Lean Into the Darkness

Advent Longing

In the darkness of the season, in the silence of Mary’s womb,

          new life waits and grows.

          Hope is shaped in hidden places,

          on the edges, in the depths

          far from the blinding lights and deafening sounds of consumer frenzy.

In the darkness and silence of my own life,

          I wait,

          listening for the whisper of angel wings,

          longing for a genuine experience of mystery,

          hoping for a rekindling of joy and the establishment of peace.

I lean into the darkness

         and silence.

         Expectant.

                                                            ~Larry J. Peacock

I need to remember to TARRY!

"The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. . . . What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God's (back) fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon."

~~Jan L. Richardson

Mea Culpa!

Despite committing to blog two weeks ago, I did not come through. Helping Chuck get ready for his knee replacement surgery plus Christmas preparations kept me busy the first week. Then one week ago today, Chuck's right knee was replaced by an excellent orthopedic surgeon and his staff. So this week has been even busier than the first one!

Although not true, I have been feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do. In fact, I cried and fell apart last Thursday when Chuck was released from the hospital. Getting him home, out of the car and into the house, I forgot that the car had been parked by the back door for easiest entry for him. However that meant the gate was NOT closed, and forgetting that, I let the dogs out--who streaked off.

Cisco, the older German Shepherd mix, came back when called, but crazy Maisie (Lab and hound mix) had disappeared. She does this at any opportunity and that's when my tears let forth. . . .as I went off to drive the neighborhood, trying to spot Maisie.

Somehow Chuck felt sorry for me in his own pain and called me up to tell me to come home. After I did, someone called to say they had found Maisie and would walk her home. Even though Maisie bolted again, this kind young woman ran her down and brought her back. People are so good.

I have not noticed Advent as much as usual, with Chuck's surgery. He had some rough days at the beginning, but has been doing better since the weekend. His mobility is increasing, and he has cut his pain meds way back.

I still have to drive him places, because his right knee was replaced. We've heard stories that it will take a month before he is able to lift his foot and leg quickly enough to drive. Only three more weeks! But it's easy to take him around, especially because he is so cheerful.

Center Oneself

From Shalem on Facebook

Our Granddaughters

Avery and Emma

Thanks to our son and these girls' daddy DC, here is a picture of our beloved granddaughters in Austin this past weekend. I am glad that they will spend Christmas with us!

Advent Is A Time of Creation

"In the beginning, the Spirit brooded over the face of the waters and God spoke and there was Light. Likewise, in the fullness of time, an angel announced to Mary and the same creative Spirit visited her and she conceived the Son of God. This Advent, our Advent, is equally a time of creation. God's same Spirit abides in us--brooding over our waters--shaping and forming us, being formed and shaped by us. We are God's creative works in process. God alone knows what we shall become. What might God have in store in the fullness of our time? In the beginning, God created Light. In Mary, God became flesh. What will God become in us this Advent? Is there room in us for God's seed to take root and grow? God has visited us with grace and favor. Are we ready to become Light?"

~~by Thomas Hoffman

Slow Down. Quiet. It's Advent!

Some years ago, a friend gave me this Advent poster that has been taped on the inside of my pantry door ever since then. Every Advent, I look at it again, even though the suggestions could be used daily!

AND this year I finally ordered some of these from Forward Movement. If you want one, it is entitled "2014 Slow Down. Quiet. It's Advent." The cost is $12 for 25 copies.

Sorry I am so late with this thought--or at least in sharing it.

Below you'll see what suggestions are given for the first three days of Advent.


And here's how it looks:

And in Texas. . . .

I am sad at all the weather problems in the north, but here in TX about the only snowmen we ever get are these:

from Facebook

Ha-Ha to the Dogs!

Window open

Window closed

Our cat likes to taunt our dogs from the safety of the kitchen. She was officially named "Gracie" by youngest daughter MJ, but she's known as "Kitty" these days.

Visitors!

Daughters AE and KA came to see us on a brief trip from Seattle to Texas. They spent Friday night with us and Saturday night in Austin with their nieces Avery and Emma (and their parents).

Daughter-in-law KA and Emma in Austin

For Emma's first birthday, her parents gave her a matching chair (purple) to her older sister's Avery's pink chair. Even at 1 year old, Emma already prefers her older sister's chair--sibling rivalry!

Congenial idol?

We are your people and mostly we don’t mind,

          except that you do not fit any of our categories.

