Angst… or Peace

Coming home, and coming down with the flu was not part of the plan. Expectations? Shattered.

That’s a little dramatic, but feverish sleep, forced rest, and doing nothing was not what I expected for my Christmas break.

It is an in-between season right now. A year in Canada, 3+ weeks with family in Texas, and then another year in Canada.

My roots have grown down, and people-roots have grown too. They’re pulled up, abruptly but gently – and it is for a greater purpose.

I know that I can trust my Creator, my Saviour, my Grower. His big master plan is more beautiful and magnificent that I can see on this side of the tapestry.

Philippians 1:6 – His work is going on in my life, and He will carry it to completion.

I may not understand the why of this sickness, or the how and what of this in-between season – but I can trust. And that’s what I’ll do.

Jesus is my hope, the anchor for my soul, firm and secure.

The Doxology:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.

And Merry Christmas! This time of slowing down and rest and refocusing is so important, even if this flu forced it on me.

Just like there is a reason behind the seasons God leads my life through, there’s a reason for Christmas. Let’s reflect on the reason for this season… And it’s about Jesus. His first coming, His love, His life. Also is sacrificial death, and the reconciliation we can have with God the Father. He died, and He rose again. That’s why we celebrate Easter in the spring.

And Jesus Christ, our glorious Saviour Messiah, will return again, so very soon. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus! Now, I live my life for Him, through every crazy season that He brings in my life.

Christmas

a day in the life, photos, words

^ My sisters and I bring Mom and Dad breakfast in the morning. Tea, coffee, muffins.

^ the Christmas tree.

^ This is the candy cane lady. She’s been in the family for as long as I can remember, but she’s been around for a more than that too – her base says 1954.

^ I made this apple pie. And for your information, Betty Crocker makes a better pie crust than Nourishing traditions or those girls from the pie shop in Brooklyn. (whose recipes I’ve used previously.)

^ My super cool camera lens mug from Photojojo.

^ Melissa in all her new winter wear, looking like she stepped out of an Anthropologie ad. [handmade boots + gloves, and scarf and forever 21 headband.]

^ Dad held Riette alot. She’s adorable.

^ A big delicious dinner. It made for delicious leftovers too.

^ At the very end of the evening we went to see Christmas lights. I fell asleep on the drive home.

…

Christmas Day

a day in the life, photos, words

jared, esther, asher, jotham, kara, and gabi came to david and charlotte’s for breakfast on Christmas day. we ate lots of yummy food. then we opened presents, and then we were just hanging around, making food and getting ready for Christmas dinner. then lots of the michnovicz’s came over and we ate more food. then mom, dad, amy, and i went on a walk, during which my ears froze. i stopped alot to take pictures, and then ran to catch up with them. we played canasta, at more food, and had a great time.

^ jared and asher

^presents!

^ this necklace and these earrings are from melissa.

^ new mexican. michnovicz. lots. good.

^ look at those good-looking mashed potatoes. and gravy, and turkey.

^ asher and gabi with cousin joanna

…

this day was filled with tea companies.

a day in the life, photographic journeys, photos, thoughts, words

including, the new mexico tea company, full of lovely loose leaf tea in canisters, at which i took no digital photos. why, you ask? because film is better. at least, film slrs are better than digital compacts.

and secondly, the boba tea company. lovely casanova smooches.

and, in that lovely part of albuquerque (by unm) there was a buffalo exchange, an urban outfitters, and a camera + darkroom store. i need to go back.

^feet

^melissa

^ at boba tea

^ the red arrow

^ and, mexican markets. like hmart, but not korean. mexican.

…

christmastime in new mexico! mainly, SNOW!

a day in the life, photos, stories, thoughts, words

my family and i are now in new mexico for christmas! we drove in yesterday, the 22nd, and tonight we will hang out with auntie steph, and tomorrow is christmas eve and the day after tomorrow is…. CHRISTMAS! and, also, it’s snowing! or was. lovely large flakes (unromantic word… how about fluffs?) falling from the sky. this clara and i woke up to uncle david making coffee, and then clara sits up and is like “look out the window! it’s snowing!” so i do, and of course, it is. and it’s beautiful! after waking up more, we bundled up and went outside. we made snow angels, and snow flowers, and a snow man. and then auntie steph drove up in her new car, which we didn’t recognize, honked at us, and we ate breakfast with her and stuff. she brought reindeer antlers, and chocolate. and then mom and dad and amy and melissa came out, and we had a lovely giant snowball fight. we all threw snowballs at dad, because he was the worst, or best, at hitting us. getting hit on the behind with a rock hard snowball hurts. but, i got him back. and when i had my little digital camera and film slr, i was immune from getting hit by snowballs. it was great.