Top Moments of 2013

1.  Trimmed the gigantic holly bush in front of the house.  After five weekends and the use of three different ladders, it was finished.

2.  Took frequent neighborhood walks - passed Larew Avenue, the big wooded lot, Lewis Apartments and Noel Street along the way. 

3.  Enrolled Christina in Classical Conversations; sent Daniel on his way to live in Maple Valley, WA; helped Maria make preparations for studying in New Zealand after graduating from high school in May.

4.  Hung white Christmas lights in basement to create a cool atmosphere for the young adults who hang out here on Sunday evenings.

5.  Read a good number of books and re-read some others.

6.  Celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary.

7.  Worked with staff at the Centers for Independent Living to improve the lives of West Virginia’s with disabilities.

8.  Showed up at Sunday services each week in order to make space for what God is doing in our community of believers.

9.  Talked to Jeff about his work as an engineer, to Dan about the goings on in the neighborhood, to Betty about her yard and to Jen about her Germanic heritage.

10.  Helped friends who are starting a church for the down and outers, drug addicts and prostitutes of 3^rd Avenue.

11.  Took some photos, played with Chelsea, wrote notes, mowed the lawn a few dozen times, mourned a friend, cleaned the basement, fed the birds, offered hospitality to friends…

12.  Lived fully in our immediate locale where we found context for living steadily and deeply in God.

It's a Builders Dream

A young local small town builder plies his trade of creating, building and repairing.  From all appearances things are normal as he goes about his work and interacts with customers, but in reality he is distracted…even troubled.  His mind wanders to a personal problem.  A problem that is bigger than his next repair. 

He has recently learned, to his amazement and embarrassment, that the woman he is about to marry, the woman he is committed to and cares for, is pregnant.  His days are filled with struggle and uncertainty, anger and hurt.  Finally he arrives at a conclusion.  He will take care of things quietly so that she will not be disgraced. 

Sleep.  Precious sleep finally comes but with it an unsettling dream; the kind of dream that has struck fear in others.  He envisions an angel.  The angel is speaking to him, speaking about his dilemma. 

“‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins’.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)”.  

It’s a builder’s dream…the fascinating, powerful, mysterious, unbelievable reality of Christmas.   Christ shows up in humanity and gives us Himself.

(Watercolor "Splish Splash" by Mary Anne Hodson)