awakening

In the midst of all of our snow, ice, and cold - the daffodils on our kitchen table are starting to bloom. They seem to be a miracle; closed one day, open the next. I can only imagine what warm weather will bring to our flower bed outside.

Like much of the country, we are braving cold temperatures and ice. Many a day it is a blessing if I can get all of my car doors open or not slip while walking. But we are thankful that we live on the coast, which makes our weather a little more mild than those half an hour from shore.

The new year brought back our schedule. I look back at those few weeks off and wonder what we did with the extra time. It didn't feel like much until we started our bible studies, music practice, teaching, youth group, and birthday parties. Now the calendar seems to be bursting at the seams. Summer is a long way off and will bring its own share of activities - softball, swim 'n studies, and spending time in our new park.

We are enjoying the winter. Warm soups and stews seem to be on the menu weekly and a fresh (cold) salad rarely makes an appearance. Our travels have been safe and we allow extra driving time so we don't rush on icy roads. Our couch is covered in blankets and seems like the perfect spot to cuddle on cold nights while we catch up on good TV and reading. The studio room got another overhaul and cleaning this weekend and is almost 100% functional; there is plenty of space to read while the cat naps.

Work has been going well. My new job has been such a blessing. They kept their word that it would only be 40 hours a week, my co-workers are friendly (no yelling), and my responsibilities are manageable and reasonable. January can be a tough month for accounting because of closing out the previous one while preparing for the next, but it has been smooth sailing and stress free.
Eric's company is falling on hard times (who isn't these days) so they instilled a promotion freeze and for a few months have cut back on hours (while not cutting benefits). This has given Eric more time to practice music, be with friends, and rest. He is still settling in at his new store and has made many friends. Hopefully business will pick up soon.

Even though it is only January, we are starting to put future events on the calendar. While nothing is confirmed, our year could include:
a visit from Eric's mom
Sara & Connor spending a long weekend with us
a late summer missions trip to Brazil
seeing Joyce Meyer again this year

The wonderful family from our church that was in the horrific accident is recuperating. Thank you to those who prayed (Mom)! We are hoping to have Nicolas back in our Wednesday night class soon; we really miss his smile. Their accident reminded us how precious life is.

We hope that you are enjoying this January and staying warm. See you soon!

Praise Song for the Day

by Elizabeth Alexander

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer consider the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”
We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”
We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.
Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

a little insight

What if we treated driving like we treat the arts? 

(excerpt from Danny Gregory's new book The Creative License)

We'd assume that people were either born to drive or not. We'd wait and see if, as children, they started driving on their own, if they had talent and a calling. If they did, we would be careful not to interfere with their talent and possibly suppress it. We would make sure to encourage only those who seemed they'd be able to drive professionally. We'd pay some of them millions of dollars to drive and lavish them with fame; others we would refuse to support, encouraging them to do something more useful for society. Everyone else would assume that they would never be able to drive and would just stand on the sidewalks and watch the traffic.

At least the ozone layer would be in better shape. 

our Boston trip

My Christmas gift to Eric was a day trip to Boston.

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We rode the train into the city

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. and took the Samuel Adams Brewery tour

and did the beer tasting

usually the tours have eighty people, but because the weather was so bad, we had less than fifteen

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we had lunch (Doyle's) and dinner (Jacob Wirth)

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We saw the Blue Man Group

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and had a wonderful time!

Definitely a show worth seeing.

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It snowed the entire day. We had never seen such large and perfect snowflakes.
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.Everything was decorated for Christmas and the snow made it all the more lovely.
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Christmas in Boston is beautiful
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. Merry Christmas!

now we are both 26

Eric made me the most beautiful carrot cake

my birthday gift (Narnia collection on CD from Focus on the Family) (in my opinion, the best option on CD)




we had dinner at Margaritas (my favorite restuarant)

the tree in downtown Mystic on the river (we could see it from the restaurant)

our little snow storm

Friday delivered lots and lots of snow. It was snowing so hard and coming down so fast that I actually got out of work early (thank you Ryan) (and Jared for cleaning off my car).

One of our neighbors used his snow blower and cleaned all of our sidewalks and the end of the driveways. He had to come out a few times (the snow was coming down at about an inch an hour). We love living in a neighborhood where the people take care of each other.

this is after our freezing rain

(I used the windshield protectors that my Bob made me years ago) (they are pink kitchen shelf liner and you put them on before it snows. then you just peel them off and have a bare spot on your windshield!)

Eric taking care of business

we took full advantage of the eight inches we got and made a snowman. he originally was much taller than me, but after the freezing rain, he shrank (and tilted forward). he is still cute!






hopefully our friend Larry will hang out in our front yard for a while.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday (handsome) brother Michael!

We called my mother last night to wish her a Happy Birthday and she said what my heart longed for: "You and Michael were my birthday presents!" I've heard that so many times growing up, but I never tire of it.