A Friday to Remember

Thursday I learned that a friend had Nutcracker tickets for Friday she couldn't use.  I hemmed and hawed about what I should do; I didn't have anyone to watch Brian, but the tickets were free so if he acted up we could leave.  Finally I said to myself, This is silly.  It's free Nutcracker tickets (a show Elizabeth will love) for goodness sake.  Just go!

School lessons were scrapped for Friday and we went to the early-in-the-day show.  Thanks, Heather!

It was snowing as we left.

The scenes were beautiful!

This little guy made it through the whole 2 hour show!

Elizabeth seemed so grown up.

In the evening, my mom (who's a children's ministries director at a local church) had organized A Night in Bethlehem at the church.  So many volunteered to make the event happen.  The church multi-purpose building was turned into Bethlehem - complete with a stable with a real donkey and calf - and kids could be counted for the census, experience Shabbat prayers, see baby Jesus, Mary & Joseph in the stable, do crafts at different stations around the room, taste foods, etc.  Many times my children were told how much God loves them.  Over 500 attended the event that only spanned 2.5 hours.  I could imagine how crazy it must have been in the little town of Bethlehem, when there was no room at the inn.  (Though modern day folks sure smell better!)

griding up grains with stones to make flour

the goats!

drawing coins from the era

making flour

We crashed (late) after all of the excitement.  Surely a day to get into the Christmas spirit!

True Light

I've been trying to gather my thoughts on Christmas as we share Advent readings, I read this book,  and carols are sung in church, our home, and in the car.  I don't have the words to express what I feel when I'm alone, in the quiet, pondering the Truth of the season.


Each year, the Christmas story settles deeper into the depths of my soul, strengthening my joy, hope, and peace in my Savior.  I'm so thankful for Advent, a period set aside to consider the many prophesies fulfilled in and by Christ, when we take a long, hard look at the Christmas story, awing and wondering at the way God put it all together in time and space, and the people He chose to include in the story.


This year, I find myself focused on the waiting and longing.  God promised a savior as early as Genesis 3; in the midst of the curses placed on the serpent, we see a whisper of grace.  God promised to do something about sin.  And through the Old Testament the promises continued with increasing potency, intensifying the longing of God's people.


Then He came.


A baby.  In a manger.  Born among animals.


That's how God entered the world.  Life and Light entered the world from His mother's womb, through  her birth canal, just like us.  The word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)  He left heaven behind to enter the world.


A star and angels announced his coming.  Wise men and shepherds came to worship Him and departed to share the news.  A priest could finally rest, having seen the promised Savior.


Longings fulfilled in this babe, who would one day hang on a tree.  You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.  (Matthew 1:21)


You see, at Christmas, God sets in motion His plan to rescue us from sin.   Looking around, we see so many problems, so much darkness.  But when we look to God, His Word, His very Son, we see that He knows and He's done something about it.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4)


This Christmas I invite you to take a look at the story.  Pause in the busyness of shopping, parties, and plans and take a good look.  No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.  (John 1:18)

Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Luke 2:14

May this be the merriest of Christmases you've ever known!

A Winter Tradition

It has snowed and that meant it was time for our annual snowflake cutting!  This is our second year doing this on the first snow of the year.  Colin and I weren't actually here for the first snow, but we did get to it within the week.  We cut snowflakes, drink hot chocolate, and use the flakes to decorate the house.

Creating!

Concentrating!

This is the only flake Brian made.

He drank all of his hot chocolate.

Colin only makes flakes with true-to-nature 6-fold symmetry;
he doesn't make many, but they are VERY high quality.

We hung them int he entry along the stairs

and a couple above the doorway.

Happy winter to you all!  For many of you, I know the thought of it almost brings you to tears.  Remember, the spring will come, it always does.

And it's just that much more glorious, because we've know the winter.

Redemption, hope, and new life, whispers of the gospel even in creation!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

It snowed this week!

Not much, really, but enough to make my children happy.

first snowman of the season, short and sweet

snow t-ball!

more snow t-ball!

I love the berries on this tree.

This morning we attended a wreath making event with church ladies.

They kindly let E join in the fun!

I hope you've been enjoying these many photo posts.  As for substance, it's lacking these days.  I've been feeling pretty terrible (though off and on) all week, affecting my ability to beat my kids out of bed in the morning to be with the Lord before starting the day - the time during which I often find inspiration for blosts.  Thankfully He's with me the rest of the day, too!  We're never alone, right?  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Hope your holiday season is of to a delightful and healthy start!

