Monday, November 30, 2015

Daybook for Advent :: Week One


Outside my window :: There appears a stark, grey, dreary wonderland of cold drizzle which makes inside all the more cozy and warm.



I am wearing :: a seal upon my heart. And grey sweats. And well-worn slippers.

I am listening :: to The Piano Guys holiday station on Pandora

This old house :: We have a brand new basement floor! It's a grey laminate that I chose from Lumber Liquidators - Delaware Bay Driftwood. But now the room begs for a comfy conversation area with a small sofa and a few chairs pulled together by a sweet little area rug, a couple of cozy lamps and pictures on the wall. All in good time, I suppose. After all, it took roughly 20 years for Jim to finish the room! :)

From the kitchen :: There is homemade turkey soup bubbling away on the stove. (Duh! Of course there is. It's four days past Thanksgiving!) It's steaming up the windows and filling the house with it's scrumptious aroma. Perfect weather for it, too!


























I am hearing :: The washing machine churning away the sweat of hard work and the grime of the week gone by, but, no, not the memories of sweet, gooey grandbaby kisses, and the warmth of family and friends gathered in gratitude for all our many blessings. And some really good food!

I am hoping and praying :: That I am able to give my heart and soul, freely, in total abandon, to Jesus this season of Advent, so that when Christmas comes I'll find Him swaddled there.

I am grateful :: For really, really good friends.

Our Father's promise :: from Isaiah
Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths. 

Words to ponder :: Today is the Feast of St. Andrew and so from today's Office of Readings:

From a homily on the Gospel of John by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

We have found the Messiah
After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother. Notice what Andrew said to him: We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ. Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. They reveal the zeal and concern of men preoccupied with this question from the very beginning. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.
Notice, too, how, even from the beginning, Peter is docile and receptive in spirit. He hastens to Jesus without delay. He brought him to Jesus, says the evangelist. But Peter must not be condemned for his readiness to accept Andrew’s word without much weighing of it. It is probable that his brother had given him, and many others, a careful account of the event; the evangelists, in the interest of brevity, regularly summarize a lengthy narrative. Saint John does not say that Peter believed immediately, but that he brought him to Jesus. Andrew was to hand him over to Jesus, to learn everything for himself. There was also another disciple present, and he hastened with them for the same purpose.
When John the Baptist said: This is the Lamb, and he baptizes in the Spirit, he left the deeper understanding of these things to be received from Christ. All the more so would Andrew act in the same way, since he did not think himself able to give a complete explanation. He brought his brother to the very source of light, and Peter was so joyful and eager that he would not delay even for a moment.
Picture words ::
Realizing there's some catching up to do, here are just a few pictures from Megan and Jake's North Carolina April wedding. 
All photos are courtesy of Kate Mary Photography








































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