A Maryland Daybook on New Year's Eve.

Outside My Window
The Maloys' backyard. I'm in the living room where I spent countless hours as a high schooler.

I am Listening to
The toaster oven ticking. It's quiet! I'm the only one home :-(.

I am Wearing
Jeans, cream sweater. About to go to the Wolfs' for New Year's.

I am So Grateful for
People who have loved me long and love me so hard and so well.

I'm Pondering
How I can feel so completely glad I live in Oregon and also so completely long to be with the people here more often.

I am Reading
Living into Community by Christine Pohl, who wrote Making Room. It focuses on four practices: truth-telling, promise-keeping, gratitude and hospitality. Clearly written, inspiring and convicting.

I am Thinking
Happily about how cozy tonight is going to be: stopping by a couple small gatherings and then most likely tucking myself in well before midnight. I'll see you in the morning, 2014.

I am Creating
Plans in my mind to make Hannah a unicorn-applique dress. Don't tell her. I'm super excited.

I am Missing
Newberg people + pace!! And people here preemptively.

Towards Being Faithful In This Time
Asking Him to help me use this break well, to see the people that I'm supposed to, and to love my family well. And trying to trust that it will happen. Breaks and trips home are gifts; and they are also difficult for me to know how to do. Almost always.

I am Hoping and Praying
Thanks for this time. That this semester goes better than last.

One of my Favorite ThingsMemories.

.oh come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you. Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice- it is the season of their

many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves

and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances- but it is the season

when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard

while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;

what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will

come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know

that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

-Mary Oliver

local hot buttered rum recipe: my new favorite drink.

brown paper packages; love written and sent.

seven-years-running inside jokes.

new and life-giving friendship with sweet neighbors across the street.

Know that in all these things,

really I am speaking to You.

.and wonders, and wonders of His love.

winter mornings.

.how silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given.

"Waiting is essential to the spiritual life.

But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting.

It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we wait for.

We are always waiting, but it is a waiting in the conviction that we have already seen God's footsteps.

Waiting for God is an active, alert- yes, joyful!- waiting."

-Henri Nouwen

We were playing hide-and-seek. Not sure she super gets it.

Last year my mom sent me some of our family's Christmas decorations. I love that.

I miss Chicago's snow, but Oregon's mist frozen is a different kind of winter beauty.

Christmas carol serenade to cookie-baking.

(Glitter + leftover Halloween candy + end of cereal boxes)

"God cared enough to come and be one of us.

We matter to God. We matter that much.

He cared enough to be born.

That's the whole point of it all…

that He cared enough to be born."

-Madeleine L'Engle

Cross-continental shared joy.

Out to dinner by the river to watch the Christmas-lit ships go by.

"So the Christmas message for all people runs:

You are accepted, God has not despised you,

but He bears in His body all your flesh and blood.

Look at the cradle!

In the body of the little child, in the incarnate Son of God,

your flesh, all your distress, anxiety, temptation,

indeed all your sin,

is borne, forgiven, and healed."

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Favorite movie by Christmas lights.

"What are you grateful for?"

My church had a photo booth at our Thanksgiving service a few weeks ago. These pics by Fawn and Feather just came out and are making me pretty happy.