SPT

Man , do I stink at this...I mean come on, it's Thursday! I like how this came out...I like the orange-y color our walls take on without a flash. You can see our tree and Basil's Veggie Tales movie in the back. Late afternoons just before Aaron comes home are usually filled with boredom around here...hence the movie and my random picture taking. I wish you all a blessed night.

The Eternal Paradox

Yet another quote...seems more timely than any of my wimpy thoughts.

"Today is born of the Virgin Him Who holdest all creation in the hollow of His hand. He Whose essence is untouchable is wrapped in swaddling clothes as a babe."

From the Royal 9th Hour of the Nativity

We Did it


We took an afternoon walk yesterday...and this is one of the things we found along the way. A mexican panaderia filled with sweet breads galore. This is one of the perks of living in a towm mostly populated by mexican immigrants...along with great tacos. We took other pictures but somehow they got lost, I think the battery was exhausted. We'll see what today has in store.

Self Portrait Tuesday...Reflective Surface

Ok, so it's really Wednesday. This is an old mirror I've had since high school. It usually hangs in the guest/computer/toy room...I like the gold against the Christmas tree, which will remain undecorated until the eve of Nativity.

Truth Abounds

Even on fortune cookies.

This was the fortune inside Basil's cookie.

Walking

A steady combination of feeling lump-on-a-loggish and seeing this beautiful photograph, entitled "on my early morning walk", has inspired me to take more walks. I need to get out more...and not to a grocery, thrift, fabric store, or park. Before Juliana was born, Basil and I walked just about everyday. It's harder now with two...mostly logistically. Well, there's always tomorrow, eh?

Learning to Pray

Do not imagine, brother, that prayer consists soley of words, or that it can be learnt by means of words.

No, the truth of the matter, should understand, is that spiritual prayer does not reach fullness as a result of either learning or the repetition of words. For it is not to a man that you are praying, before whom you can repeat a well-composed speech; it is to Him who is Spirit that you are directing the movements of your prayer. You should pray therefore in spirit, seeing that He is Spirit.

From The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian

An Eternal Life of Joy

I thought this excerpt was beautiful.

The Sacrament of Marriage does not unite a man and a woman. Rather, it is the Church's recognition of a union that God has already begun to work in their lives. As long as the union remains within the reality of this world, it will be subject to sin, pain, and death. But, through the sacrament, the union enters at the same time into a new reality: that of God's Kingdom. In Christ, marriage is restored to its initial perfection and in the sacrament, this union is made open to the possibility of what God intended marriage to be from the beginning: an ETERNAL life of joy in union with Him. Thus, marriage goes beyond a legal contract. There is no exchange of vows - the two have freely and coequally committed to one anotherand consented to God's presence in their union. There is no phrase "'til death do us part". If marriage is brought into the kingdom of God, death as a separation, is powerless over it. Christ has destroyed death by His Cross and Resurrection; therefore, the union of man and woman in Christ is eternal.

Introduction from an article about Marriage from St. Elias Orthodox Church, Colorado

Self Portrait Tuesday

I have been following this widespread photo project for a while now and thought I might have a go. I really don't mean this to be a "hey, look at me" type of thing, I just really enjoy looking at the creative things other people do and wanted to have a bite, so to speak. Plus, I think it would be fun if some of my blogging friends out there would start this...just a fun way to get to know eachother better...come on :)

The idea is to post a self-portrait of some sort following a certain theme each tuesday. This month's challange is reflective surfaces. I sifted through some old files and found this one. Poor lighting but hey...this is my first SP Tuesday, right?

Eight months pregnant this past June with Basil on my back...glad my midwife doesn't read this.

Some Weekend Pictures

Bossy Basil at the park. Gee, I wonder where he gets it from.











Boy, does this girl love swinging :) This was the second attempt at putting her in the swing on the porch...she giggled the whole time! She really loved when I grabbed at her feet and tickled her toes.









Now this one just gets me! We are slowly adding to our nativity scene as Christmas approaches, attempting to dramatize the story. Anyway...I found the cow and donkey looking out the window of the stable this morning! Basil has obviously been here... or maybe they're looking for that wandering couple from Nazareth ;)

Winter Lent...a Time of Preparation

Well, it certainly is that around here. Evidence of gift making is scattered throughout the house...we have started the tradition of crafting most gifts we give which is time (and space) consuming but fulfilling.

Upon Susan's nudging, I have also been trying to make this season one of domestic preparation...that has come to life as re-organizing, rearranging, cleaning, and generally trying to give new life to old spaces and objects (things that should be done all the time but, alas, are not). I ditched the giant changing table in our guest/computer/play room and made a happy little play space for Basil. I emptied the hall closet, sifted through, refolded and placed the various linens towels, and blankets in their cubby..well, you get my drift.

Although on most days you'd never guess it, I'm slowly chipping away at clutter and disarray. Eventuallly I hope to clear up our living space and end up with a warm and orderly nest.

Inwardly, the tasks should be similar. Order, beauty, cleansing, bringing new life and warmth to the dusty parts and cold parts of my heart. Hopefully, little by little moment by moment and year by year these inward and outward tasks will become easier and more natural outpourings of a life filled with preparation, diligence and expectancy.

Lord, have mercy.