the photo...

After a million years {...or maybe twelve} I changed that picture of me over to the right. I'm not sure it is staying, as I do love that shot of my smiling eyes, but for now... it brings a sweet memory to my heart and mind.
: :
Did you ever have $50 burning a hole in your pocket? This fall, due to an airline change, we each had these vouchers. Fifty dollars is not much when you'd like to get away, but I decided to play in the search anyway... and you know what? It was only $45 to fly to Chicago... and only $25 to get back home. Was a weekend in Chicago with a forever friend worth $50? Absolutely. And so... we went.

I love the decadent feeling of a weekend trip... the Friday afternoon quick change, from work to play, and the celebratory cheers while you wait to board. And on this December Friday, our destination was winter. Would there be snow? Probably not. But it didn't make a difference to me because it had been too long since I laughed, in person, with Amy. The plane arrived early and by 9pm Amy was whisking us away from the curb towards our weekend adventure.

We didn't really have grand plans, just one must-do and a few that sounds fun. It was mostly the being away and the being together. We explored the ChristkindlMarket, deserted the crowds for tacos, and admired the holiday windows. Back in her neighborhood there was this little store that beckoned me in... markers and pens might be my love language.

My hands were toting a few treasures around the shop when I noticed the snow start to fall. My squeal of joy led to Eric's warning don't run out of the store with that stuff and so I dropped it all into his hands and bee-lined for the door. 

Two minutes. That's all there was.
Sometimes you really need to just grab the moment and dance in the joy of it, and I'm so glad I did...

the lights go dim...

In an unprecedented move I took the decorations off the tree yesterday. {If you've forgotten, I'm more of a Super Bowl Sunday undecorator.} I had some panic-stress to work off, and putting on my sneakers and taking a walk around the block seemed like more than I could handle... so I just started methodically removing memories from the branches of the tree, wrapping them carefully in tissue. It did the trick, and somehow I began to breathe easier.

The tree still stands in the living room though... with the angel holding court over the light.

It seems January is too soon robbed of the glorious December light. Night by night there is less glow, as Santas are tucked away, and twinkling stars are unstrung from branches and window frames. The lights that brought us such joy in early December are suddenly just a nuisance, gladly boxed up for eleven long months. Before long, the street lights and the moon will be the only guides along the way.

In the dimness... I still long for the light, the joy of each December day.
So I light candles, switch on the fireplace, and let the tree glisten for a few more nights... to hold off the dark. And I find ways to light January.

...remembering the wise men are still on their journey to the manger for two more days.
...listening to music that reminds me to choose joy.
...gathering around the table for game night.
...dancing through the living room.
...seeking His Word.

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

Psalm 119:105

wordless wednesday {ice}

When it rains, look for rainbows.  When it's dark, look for stars...

top right? flamingo feet!

fountain at Erskine College

cam pulled this stick out of the water and it was encased in ice...

Since it was so cold on our trip, we looked for ice!

hiking...

Just last week I was wondering why my fitness gadget had different settings for walking and hiking- I figured they were kind of the same. But as Camden & I started an uphill trek through the woods, it became pretty clear that they are different…

He led, while I trailed just a little behind.  Our sneakers tumbled the leaves that covered the path, and we could hear the crunch of frost beneath them.  The sound made me grin.  Cold may not be everyone’s favorite, but coming from Florida, we appreciated the climate change.

We strayed from the path when we spotted a pool full of trees that had frozen over.  Camden was fascinated by the ice, and I, in turn, was fascinated by him enjoying it.  He prodded the edge with a stick, he put his foot out past the edge and gently shifted his weight until the ice began to give way.  I was enjoying capturing his antics, when I heard him say it sounds awesome! I didn't hear the sound, but I stopped taking pictures and focused on him. He was tossing chunks of ice out over the frozen pool, watching and listening to them skid, echo and smash. It did sound awesome, and I thanked God for the stillness of the forest and that He stilled me, so that I could take it in.   

Back on the path, we encountered trees that were twisted and gnarled.  We followed the trunks from the ground, around and over and eventually up towards the light. Each had its own kind of beautiful... just like people. 

I was out of breath when we spotted the parking lot... but I felt so alive.  Nature has a lovely tale to tell, and if you surround yourself with it and listen, you can hear the story and become a part of it.

more than you know

After only a flurry of warm days, we are back to a Florida chill... and the corners of my mouth are swept up in a smile.  I can't help myself.  And I can't help but let a giggle slip out as the trusty weatherman speaks of the windchill, in Florida.  Today we may be the only state in the nation without snow on the ground, but as I wrap a scarf around my neck on my way out the door, I can pretend I have a little hope that one or two flakes might just fall...

