hail, hail the gang's almost all here!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. The boys are coming home! Billy pulled in at noon today. John just finished classes. Tommy's in the neighborhood, so he can come home any time... and Robbie just has two more final exams and he'll be home on Friday, avec Martha! Pete and I have remembered that while they are here, we must not forget to chisel out time for the two of us. They will be having fun together and we will feel like the frat house mom and dad... or the bed and breakfast owners. Hey! We know how to have fun too! So, holding all of these truths in mind... but mostly, just heart overflowing to have them home. They have NO IDEA! That's how God feels about us and I have NO IDEA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW6Rp-tQkSc

twinkle twinkle little star

Did you see Jupiter and Venus with the moon last week? WOW! Okay, this is embarassing, but I used to wonder about that star that the shepherds followed to discover the Christ Child. No, seriously, how could anyone follow a star?They all looked the same to me. Last week's celestial show was startling and left me standing with mouth agape. Now that's a star!! So, now I've seen with my very own eyes, that yes, one could follow a star, because sometimes they are exceedingly bright. I am so grateful to have that insight. It is profoundly different to see with ones own eyes what one has heard described by another. How does one know the love of God if one hasn't experienced it? how many people have no experience of an unconditional, always- forgiving love? and therefore can not imagine what love the Father has for us?and of course, even if one has had the experience, how easy is it to forget what is divine? What can one do? I guess I could look at the stars and be reminded of that one that guided the shepherds... what do you do? to stay reminded.

the deep blue sea

Pete and John decided to take a dip in the ocean off Shell Beach at Sea Ranch. It was really cold!So it would be a challenge. They got closer to the water's edge and could see that there was a lot of sea weed. A different challenge! Ewwwwww. They hemmed and hawed for a while. They tried a different point of entry. Not any better. Then they decided to just brave it and took the plunge together. Not willing to give up. I was really proud of them. I like that tenacity... that sets out to do a good thing (?) and then finds a way. Quietly, thoughtfully, determinedly. Dja think God did that? when He decided He'd like to be one of us? and love us?

What time is it? Time to buy a new watch. I set up the nativity scene. One person is missing. I hid Him .. uh oh, where did I hide him? He's not very hidden, in fact. I think he's still in plain sight not far from His crib. The local pastor is discouraging all things Christmas UNTIL Christmas. So, far now, we are celebrating Advent, dadgumit! I have to admit that part of the thrill of Christmas (and I don't want to rob myself of that thrill) is all the preparation and anticipation and expectation leading up to the birth of the Savior. So, by not putting the baby Jesus in the manger YET, I am setting myself up for the thrill of Christmas. There have been a few Christmases where that thrill was earth shattering. I am hoping still to access that profound realization... the miracle. BUT I KNOW WHAT'S COMING! a part of me says. Yea, but maybe there's a new miracle in this Christmas. Maybe I'll pray for that. Which brings me back to the "new watch". I will keep watch and hope to see that He "makes all things new".

it's over for this season

Robbie played water polo for his college this fall. The season is over and his team won its division championship. I have to admit, it is very gratifying to win. That is a fact! At the same time, though, I am just so proud of him and his teammates (and all college athletes) for doing the hard physical work of playing the sport on top of their academic work. I'm hoping that the rewards will also include some protection from future skin cancers.

perpendicular

Not parallel lines, but perpendicular lines. Trying to sort out my sorrow about the loss of David Foster Wallace's life and his significance to us .. when he was with us. Most of us I think lead parallel lives. We assume that we're on the same page and consequently don't intersect so much. Part of that is for loss of words. That was Wallace's genius.. he HAD the words. How do we do justice to our unique and dazzling experiences with words? Is it worthwhile to make the astounding effort to communicate what we perceive and notice when our vocabulary is limited, and our stamina wains, and our audience unresponsive? Maybe it is still worthwhile to write simply for the benefits that result from staking that claim that looks like that point where the horizontal line intersects with the vertical line and on that point exists both something definitive, and something offered a new direction. Does that make sense? I listened to and read from David Foster Wallace. His honesty and his courage and his vulnerability... words can not do justice to the magnitude of the loss of HIM. All you holy men and women, pray for us... (calling on the communion of saints)..to welcome him and to comfort us., and most especially his family and the community of Claremont and Pomona College.

believe

It looks like the Mother of God and her Son are rocking to and fro on the rolling seas. BUT, she says," Don't lose your bearings! " That's a mantra that leapt into my self maybe a year ago when i was losing my bearings due to some conflict that had arisen in an organization of which I am a part. (That sentence was too long. ) Anyway, I like this image slightly off kilter, because it is a visual of how I often feel. It's also an invitation. While life does feel like a ride on a rolling sea, and that is most of the time, I can hearken to this icon of Mary and the Christ holding steady despite the dizzying effects of the rise and fall of the waves. I also hear them saying, "We're not going anywhere but staying right here... for you!" What does this image conjure in you?