sightings

things you see around the house when you're sharing it with a three year old again.  miss Z. has been creative and cute, and thanks to her the Haitian nativity scene has appeared in some unusual locations in recent days...

it's hard for me not to grab an immediate and obvious spiritual application, like how Jesus can be found in the unexpected places, in the messy chaos, or how He wishes to meet us right where we're at, etc...

nope, not gonna expand on this too much today. :)  you're welcome.  

i'm barely awake, after all.   

as we slide into Christmas and the season of Hope and Joy and Promise, may we find more of Jesus in the day to day...

love to all!

my unofficial official pastry chef

well, Layla just might have the job title~ the new pastry chef of the house, quite literally!  recently she helped me whip up some pie pastry and a couple apple pies as well, and it turned out to be some of the very best tasting, flakiest pie crust i've we've turned out from this very kitchen!  i was so impressed and admit it's taken years of practice and tinkering and just like that, first time ever, she stirred and floured and rolled out the best pastry we've tasted in awhile.  i was most impressed!

 

you're hired Layla! a batch of pastry every two to three months would be just perfect! :)

the list

a certain 11 year old in our home no longer buys into the Santa version of Christmas.  he knows where his wrapped treasures originate from and how they make their way to the base of the sparkling tree in our family room.  even still~ he made this Christmas list recently as store flyers and catalogues (Canadian Tire, Indigo, Toys R Us, Walmart!) have arrived in abundance to his hopeful, perusing eyes.  there has been much conversation about the selected items, lots of contemplation, and many edits to the list.  almost to the point of it crossing the line between excited anticipation to obsessive consumption of each and every "must have".

when i noticed the most recent edits to the list with the accompanying circled request just sitting there on the island, i realized he may need to face the harsh reality soon.  might need a bit of a Christmas message "reset" too...a couple good Christmas books or even a viewing of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" might do the trick.  

i remember the anticipation i felt as a kid too, not that different from AJ at all!  i can't blame him for his enthusiasm and this really did make me smile...got me to thinking that there probably won't be many more years of lists like this one! :) i'm trying to take it all in...

National Adoption Month

taking in this fourteen minute video is surely the best time you could possibly spend today staring at a screen.  if you do, you will be a participant in watching the wonder of how God's love moves through adoption.  it is jaw-droppingly fantastic, much like our very own miraculous adoption story and part two of the same. it's soooo like God, and it's worth every second.  i needed a Kleenex while viewing, you might as well.  but i assure you, they are tears of the best possible kind....

take in Chloe's story

cross country 2018

these three did it again!  

so thankful for their strong determined legs that carry them so easily...

 so many competitors at SWOSSAA

 but only two from GLSS in Layla's division...they did awesome!

grade eight boys in red!  Hudson's last year in elementary school!  Crazy...

AJ snagging the hardware....third place!

love you three!  you are so fun to watch!

life giving words

you know...seems fitting to link to some really great song lyrics this week.  these two songs have reached deep into my heart and spirit these days and brought life and promise and truth.  beyond thankful for words that remind me of God's great love and care and purpose for my life and the lives of those around me, big and small, young and old, hurting and broken...haven't done this in awhile, so i hope it's a refreshing gift to you as well.  a little soul pick-me-up!

Matthew West~ Broken Things

Rend Collective~ Rescuer

the extractions

poor kid.  four wisdom teeth were mercilessly removed (drill and all) during Hannah's first fall reading week of her university experience.  it wasn't exactly the relaxing and comfortable break she anticipated, but nevertheless, the experience is behind her~ the teeth are out, the drugs have worn off (can you say loopy? :)), the fainting/vomiting spell is behind us, and she's well on her way to feeling normal again.  

the side blessing (isn't there usually one if you search for it?) was lots of napping on the couch for her, lots of time to "catch up" for us, the chance for me to love on her in lots of tangible ways, and some shopping together before she went back to school.  she returned yesterday with this experience behind her and we're both pretty glad about that. 

and now the second half of term one is underway.  already looking forward to Christmas!