Just weeks ago I was talking to my Mom about all of the acorns the live oak has sprinkled over my driveway... more than any other year since we've lived here.  It'll be a cold winter then, she spoke as she ducked into the car.  And it made me think of Pa and Laura Ingalls coming across that thick-walled muskrat house in The Long Winter, and Pa's seasoned response that it would be a long, cold winter.  Oh yes, the animals know.  Because God provides... by letting the woodland animals know to build their homes a little sturdier, by hanging a few more acorns on an oak.  And my smile grows, just a little wider. 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?
         -Matthew 6:26 AND Luke 12:24 
           (yes, it is in the Bible twice... that is how much He loves us.)


linking up to Amanda @ Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading!

winter transition

Less than a week into January and the Christmas tree was packed away... must be some kind of record for me.  I know we had our issues, but once I lowered my expectations to realistic, the Christmas tree and I got along just fine, and there might have been a little Christmas magic working, because I even managed to fall just a little in love with that tree.  But he's gone to the mulcher by now... and I'm left with the pile of what was under the tree... stray needles included.  Now... my decorations that shout-Christmas-from-the-rooftops are nestled, once again, in layers of tissue.  And the others?  The snow men, stacked three high... the little town that peers down from the shelf... and the nativities I can't bear to tuck away, well, they have become part of winter. 

Winter is... my decorating loophole. 

My justification to have both peppermint and holly and blue & white with rainbow striped scarves.

My excuse to enjoy just a little longer. 

The tiny white triangles speckled across my floor outnumbered the evergreen needles... but my scissors kept snipping and dancing away with my imagination until there were enough to string across the shelves and hang from the lights.  The only snow I'll see here in Florida...

And all the while, trading red glass for blue, green candles for white, I called myself crazy.  In less than a month I'll be hauling the red back out to mix with the pink for Valentine's Day!  But the lacey white and smiling faces drew me right back in and I couldn't help myself. 

Oh, let the crazy blow in the breeze...

outrageous hope

Safe inside our four walls, we watch as winter slinks into our Florida world. Skies are gray and the air is damp. A cold rain sprinkles the earth and the temperatures are dropping from 47 to... who knows. Ham soup is bubbling away in the crock pot and steamy hot chocolate warms Laura's hands... while Camden is squealing from the couch. Because we are watching the weather channel... and there is a mix of rain and sleet in Orlando. Hope is alive... for snow.
What a memory it would be for my kids... and such a gift. As Laura's birthday approaches, I always remember her first Florida birthday... her sweet little self staring out the window waiting for the snow that would never fall. And today I am recalling the recent joy that I have seen on my son's face as he tossed ice cubes into the sky and called it snow... and just last week as he ran and jumped through the soapy snow that fell at Seaworld.

It is an outrageous hope we have... that it might snow in southwest Florida. But it might. And with the possibility lingering over us, no one seems to mind the chil in the air. Not if it would lead to an impossible sight. But I do not believe in the impossible...all things are possible with God. Even snow in the Sunshine State.

the last time they saw real snow...

lasagna & snowflakes

Sunday afternoon became a mess of panic-stricken hurrying to accomplish... something. In my determination, when the computer took time to catch up with itself, I took to cleaning and straightening... not wanting to waste a minute. When the ringing phone interrupted my go-go-going, I paused but then gave in to answering it... since through the magic of caller id I knew who was waiting on the other end. I certainly don't claim to be focused, and I eagerly welcomed distraction from a friend. And it was a call worth answering. An invitation? For dinner? Tonight? I could have said No, I really have so much I need to get done tonight... but I never did fit in a trip to the grocery store and my family was likely to have stale crackers and lunch meat for dinner... so I accepted. It turned out to be more than an invitation... it was also motivation to keep on working... but maybe more than that. Her phone call felt like a life-line in my afternoon... once the offer was made I knew that it was exactly what I needed. An invitation to relax... with friends who don't mind if you show up for dinner in your pajamas. And I suppose there is not much that a glass of wine and a dinner I did not have to cook won't fix. Add in a lesson on making paper snowflakes and a little singing & dancing (complete with jazz hands) in the kitchen and the crushing stress of my procrastination had all but vanished.
Friendship. Laughter. Lasagna. Corny music and jazz hands.
I will have to remember this recipe the next time I pile too much up on life's plate...

Unwrap a Tuesday with Emily at Chatting at the Sky...