We keep pushing

                    and pulling

                    and twisting

                    and turning,

          trying to make you fit the God we would rather have,

                    and every time we distort you that way

                              we end up with an idol more congenial to us.

In our more honest moments of grief and pain

          we are very glad that you are who you are,

          and that you are toward us in all your freedom

          what you have been toward us.

So be your faithful self

          and by your very engagement in the suffering of the world,

          transform the world even as you are being changed.

We pray in the name of Jesus,

          who is the sign of your suffering love. Amen.

(In anticipation of reading Jeremiah 4-6/2000)

Brueggemann, Walter. Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003. 147.

Carrot and Ginger Soup Recipe

Now that it is fall, I feel like I can make soups again. I love to make soups!

This is Jan’s adaptation to the original recipe of Carrot and Ginger Soup in The New England Soup Factory Cookbook (171). The ingredients in parenthesis are the original components, which I did not use.

3 Tbsp. butter

2 whole cloves garlic, peeled

1 onion, peeled and diced

3 ribs celery sliced (2 ribs)

3 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced

3 Tbsp. peeled and chopped fresh ginger

4 cups vegetable stock (or chicken)

1 tsp. coriander

1 tsp. cumin  (1 tsp. ginger)

½ cup honey

2 cans coconut milk (1 ½ cups heavy cream)

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic, onion, celery, carrots, and gingerroot. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Pour the stock over the vegetables and bring to a boil. Lower the heat slightly and simmer until the carrots are soft and tender, about 30-35 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Add the spices and honey. Puree the soup in the pot using a hand blender or working in batches with a regular blender until smooth.

Add the coconut milk and season with salt and pepper. Stir (and maybe warm) until the ingredients are well combined.

Makes 8-10 servings.

From this highly recommended cookbook:

Druker, Marjorie and Silverstein, Clara. New England Soup Factory Cookbook. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007. 171.

Monday

I am on a jury panel, so I will be going back to the courthouse for questioning and jury selection after lunch. So I will post this nice picture Chuck took of Emma and me this past weekend:




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday Five: Random!

1. How do you sign off in your emails, professional and personally?

Automatically, my emails end with "The highest form of wisdom is kindness,"
-The Talmud

2. If you were an animal TODAY, what is it and why?

Dog, because I would be very loving, which is how I want to be visiting my granddaughters this weekend in Austin.

3. If you get snarky, what triggers it? If you don’t get snarky, please, what is the secret?

Not too often, because I am too passive-aggressive, though trying to grow into honesty.

4. Look up from your computer/tablet/phone screen. What is the first
favorite thing your eyes land on. Describe it. (For example, I just
did this, and my eyes landed on a little angel made out of multicolored
wires whose head and wings are quite askew because of being chewed upon
by my puppy. That aside, I love it because it was a gift from two
little girls who came often to my office in my last call to play with
all the tshotke on my table. They wanted to add to it.)

I am rushing before leaving to see those granddaughters, so I see our kitty sitting about three feet away while looking at me suspiciously, probably suspecting that we are leaving soon. (When I returned from my weekend with Nancy in San Antonio on Monday this kitty BIT me on my leg!)

5. Do you have a favorite pair of socks? Tell us about them!

I like colorful socks, but don't get to wear them often here in south TX. I like some green and blue striped ones a lot.

San Fernando Cathedral Light Show in San Antonio

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My Friend Nancy

Nancy and I met each other at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan in 1962(3?) so we have been friends for over 50 years. Since I grew up in a military family and moved every few years, I don't have any other "childhood" friends that I am still in touch with.

Every five years or so, we go on a trip together. This year Nancy is flying to San Antonio, where we will attend an ART workshop on Saturday and Sunday. She flies in Thursday night, and I will drive there tomorrow. She will stay until Monday when she must return to CA to her family and her teaching job.

Here is a picture of Nancy from our last trip together--New Mexico in 2010.

Nancy at Chaco Canyon 2010

 I am excited about seeing Nancy and exploring San Antonio together on Friday. Nancy is much more artistic than I am (not), so this will be a growth experience at the workshop this weekend for me!

Saint Francis

My friend Louise has this Saint Francis statue at her house from her mother.

Quiet Day at Home

Detachment?

This is a profound thought I saw on Facebook:

Jan and Emma

This must have been taken the weekend of Emma's baptism in May. She was 7 months old then and will be 1 year old in three weeks. Her dad just sent me the pic from his phone, which makes me very happy.