Mary!

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name,

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever even as he said to our fathers."

I'm out there on a limb with my heart, today...


The Christmas Story is a story full of weakness, of complications and, quite a bit, of absolutely frightening situations. Mary and Joseph faced it with a lot of 'can do', 'make do' coping - all while knowing that they had the very Son of God - in a very tender and helpless state - in their care.

No pressure!

Not worrying about Joseph, at the moment, but thinking about Mary...

I think it is so easy, when looking at those beautiful Renaissance Madonnas and hearing about how 'Mary meekly bowed her head' and acquiesced, to receive the message that Mary was really in a perfectly peaceful, 'float through it all', 'it's no hardship at all to do good' state. I mean, whether we really think that or not - the idea is out there.

I just know that, for me, there's this little bit of fluff in the back of my mind that has been told that she was one of those 'have it all together', perfect girls. I could almost believe (from those paintings) that she was perfectly pretty and always spoke exactly the right thing in a 'saintly' voice. Not that I really think this or that it's ever led me to resent her in any way.... of course not! It's just... who is like that in reality? I know that I will never ever be that good or perfect. That's just a fairytale!

But I've been thinking recently, "Mary was real!" (I mean, I knew that already! ;) ) ...but, lately, I've been thinking about it in a fresh way.

Was she the most lady-like woman ever? I mean, did she drink her tea with her pinky up? She was a peasant!! And almost a child, herself! We see her so often depicted in royal, satin robes with the prettiest and most serene face ever and I think that is an accurate depiction of her spiritual situation and her inner heart. However, what if her face was plain? What if she had a funny, odd - even loud - laugh?

One thing I know for sure - her life was NOT perfectly easy!
 

And, whatever her personality type - whatever Mary was like on the outside, what we know for sure is that her quietness was a state of HEART. Her spirit was quiet because she was humble - yielded. She was chilled out because she loved God and completely trusted Him! 

and...

I have been SO tongue-tied trying to get to the heart of what I really want to say here but, in a nutshell, it's this:

Quietness is a state of letting God be God and letting us be us trusting in God. It's not about us being all strong and perfect. It's about GOD being all strong and perfect.

So!

Perspective and trust in God - that's where Mary's quiet 'okay, God!" came from. But it doesn't mean it was all easy.

Then, this dear heart burst into adoration and love for her God. She said "My soul, my very heart, my deepest depths -  magnify and praise you to the skies! I adore you with all my heart - my Lord, Father, God, Savior! and my face beams with happiness - my heart bursts with utter joy - my spirit rejoices in you, my God, whose works and ways are like no one else because you are GOD, my Savior!

I was thinking that my word for the day was 'humble' but, really, I think that it is weakness! Because it's when we're blown apart and trusting God with the 1% of strength we have left in us that we are the most humble, the strongest and the most tenderly beautiful. Weakness is beautiful!

Just look at this precious Christmas story! It's in every line!

xo

Pine Pitch!

So! Perhaps you will remember that day number two's word was provision! And, then, after I had decided on the word, I found out that we were in some very serious need of. Well, a major provision DID come through (THANK GOODNESS!!) and, this afternoon, I needed to take an unplanned trip up to Rutland town with Tom to sign papers and pick it up. ;) So, I've already written another post for today but got back too late to take pictures and, anyway, I need to move on and get something else done with the family and for my home today.

So!

This evening, we are decorating our trees and I think that the perfect word for today is: PINE PITCH! Don't ask me why in the world that came to mind! :P ;)

Till tomorrow! :)

xo

Falalalalaaaaa lalalaLA! :)

Three French Hens!

This little advent project was conceived as just an easy, soul feeding escapade. A little joy, for me, at Christmas time and, then, who knows? Perhaps someone would read it and it would make them smile or encourage them or something. It was all going well until yesterday. Yesterday, I had an idea that set off fireworks in my creative spirit. Suddenly, I was making grand and complicated plans for a photo shoot, etc. Actually, I guess, this project has primed the pump and I have all sorts of lovely ideas flowing. Feeling overwhelmed, I punted with a 'simple' idea that I had when I first started, to photograph those pretty and festive doors. Then, today came and I had a good ol' think.

Thing is, I'm not going to make it.

