What Grace Is Mine

~ Keith & Kristyn Getty

What grace is mine that He who dwells in endless light

Called through the night to find my distant soul

And from his scars poured mercy that would plead for me

That I might live and in his name be known

So I will go wherever He is calling me

I lose my life to find my life in Him

I give my all to gain the hope that never dies

I bow my heart, take up my cross and follow Him

 

What grace is mine to know His breath alive in me

Beneath his wings my wakened soul may soar

All fear can flee for death's dark night is overcome

My Saviour lives and reigns forevermore

So I will go...

Winter Wonderland

'Tis the season to be still.  'Tis the season to make fires.

'Tis the season of good will.  Charity the heart's desire.

I close my eyes, and return to my first snow.

The sky is white on this Christmas night, and I have no place to go.

It feels like my first snow.

'Tis the season to prepare, warm and sweet delicious things.

'Tis the season to repair, all our silly bickerings.

I close my eyes, and return to my first snow.

 The sky is white on this Christmas night, and I have no place to go.

I close my eyes, and return to my first snow.

The sky is white on this Christmas night, and I have no place to go.

It feels like my first snow.

"My First Snow"

Matt Morris

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Baby it's cold outside



All I want for Christmas



Ah, Mariah.  Come Christmastime, I long to hear her breathy low notes as she propels her listeners into a joyfully upbeat version of "All I Want For Christmas" (much to my husband's chagrin).  It is one of my absolute favorite holiday tracks to play (loudly) and sing along to in our van as we travel about town.  Not surprisingly, this year our sweet ones have joined me in my slight musical obsession, crying out "Louder!" from the back of the van as they bee bop and scat their way through the chorus.  The doctor has requested that we limit the listening of this magical tune to the confines of our van. Apparently, it is a favorite among OR nurses and is played on heavy rotation.  However, being the gracious and loving husband he is, he recently purchased Michael Buble's version of the song, one that is less pop and more swoon.  All in all, one that is more tolerable.  

'Tis the season for creating lists, and waiting in hopeful anticipation for a certain package to find its way under the tree.  For my husband, I believe this year all he wanted for Christmas was the gift of passing his written boards.  And, yesterday as though a 100 pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders, he entered our apartment with the joyful news that he had passed.  It was an evening filled with waves of relief, sweet celebratory exchanges, and thanksgiving for he (at last) had his scores. 

I continue to marvel over the Lord's perfect timing in revealing this precious gift to us.  We enter this Christmas season with hearts full, acknowledging the Lord's faithful direction of our lives. 
 A very merry Christmas, indeed!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Season's Greetings 2011



The video we cannot stop watching...

Recipe for art

While playing in the family activity room at the Shaker Library this summer, the little lady stumbled upon the ever changing art table.  On this particular day, the children were creating art by dipping tennis balls in paint and then rolling them across paper that was contained in a cardboard box.  I fancied the idea; however,  recognized that if we were to recreate this fun activity within our own home it would need slight tweaking.  The idea of the little man rolling a painted tennis ball around in a cardboard box had "must have magic eraser on hand" written all over it.  And, so this idea was born.

Cast of characters:

washable paint, large Clorox/Lysol dispenser (empty and dried), blank paper, scissors (to cut paper to size), rubber ball (or any small ball), droopy poinsettia plant (optional)

1. Wrangle up a kid or two.

(Hopefully, one who appreciates the art of dressing oneself in layers and fine jewelry. Or, one that prefers to go through life shirtless.)

2. Insert paper so that it follows the natural curve of the dispenser.

3. Dip ball in paint colors. 

In all honestly, there might be a better way to execute this step as this way creates a bit of a mess, but we just went with it.  Having paper towels on hand wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

4. Place the lid on (firmly) and give it a good shake, perhaps while singing a lil' ditty.

5. Remove lid and paper.  Marvel over artwork.

6.  Repeat.


7. Allow to dry, and place in envelopes addressed to grandparents. 
(One can only save so many beautiful pieces of art.)