Magic

This, in Texas, constitutes magic.

A glorious display

Beyond one's breadth of understanding...

Laid to bring a smile

To those who have never

tasted such wonder.

Ebb and Flow

Home is a place...

Where the ebb and flow of life pushes past me

Characterized by the exuberance of children

Rounded by the joy of their existence.

"Never throw your lasso around someone's neck, or legs",

Matthew says,

"unless they're a bad-guy.

And I don't think God

Would make there be a bad-guy,

Anyway."

Pay attention when those voices speak,

Small, and simple as they are.

Pay attention to the wind,

running its fingers through your hair,

Pressing its mobile hands against your face.

Listen to the whispers of the changing world.

Wrap yourself in His creation,

and remind yourself of Him.

Rambellwood in Winter

Ice... crowded three inches thick across our pond..

The chill of the air filtering through the floor of our house...

Where the children stare, wide-eyed, at this foreign scene.

We all congregate about the stove,

Resting on a Sunday afternoon.

Over Your Shoulder

The way one looks back, on a year like this,

sends tremors across one's heart.

It's all behind you.

You can begin again.

Yet, in all actuality, what is changing?

The date.

4 small digits laid out across the world.

2010.

Those digits become a reminder,

a reminder of the newness of living,

the stirring of energy beneath every day life.

Let us keep going, remembering,

Looking forward, but in all of it, focusing on each moment,

one at a time,

threading our confusing strands of thought

towards the One I call the Story-weaver, our father God,

the One who writes our journey.

The 8 O Clock Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out this lovely dress at Grosgrain Fabulous.

The sheath look is one of my new favorites.

The 8 O Clock Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Just for fun...

Emma

Action

Discover the Story...

Then set the Stage...

Switch on the light.

Turn the first page.

Then shout ACTION!

Happy Birthday Sam!

A birthday party of grandest proportions... A black table scattered with confetti, autumn leaves, and photos that celebrated Samuel's 24 years, laid with Honey Glazed Chicken, Rosemary Parmesan Potatoes, Lemon Basil Carrots, freshly baked wheat rolls, green beans, and a fruit salad wrapped in whipped cream.

Then, when the dishes were cleared.... three suitcases were imparted to three groups of people, and the objects therein were turned into three skits, mysterious, dramatic, and rolicking with good, wholesome, fun.

Thereafter followed gifts, packages wrapped gaily in plaid paper and film related trivia, the gifts hidden inside following the general theme of antiquities... Things like a pewter mug with a glass bottom, a pipe case, pipe tobacco, an antique black umbrella, an antique film camera, coffee, a personalized travel mug, and a gift card to Starbucks.

The evening ended...

Like many such evenings do...

with the men on the porch with their pipes...

While we women remained within...

Sharing our hearts, as women do.

Emma

Giving Thanks

Wishing you most heartfelt blessings and all the dearest joys

As we go from this time of giving thanks...

And pass into a season of giving of ourselves.

Emma & Johanna