the story of our life

Days of adventure. Moments of joy. Weeks of play. Sunshine and rain. They all add up to create the story of our life... the story that is uniquely ours... ours to tell, preserve, to carry on. These are the history books of our life... each one documenting a chapter of life and love... the twists and turns that tie us to those we love... the stories and memories and moments that have led us, one page at a time.
We also have a time capsule... Each year, we unroll layers of tissue and bubble wrap and relive the story of us.
Childhood treasures...
Hobbies past & present... trinkets that bring a vacation back to life.
And most of all, we recall the moments of where we began...
and how small these little hands used to be.


thank you, emily, for inspiring us to see our everyday moments in this season that can be chaos!

a new song

I love the Christmas music... all of it. Well, okay, maybe not the Barking Dogs Twelve Days of Christmas that my children are so fond of... but I like the fun songs, like I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and the traditional songs, especially O Come All Ye Faithful. My favorite CD is Kenny Rogers, The Gift. I can't make it through Christmas without it! But my new favorite song this year is an Amy Grant song... a new one.
It's called I Need a Silent Night.
It speaks to my harried soul...
it keeps me moving...
towards Christmas...
the Christmas I want my children to know.

I've made this same mistake before too many malls too many stores
December traffic Christmas rush it breaks me til I push and shove

December comes then disappears faster and faster every year
Did my own Mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night a Holy night to hear an angel voice
Through the chaos and the noise I need a midnight clear
A little peace right here to end this crazy day with a silent night

preparing a way

He is coming...
Baby Jesus...
in the manger...
we are getting ready.
The second week of Advent... it hits, and you realize that the time is much shorter than you thought. But we are okay. Have we fallen short of our Advent goals? Of course, but maybe four nights out of seven is more than we have ever accomplished. And while my goals maybe be lofty to begin with, without them we may not have gotten around to even lighting the second candle on our table... we may not have sat down to read about the meaning of the Christmas tree... Laura would not have been able to tell me that the tree points up, to God... and Camden would not have thought to look at the branches that stretch outwards, like God's arms.
The second week of Advent...
is full of preparation.
He is coming...
and our hearts will be ready.

home safe & sound

It was snowing in Detroit today... how do I know? My Mom was there... and Bob... just passing through... on their way home... from Africa. I was waiting for them at the airport... standing as close to the gate as I dared... peering down the hallway, anxiously awaiting my first glimpse of my favorite travellers. And then, there was an arm... waving high above the crowd. I felt a rush in my heart, and right on down to my toes, as I leaped slightly, and waved back. More waving... sure that we have connected. And as Mom & Bob were closing the gap, my feet were bouncing ... wanting to run the rest of the distance, but knowing that to further approach security would be more than unwelcome. She looked beautiful... the quintessential traveller... her face sprinkled with sunshine... lovely silk scarf tied casually around her neck. Beautiful... and happy. And then finally, her arms were around me... Home. Safe and sound. Although my home is here, with my husband, there will always be a part of me that resides in my mother's arms... heart to heart... home.