anatomy of a tree

HOMEMADE ORNAMENTS, YO.







WE HUNG A WREATH AND SOME LIGHTS IN THE BACK...





AND I GOT OUT THE NATIVITY SCENE GRANDMA GAVE ME:




M has taken to arranging one single light from that lamp over the nativity... eastern star and all. :) as a piece of trivia, when I was in second grade I was moved to get out my little new testament bible and memorize Matthew chapter 2, the whole chapter. just because I wanted to, and I liked the story of Jesus' birth.

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why is this holiday season so flipping FAST?! we got a really good jump on our christmas shopping Sunday, which takes a bit of the edge off. here are some scenes from Garage Sale - Round One from this past Saturday:




GOOD MORNING, STARSHINE!







I MADE A GOOD SOUP (IT WAS 'SUPPOSED' TO BE A CHILI - BUT I ADDED TOO MUCH STOCK SO WHATEVER). HERE'S J.B. ENJOYING IT!



MEANWHILE, THE DOG WAS INSIDE SLEEPING IT OFF...




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that night we headed to Sagemont for their Christmas Carnival... here's M with L.B., who sang her heart out in perfect pitch in the choir:



and us and the B's:




they really put on a show, with Christmas songs and aerial performers and a real camel! what hit my heart like a ton of bricks, however, was the image of Jesus (I loved that he was backlit), walking out and talking to the children. the message of Him. the trite-sounding sentiment about God loving me. it stopped my momentum and made me cry and I realized how desperate my need is, how much I miss my meetings lately, how drifting and busyness and lack of sleep and exercise and prayer can shorten my fuse and set me so on edge. our class Sunday morning confirmed in me that I need discipline in these areas to be the kind of person and wife and friend and worker I'm meant to be, and want to be.


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I'm currently enjoying a holiday tradition from my childhood - hot chocolate w/ marshmallows, made from a mix my mother used to whip up every year and keep in a tupperware container. I mixed powdered milk, powdered creamer, and Nesquick, and added some salt substitute for a twist. I also considered adding a dash of cayenne pepper, for a kick, but the cupboard was bereft of cayenne. as is, 5-6 heaping tablespoons in a Christmas mug with some hot water and a small handful of little marshmallows, and it tastes like I'm 12 again.

-m.y.