Advent is for waiting.

"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 we are waiting in the conviction

that we have already seen God's footsteps.

Waiting for God is an active, alert-

yes, joyful!-

waiting.

When we wait in expectation,

our whole beings are open to be surprised by joy.

It is this joyful expectation of God's coming

that offers vitality to our lives."

-Henri Nouwen

This joyful expectation.

So much joy in these days.

"Aslan," said Lucy, "You're bigger."

"That is because you are, little one," answered He.

"Not because you are?"

"I am not.

But every year you grow, you will find Me bigger."

-Prince Caspian

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I love that reading aloud to each other has been a part of Ben's and my relationship since our very first date, the one neither of us was sure was a date. We're working our way through The Chronicles of Narnia, which to my shame I had never read past The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I can't get enough- I love every one more than the one before.

***********

I have no idea why I haven't written much in months. It's been a rich season, for sure (see above), but I don't think that's why I haven't. I miss it, and the deeper reflecting writing can lead me to. I hope to do more this fall.

***********

This is a way late update, but: Matt and Mitch got married. It was the best.

...loving Smitten Kitchen's pumpkin muffins (three times this fall so far);
I double the pumpkin pie spice and put in a full 15 oz can of pumpkin instead of just one cup. Especially amazing with a simple maple-cream cheese frosting.



my quote wall makes me happy.

what happens when you leave your car door unlocked in a small town:
you get back to find someone left you $20.





Saturday morning six-year-old soccer games.

She had a surprise for us. It was... her pink toothbrush!!

 

 

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He is looking bigger to me, this year.

Set down here precisely.

all quotes from this.

"I praise each day splintered down,

splintered down and wrapped in time like a husk,

a husk of many colors spreading,

at dawn fast over the mountains split."

"If the Greeks had looked at Mount Baker all day,

their large and honest art would have broken,

and they would have gone fishing,

as these people do."

"'Teach me Thy ways, O Lord'

is, like all prayers,

a rash one..."

"All day long I feel created.

I can see the blown dust on the skin on the back of my hand,

the tiny trapezoids of chipped clay, moistened and breathed alive.

There are some created sheep in the pasture below me,

sheep set down here precisely,

just touching their blue shadows hoof to hoof on the grass.

Created gulls pock the air, rip great curved seams in the settled air;

I greet my created meal, amazed."

"Had she been new, or old?

Had she mated and laid her eggs,

had she done her work?"

"Of itself it is nothing,

but the view,

as they say,

is good."

"Is this the only final beauty:

the color of any skin in any light

and living, human eyes?"

"You spill your breath.

Nothing holds;

the whole show rolls."

"...all the landscape's occasions,

to all its weathers, colors and lights."

and i wish we could all go camping and lay beneath the stars.

"and I wish all the people I love the most

could gather in one place

and know each other and love each other well

and I wish we could all go camping

and lay beneath the stars

and have nothing to do and stories to tell

we'd sit around the campfire

and we'd make each other laugh

remembering when..."

-Sara Groves, "Every Minute"

(the song my blog is named after)

arrival hugs.

strong tent men.

i was super helpful. chet's a slacker.

i love them so. 

at which point i repented of being grumpy we were going camping in illinois. 

good morning.

so very grateful that from

thailand, alabama, pennsylvania, new york, and oregon,

we were able to be together.

(we went to college together.

we graduated.

we went to colorado.

we went to new york.

i respect and admire each of them beyond words.

they know me better than almost anyone.

and i love them a lot.)