Goodbye 2011

Some things never change

(does this look oddly familiar?)

Wishing you a happy, blessed new year!

       Love, 

                        The Crazy Freak House

Immanuel- God With Us

She asks me, "Will it be Christmas tomorrow too?" 

I know that feeling. 

That feeling of not wanting any of

this wonder to wander away-

or me from it.

"Yes, it is Christmas forever now," I say

"Because Christ is always with us."

God With Us

O come O come Emmanuel

And randsom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel has come to Thee, O Israel.

Taking Time to be Before the Manger

"If God avoided red carpets and opted instead 

to enter the black stable, 

is there anywhere 

the hallowed presence of God won't appear?

The One who cradles galaxies

in the palm of His hand

curls his newborn fist in a barn feed trough.

He who breathes stars

breathed in heavy, dirty stable air.

I would kneel before the manger, 

and it would be so clear: 

God comes to us not so much in the lovely, 

but in the unlikely.

At the manger. Love came down."

                          -Ann Voskamp

Love Came Down

"Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem

A baby born to save the souls of men.

Hallelujah!"

                         -Joy Williams, Here With Us

Unhurried Hands

"Life at its fullest is this

sensitive, detonating sphere,

and it can be carried 

only in the hands of the unhurried."

             - Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

This Moment

"I profane this moment when I don't stay in it.

Be all here; and be holy.

Because the Presence of I Am

always fills the present moment.

And isn't the only way God can come to us

is through the door of this moment?"

                               -Ann Voskamp

tree decorating randomness

"But the biggest mistake I made is this:

I did not live in the moment enough.

I wish I had treasured the doing a little more 

and the getting it done a little less."

                -Anna Quindlen

December Nights

Taking time to be still and enjoy:
cranberry-orange candles, 

hot chocolate made with soy milk,

striped wool socks,

reflecting on the reason for this season

knitting projects, 

an unexpected night at home,

and this song. 

"And He will be our peace." -Micah 5:5

I Won't Forget

"I will remember you.

Will you remember me?

Don't let your life pass you by."

            -Sarah Mclachlan, I Will Remember You

I Miss Africa

Tonight, the tears fall..

for my team and for community,

for the children of Bugiri,

for the Africans I met and befriended, 

and for that place I love so dearly.

And as the tears fall,

I can pray only one thing:

"Dear God, please,

Send me back to Africa."

Newborn Photos (5 weeks late)

"For You created my inmost being; 

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because 

I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well."

                       -Psalm 139:13-14

So excited to get to know you, baby girl..

to hear your laughs 

to spend time playing with you,

and to see you grow up.

Sweet Innocence, Utter Joy

You're the gift that came to take us back.

'Cause baby dear, you have the joy we lack.

With your tiny hands you touch a different world.

You're full of wonderful, full of hope, 

And full of once more chance

For us to see the world again

Like God sees the world.

                                            -Watermark, Noah's Song

There Are No Words

I love this place. I miss this place.

Words don't begin to describe it.

Thank You, Soldiers

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, 

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the solider, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the solider, who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag."

Marshmallow Madness

We had our first bonfire of the year last night.

Roasting marshmallows, making s'mores, 

sitting and just staring at the fire.

It was chilly but nice

and it left me anxious for the (hopefully)

many more bonfires we'll have this year.

(just a side note):

If you ever give Ellie a s'more, 

she'll eat it, get it all over her hands..

and then turn into a wild animal.

Be warned.

First Bonfire Of The Year

"For His Word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones. 

I am weary of holding it in,

indeed I cannot.

                           -Jeremiah 20:9

An Audience of One

So what could I bring to honor Your majesty?

What song could I sing 

that would move the heart of royalty?

When all that I have 

is this life that You've given me.

So Lord let me live for You

my song with humility. 

And Lord as the love song of my life is played

 I have one desire:

To bring glory to Your name.

Snapshots From Thursday

Pictures of (one of) the cute faces 

I got to spend time with on Thursday.

Park playing, long walks, pb&j

those were just a few lovely things in my Thursday.

These Moments I Love

It's been one of those days.

The kiddos cry, they yell, they fight with each other. 

They don't want their vegetables or their mac n cheese.

You want to sit and cry on the floor with them.

But you come home, on your computer is this picture.

And you stop, and smile.

You think of Miss Carly, going down the slide

and giving you lots of smiles along the way.

You think of the tickle fights you had with Jake.

His squeals of glee and delight ring in your ears.

And you can still see Abby, walking around in your shoes.

She's grinning ear to ear, oh-so-very proud of herself.

And you realize, yes there are trying times.

But their smiles, their laughs, the things they say..

It makes it all worth it, and then some.

Quietly My Heart Seeks Your Face

"My heart says of You, 'Seek His face,'

Your face, O Lord, I will seek."

                       -Psalm 27:8

Happy Birthday!

Wishing you, little brother, a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday, dearest Sammy!

Isaiah 40:8

"The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever."

                                -Isaiah 40:8

Almost Here

The baseball gloves and bats are out.

Little girl's chalk drawings take over the sidewalk.

The neighborhood kids come by on Saturdays to play.

Summer. Is. Almost. Here.