Hope

Yes, well... guess what today is? If you guess the first Sunday in Advent you would be correct! It is the Sunday of Hope. I know we go through this every single year but hey, there is comfort in tradition and I like the practice of remembering. I like the cycle of it all. Today is the beginning of a new church year and the waiting and preparation begins like every year, and I feel a deep sense of reverence and privilege in that.

Part of today's sermon focused on the what we do while we're waiting. Do we just sit and wring our hands or do we prepare and enjoy the ride? God has a plan and so very much of the time we don't know what that plan is until it happens. I've been waiting for something and it may or may not be in God's plan for me... but I pray and I wait none the less... and I've gotten so much better at enjoying the ride! What I really need to start doing is preparing myself for the possibility because there are things I could be and should be doing to get ready. I sound cryptic, I know, but this blog is here for no other reason than to help me sort out what's in my mind - not necessarily to explain myself to others :-)

And so, she says with a smile, it's time to focus on the present once again...

I've been gathering photos of Joshua to use for part of the decorations at the engagement party this coming weekend - I've tried to get different ages... it's been sweet to look at the pictures and see how he's grown, to see the progression from baby to man... my boy... sniff sniff sigh. He was such an adorable little fella, smiling always... I think that's what touches me so much about looking at pictures of my children - so many smiles, such happy faces. I've had to have done something right somewhere along the way if I have that...

Photo Shoot Commentary

The pictures posted in the previous posts are from the photography association shoot Rebecca did in July. We went and looked at them today... so so very beautiful. I don't know how to put into words seeing her looking so classic and poised... my daughter, my baby girl -

Photo Shoot 2

Photo Shoot 1

Time Flies

So here we are, November already, and not just the beginning of November but the tail end of it. Where has all the time gone? Christmas is just around the corner... I've actually bought a few gifts, believe it or not. There is an engagement party in a few weeks, which, if I may say, has turned into a ridiculously expensive endeavor. It will be fun and a special night but sheesh, the food has turned out to be crazy high. Oh, well, it's just money, right? I've also got a car issue looming - that's set me into a slight money panic too but what will be will be and I will manage it somehow, right? Whew, thanks for the encouragement!

Life has been pluggin' along. Not much has changed. Work is work and going ok. We've had a few successes lately and a new crop of volunteers trained. I've been doing pilates at the dance studio a few nights a week and I'm finding I really enjoy it. It kicks my fanny while I'm in there but I love it afterwards and I think it's actually tightening up a few places. I have more work to do on the nutrition end of it but that's coming along slowly. I manage to do well during the week but find the weekends hard. The kids always seem to want to eat, darn it, and they're never happy with the "healthy" stuff. My issue though, I know. I'm workin' on it.

My Gamecocks are doing well! It's been fun to watch them play. Next weekend will be a big game against the team whose name we shall not type. We'll be at my folks next weekend to celebrate our Thanksgiving tradition and watch the game. Mom's not said yet what she wants to do about food. Some years she likes to do a big meal and other years she likes pickup foods. I'm thinking she's gonna request the pickup variety this year - which is fine with me. The kids have been invited to their paternal grandparents... it doesn't bother me to be alone for a while that day. It's not about that moment, for me, ultimately it's about all the moments outside of that. Once upon a time I felt like I'd lost the tradition, the practice. I've found, actually, that a nice turkey dinner and giving thanks can happen on November 20th instead of November 25th. I've found that any dinner can be a Thanksgiving dinner - it all depends on the connection, affection, and love brought to the table from everyday life.

And so, there you have it - my tiny little update... next Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent - the beginning of the new church year. I lot will be happening in the next four/five weeks... I pray we all have a season full of love and wonderment....