Christmas, proceed.

"The Protestant Reformation resonates throughout history as a period in which radical influencers took courageous stands against corrupt institutions with a fiery determination to return to their spiritual roots and reclaim the authority and gifts of the Scriptures and Gospel message. Their vigour, for better or for worse, forged new thought, new systems, and new ground in the landscape of Christendom. The Protestant's namesake, protest, will continue to be tethered to this period characterized by advancement and tumult, discovery and disintegration, and union and dissension in Christian methodology, spirituality, and theology. The present-day mosaic of Christian expression and praxis acts as a continual reminder of our Christian faith's long lineage of growing pains in development—the rises and swells of revolutionary ideas and their consequences. A broken church in process."
Semper Reformada-The Church in Continual Reformation
by Erika Kobewka

The last brilliant thought has been squeezed (at 2 am I might add) and I'm ready to plunge headlong into Christmas projects. This last paper did not come as a storm but as a slow aggravating drip from a creaky faucet. I'm done wordsmith-ing for awhile.

Time to wrap up four final days of teaching. Kids dipping into the gingerbread and Christmas chocolate is like kids on crazy pills. Nothing about that equation is suitable for playing the violin especially when they have the shakes.

Looks like we're in a winter thaw, so I might venture out.



"Rejoice Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee O Israel."

advent

"Let every heart, prepare Him room!"
Joy to the World

In the thick of it.

It has a week of catch-up. I've been busy scheduling lessons from being sick, and this weekend I hope to finally pump out a final paper.

I've been in the thick of the Reformation all week, and those Protestants certainly had a lot to teach..

"To prevent a recurrence of such an insidious evil you must observe a certain diet. I have a very trustworthy remedy for this: our beer is a diuretic, and the physicians indeed call it diureticotate. In this respect it is plainly the queen of all beers. Wine, however, must be used sparingly."
Taken from Martin Luther's Letters of Spiritual Counsel

I will return, when the last school project is done!

In the midst of a snowy cold week of being homebodies, I begged Arden to go out in the knee deep snow and take Christmasy pictures. Rosy cheeked from pushing cars out of snow drifts along the way but warmly bundled in scarves we caught snowflakes on our noses.

heave ho ho ho.

I've taken a mild hiatus since something got into my system that was just not agreeable. At all. Like, "put your hand over your mouth and run like the dickens," not agreeable.

I've been couch ridden since Monday night and have had the opportunity to watch the twinkle lights on my tree (that got put up just in time) and the frost form over our windows. Looks like winter is settling in.



Today, I am playing catch up.

Frightening quietness...

What we are in fact celebrating is the awe-inspiring humility of God, and no amount of familiarity with the trappings of Christmas should ever blind us to its quiet but explosive significance.
Amid the sparkle and the color and music of the day's celebration we do well to remember that God's insertion of himself into human history was achieved with an almost frightening quietness and humility.
*J. B. Philips
Watch For the Light

Here we are.

I have started an advent reader for this season, that was gifted to me last year. This is such a rich time of year I could weep.

Sorry its been so quiet around these parts as of late. The hubbub of life has swept in and taken me for a spin. Recitals, projects, errands, studies, challenges, and visits. Not only is life full but it moves briskly and if you don't grab on you get left behind. I do hope you are well dear friends.

For all those who are wondering:
*count down to Tree Day--5 days.
Weeeeeeeeee!

Let earth receive her King.

The Season of Advent is upon us:


"Light your candles quietly, such candles as you possess, wherever you are."
-Alfred Delp

Lo, in the silent night
A child to God is born
And all is brought again
That ere was lost or lorn.

Could but thy soul, O man,
Become a silent night!
God would be born in thee
And set all things aright.
15th century

Said the king to the people ev'rywhere, listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people every-where, listen to what I say.
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light.
-Do You Hear What I Hear