, utterly lost in its rightness. This is what heaven feels like.

I often wonder if I would feel the same were I out far enough to lose sight of land. Would the loss of my grounding panic me? Would my breath hitch, my heart stutter at the uncertainty? (Yet how can I fear heaven? The unknown is frightening, but the result divine.)

Another part of me though, a greater part, longs for just that. To be completely alone in the swell of the sea, with only expanse, above and below, for company. 

Sweet Sixteen II

Uhhm, so this is a thing...

Southbeach Bound!

Sweet Sixteen

Y'all. My little sister, who is turning 16, (Lord, save us) wants to spend her birthday in Miami. Miami! In mid-December!

1. She knows good and well this is a family whose birthday celebrations don't extend much further than going out to eat and an exemption from washing dishes for the day.

2. Miami?! I have a sneaking suspicion our older sister influenced this desire. I, for one, am not sold on the warmth.

3. And she wants cousins and aunts involved! And our mom? We're not organized enough for this...

Kid. I love you. But I just don't think this is going to be a thing.

One Warm Thing

My boss just unexpectedly presented me with Starbucks hot cocoa. I am now prepared to swear fealty.

Reflect

We are so blessed.
Life leading up to this long weekend has been such a trial. Finding out Jedidiah didn't get into school; funneling ever more money into the repairs of what was meant to be a free car; the frustration of having a second vehicle, but being unable to make use of it; unexpected crises at work; the headlights and heat going out in our one driveable car just in time for shorter days and a frigid cold snap. All of these things were going on at once , but what made it the worst was how lost I felt through it all.

Five Years

Five years ago this week, my husband chased me to the fair.

Comfort

This is what happens when I'm left to my own devices, all alone in an empty house, after an appallingly long day. Eat ALL the comfort food!!

Grilled cheese and homemade tomato soup; side of popcorn and tall glass of milk.

Peace

                            

This is my daily commute. Every morning, and every evening coming home, the sun rises and sets over wide open fields, a tree-lined horizon, and massive expanses of just sky, sky, sky. There is, after all, something to be said of living in the middle of nowhere.

Baby Fever

It's a thing, guys. And it is dangerous. Insidious, even. Baby Fever sneaks up on you and takes hold of your every desire, cropping up in all the most un-looked-for spaces. At least, it did me.

But I am fighting back. I am wrestling my will back from unbearably pudgy cheeks, drool-bubbles, plooshy lips, and adorable laughter; from shockingly bright and focused eyes, puffball feet, and surprisingly strong, tee-tiny, itty-bitty fingers.

I will not be ensnared by The Cuteness.

Regression, schmegression...

Pb&j for lunch with the requisite glass of milk, pear slices, and baby carrots. Yes, I am 6.

Can I have nap time after this?

One Fun Thing

All of my randomness turned out to work pretty well together. I think Pinterest would be proud.

One Good Thing

I brainstormed centerpiece ideas today. It was an extremely last-minute endeavour thanks to my own forgetfulness, and at first I saw it as a chore - just one more thing that needed doing. And I'm pretty dang tired of doing here lately. But a funny thing happened on the way to the RAGEQUIT...

Bliss

There are no more boxes in our bedroom.

Let heaven and angels sing!

Have a Holly, Jolly August!

That doesn't make it any better, does it?

Guys. I am ready for Christmas.
I know, I know, (I KNOW)!
It is far too early for this nonsense. I mean, I almost always wind up wishing away part of the year in anticipation, but we're usually talking mid-November-early-December.
It's August, y'all.
August.

Adults?

Our microwave broke on Friday. I had just placed a bowl of soon-to-be brownie batter inside, when all of the lights went out and my poor, dear old microwave decided it would microwave no more.
That's not the news, though.
The news is that on Sunday, the hubs and I went to the store and bought a new one. No, not the thrift store. Not the Facebook swap pages. Not a family member's/friend's house to beg any old one they might have lying around.
Guys. Something broke. And we bought a new one.

...does this make us grown-ups?

No, we are not going to discuss the beard.
We are not discussing it.

Life

I had all but forgotten this blog existed. It started out as a class project for credit, then morphed into a thought dump. Now, it seems to have graduated (deteriorated?) into a time capsule.
To look back at some of the madness I had going on ... I'm just so glad I'm not there anymore, and never have to go back.