I mean, I'm not going to get everything done that I want to do before Christmas. I never do. I've been trying to keep things simple but, I realized, today, there's that piece of perfectionism in me that is so sneaky and can so easily take over my heart and mind.

So, it is determined! Instead of giving sway to decisions that wipe me out and take over my life, I am going to live Practically and by Priorities! Isn't this something that we're always supposed to be doing? But isn't it so easy to get turned around at this time of year? Well, it's hard to explain but I've let go of something inside of me that shouldn't have been there and am just going to live! Nothing is the end of the world - really!

Anyhoo! This gave me the freedom to punt, once again, with an idea that's kept coming to me. A simple idea! Photograph the hens that are constantly pecking around in my garden right outside my window! They can be 'three French hens'!! Trouble is! Are any of them French?

So I went outside and asked,

"Pardonez! Excusez moi! Il y a une poule parmi vous qui parle francais?"

I'm not quite sure what they said but...

they sounded a lot like what I imagine French hens would sound like. Just not sure about the accent....

In any case....

...look at those fluffy petticoats!! They must be french!

xo

P.S. For those of you 'in the know'... yes! Those are green eggs! ;)

Windows all aglow....

Did you know that the reason that the pineapple is a symbol for hospitality is because, in Colonial Days, when a ship's captain would return from exotic climes, there would be a pineapple placed on his fence post and that would mean that, within the week, there would be a grand party to welcome him home?

What a magical time Christmas is! I mean - truly! The lights - the decorations - the way our homes are warmer and more welcoming than any other time of the year. The festive wreaths on every door, the glimpses of twinkling lights, the candles in the windows.... they speak of such a generosity of spirit - of such hospitality inside! Honestly! They make me want to say, "God bless us - each and every one of us!" ;)

Well. They do...!!

It's just the most wonderful time of the year!! =)

The pictures are from around my little New England town...

xo

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing!

For the past few years, I've felt a mounting concern that I've just heard and sung Christmas Carols far too many times to take them in any more. I can remember when, back in my teens, I memorized all the verses of all of the carols. It wasn't hard. I grew up in a church that had an amazingly rich and beautiful music program and singing in, at least, 3-4 choir concerts in December was quite normal for me. We sang those carols a lot!

 

But, it wasn't just memorizing the carols that meant so much to me, they really, truly are my favorite hymns. The words get to the very heart of what life is all about for me - "Emmanuel" or...

..."God with us!"

Anyway! That's how this whole holiday got started!! (Just ask St. Nick! He'll tell you!!)

The Carols contain the most astounding and deep phrases and, today, the old familiar Carol that caught my heart afresh was, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! The phrase that made me go get the carol to read it was

"Risen with healing in His wings!" 

Just to have someone in my life who sees and knows the depths of me - including the not so stellar moments and all of the yuck - and to have them wipe it away and be nonplussed by it - giving me an eternal fresh start! Someone who always expects and knows the best of me - just to have that One who absolutely delights in me - believes in me - thinks that I am of inestimable worth... how could a person not be healed and whole in such a safe and loved place?!

So, my word for the day is healing!

 I feel it!

But my picture is of an angel. ;) The angel is from the Coalport Nativity set that my mom so thoughtfully got us when Tom and I were first married. And, yes! She's missing her thumbs. It was a 'too much candy cane, sugar-high, ball wielding' child's accident from years ago! I've got them safe somewhere so that, someday, I can have them reattached and my angel, too, will be.... ;)

xo

Nur Ar Det Jul Igen

Somehow, it just doesn't feel like Christmas-time, yet, this year. I'm not sure if it's because I missed Halloween and it's made everything feel 'off' and unreal since then or, perhaps, it's the unusually warm weather we're having. I just know that I've been given a second chance in life and am washing windows like a fiend but... I don't have any Christmas decorations up, yet.

I think one of the problems is that, this year, we skipped a tradition that we started about 15 years ago. Back in those days, Grandma lived in Massachusetts (about two hours away) and, by the time the Thanksgiving feast was over, we would bundle our young, overtired boys into the car and set off in the dark for the long drive home. We would put on Garrison Keillor's Christmas CD, Now It Is Christmas Again, and look at the beautiful Christmas lights. Now, Grandma lives next door; so - no drive!

I've been waiting for a moment when the whole family is hanging out to put it on but that just isn't happening; so, I put it on for myself, today, and the first strains began and....