Dear Santa

While I was passed out on the other side of the bed during Elizabeth's rest time today, she wrote some letters.  One was to Santa Claus.

Here's the translation:  

To Santa Claus.

I like all your Christmas presents. 

Love, Elizabeth Ashe

I think that's one of the sweetest letters I've ever seen!  I was snooping to learn what she was hoping to get for Christmas and she just wrote something nice to jolly old St Nick.

Now, where do we mail this thing?!

Visiting Boston & Cambridge

Colin and I had the great treat of a couple of days away from kids AND a visit to friends in Boston and Cambridge.  Colin spent most of his time at a conference, but his talk was successful and he did get to enjoy some catching up with old friends.  There were so many to see in so few hours, but I think I managed to see a good chunk.  Sorry to those that I missed; I hope it's not too long before another visit.  Jenny, you up for it?!

We stayed with my dear friend Jenny who's one of the most hospitable people I know; I'm blessed to call her a friend!  Her daughter helped me to choose the winners of my first ever blog giveaway.

Later Tuesday morning we visited the Windsor House, a senior day-program with which our Tuesday morning Bible study has a now 5+ year relationship.  It was a treat to see those sweet people again - though I think I confused some of them by being there after so long and without my children!  We church ladies and children (those who were free) had lunch at the fine Wendy's in Central Square.

After a brief visit at Liz's house (she's above on the left) I shot over to Westgate for the afternoon.  Westgate is the married and family student housing complex on the west side of  MIT's campus, where we lived for 5 years.

Eun Kyung's baby girl, Megan, who was born just before we moved and I met her for the first time!

It felt just like old times!

Elizabeth's friends, who were sad she wasn't there.

Can you find pictures of Elizabeth in this poster?

Tuesday night we had dinner at John Harvards, arguably our favorite restaurant in Boston.  Their Colonial Gold is one of the best beers ever (for my taste buds) and they had it on tap!  The Downs' joined us and we enjoyed wonderful food and conversation.  I'd only emailed them the day before and they were free to join us!  I forgot to take a photo.

Wednesday was much less full.  Colin went conferencing and I enjoyed a leisurely morning with Jenny and her kids.  They live in this lovely neighborhood so after some time indoors we took a brief stroll before Colin called to say he was through for the day.  Parting is such sweet sorrow.  I'm so thankful we had those couple of days to catch up in person!

Dexter and Frances (Frankie), the little hosts of our stay.

We had to squeeze in one photo just before I left.

We still had some bank accounts that we needed to officially close.  So Colin and I took care of that, and then had lunch at Royal East, a cheap and quick (but not nasty) Chinese restaurant we used to go to a lot after my prenatal appointments when Elizabeth was on the way.  This yumminess was followed by coffee and dessert at Luna Cafe - some of the tastiest coffee in Cambridge.

our fortunes, Colin's then mine

Our final stop was with our friends who just became US citizens a couple of weeks ago!  We met them at Westgate several years back and attended church together.  At their house I tried Pomegranate for the first time; cool fruit!  We enjoyed conversation and laughs just as if we'd never left town.  (Though it was quieter without our two kids there to wind up theirs!)

We came home to this!

None of these cars are ours.
I'm too cool for a sedan; I'm a minivan driver!

 I'm now REALLY in the Christmas spirit with Advent, snow on the ground, crisp winds biting my cheeks outside.  Yes, it's December.

Many, many, many thanks to our parents who cared so well for our kids while we were away.  It was good to see those little kiddos this morning and hear about their adventures while we were away.

Celebrate the Season Parade 2010

When I was young, we always attended the Thanksgiving weekend parade in downtown Pittsburgh.  We went with another family, always standing in the same place and having lunch afterward.  This year the route was different, due to construction, but it was just as fun, despite the chilliness (that I almost let keep us from going.)  I'm so glad we went!

All bundled up and ready to go!

waiting for the parade

Brian took it very seriously.

The wind made it hard to control the balloons.

These little Shriners trucks were so cute.

a quality Pittsburgh road

the Pirate parrot going nuts on a motorcycle

Clifford!

lovely old Pittsburgh building

Yay, a choo-choo!

Lunch at Max & Erma's next to this funny sign.
Thanks for lunch, mom!