new kettle

because the water from the old one was getting brown and browner.

it shows that inept housekeeping can happen in your twenties or your fifties.

advent

i cannot tell why He whom angels worship

should set His love upon the sons of men

or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wand'rers

to bring them back they know not how or when...

but this i know, He heals the broken-hearted

and stays my sin and calms my lurking fear

and lifts the burden from the heavy laden

for yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.

- william young fullerton

under the pretty prints on the wrapping paper 

behind the unending cycles of modified carols

beyond the plastic smiles and air kisses

i know i have a hope

at last

an unexpectedly light day at work

some really pleasant encounters

HOM coming to the end of his last business trip this year

silver bells playing at starbucks

thundery stormy weather

it's starting to (finally) feel like the end of the year.

thanksgiving 2015/with gratitude

1. we roll out a new more robust more defensible structure* that i am genuinely proud of. with enough polish i guess. against many odds. by God's generous undeserved grace
2. E wriggles his energetic enervating way into our lives, which will never be the same again. as neither will be our furniture and other fixtures around the home
3. HOM and i refine the weekend getaway to a finer art. keep it short keep it near keep it frequent keep it cool. but mostly keep it frequent. it is a good thing to enjoy each other's company
4. i go on a mission trip. with all its attendant limitations and challenges, i say yes entirely independently of HOM or J or J and discover a little bit'o'strength in myself
5. i finish another year of work that i generally like to wake up to show up for. i acquire a new workmate that makes showing up a pleasure. i wonder another year why i show up anyway
6. J and J keep us in their lives. people ask, do you not miss them? yes and no, i say. is our joy that they have their lives. God holds them in his hands

and, to the level of the day's most quiet need, by sun and candle-light, thanks be to God.

*the new Masters examination

thanksgiving 2015

my faith looks up to Thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!

... o let me from this day be wholly Thine!

- ray palmer

i forget the good amidst the inclement and the mercies amidst the inconveniences. i remember the irritations the irritators and the injuries. i forget it is a privilege to be injurable. i grumble that my labor is unrecognized. far better, the little voice says, to be capable of labor! 

i come broken hurt bound succored and healed. i come to the end of a long year. thanks to God.

amazing grace/life's journey

to J1

thru many dangers toils and snares i have already come

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

my story, as you have heard over and over

my prayer, that it may be yours to pass on too.

the Lord hath promised good to me - his Word my hope secures

he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

as he has been my shield and portion, may he be yours.

be courageous. work hard. keep the faith. give gladly.

may God, who watches over you, fill you with his fulness.

choose your qualification

'nuff said.