....I cried!

(and, here, I'm wanting to share it so that you can hear the first bit but, sometimes there's an ad - sometimes, not - but it's only 5 seconds if you do get it! On the other hand... the commercial they've got going, this evening is ummmm... er.... sigh. ;) )

So, the word for today is tradition.

We wouldn't know where we are or what time it is without them!

Anyway, what a funny coincidence! Those few lines, translated, are 'Now it is Yuletide again!'

Finally!!

If you have time, I would so love to hear any of your traditions that you enjoy at this time of year!!

xo

*The song is a Danish Christmas Carol. The picture is of my great grandparents in Denmark with some of my Grandpa's younger siblings. (In all, there were 22 of them! ;) ) I've noticed, the song gets my dad all choked up and teary eyed, too! ;)

Provision!

I know that old adage that one should never speak about money, politics or religion (at the dinner table, anyway) but, oh, how many wonderful stories get lost because of it. Well, really, I'm talking about the money part. You see, so many of us who live in Vermont live here for the lifestyle and not the stellar economy. I know what it's like to have plenty and to be in want (to borrow a phrase ;) ) but, really, even when I'm white knuckling it through the grocery store, I.am.SO blessed!!!! We are so rich!!

And, so it is that, today, as I was thinking about what word and what picture to share, the word provision came so strongly to me over and over and OVER again. Therefore, I am going to share a picture that is similar to yesterday's but, this time, I'll focus on our Christmas tree.

The story goes like this:

A friend of ours called to say that they had bought a Christmas tree for their daughter but she said she would prefer a smaller tree, this year. They thought of us and would we like to have this Christmas tree as a gift? We wonder every single year how we are going to afford our two trees and we have so many amazing and precious stories about how they come to us! ;) (and, before you suggest it - NO! We can't just have one. ;) ) 

Well, Tom went to get the tree and the truth came out. This tree had been by the side of the road for two days. On the third, it was decided that it was fair game - none of the other neighbors wanted it and, so, it was claimed and offered to us. It's beautiful! It's perfect! It's our roadkill Christmas Tree! :)

The truly amazing thing is, I would rather have shared something, today, that was different from yesterday's pictures but the word 'PROVISION' really just kept coming so strongly to mind. Then, we got some, er, challenging news.....

God is so kind and compassionate! He's got it covered and He'll provide! He made sure I knew it before!! I just can't even begin to explain the peace and gratitude...

The wood the boys stacked, yesterday...

xo

a winter's table

A month ago (ahem. whistle, whistle.... oh! Alright! At Christmas-time.... =P), we had several weeks of company for dinner. The friends and family kept rolling in - a wave of fun that lasted well into the beginning of January! This year, however, I didn't feel like setting a very rich Christmas table but, having had snowflakes on the brain since we had seen some of  Snowflake Bentley's photos* in November and being inspired by this and the general ambiance that was on my winter Pinterest board, I set simply a wintry themed table. It was basically blue and white, lacey, with evergreens instead of flowers and a splash of Swedish style. For two weeks, I just kept washing and resetting and enjoying the table. I have to confess that the last luncheon I enjoyed at it was a very light chicken waldorf salad with greens. Anyway, I thought that I would just quickly share it with you before winter is long gone - in my dreams, anyway.  My thoughts started turning towards color and spring when I flipped the calendar page to February. Time to get organized and order seeds for the garden! =D

By the way, lest any of you feel sorry for me after my last post... 'my ship came in' in regards to Christmas gifts in January. Our little financial bottleneck popped open in a lovely way and I was caught in a flood of very happy gifts - things that I had been hoping and waiting a long, long time for. Some of them including, a new hood over the stove, Photoshop, new boots and warm socks (it's true!) and a punch ladle. All that I can say is that I seriously 'cleaned up' this year! ;-)

By the way.... if you're interested in some artsy takes on the table (heh, heh! =D), I, also, posted about it here. =]

(pssst! There's the punch ladle!)

...and, when I do the dishes, this is what I see out of the window over my sink!

Have I ever mentioned how good life is?

xo

* Snowflake Bentley, a Vermonter no less, was the first person to ever photograph a snowflake. He was the one that discovered that no two are alike. Tom and I saw some of his photos and sketches at the Fairbanks museum in St. Johnsbury, this past Autumn.