…teaching me patience, scrubbing techniques and humor.

Outside my window:

A streetlight flickers from the street behind us and strong winds are wildly swinging the hammock on the patio.

I am listening to::

Music playing as the credits for About a Boy roll.  I was half watching it while chatting with Aaron and then doing some planning and list-making.

I am wearing ::

A light purple long sleeved cotton shirt and batik jammy pants.  Sounds funkier than it looks, really.  A ponytail and bare feet.

I am thankful for::

My sister who turned 27 today.  I am so glad I have a sister…she is so much a part of where I’ve come from and who I am….and she lives with us :)

I’m also thankful for this beautiful and warm shelter.  The amazingly strong wind is making me feel quite in need of shelter at the moment.

I am pondering ::

“Purify your soul, O son of man, remove from yourself the thought of memories outside of nature; hang the veil of chastity and humility before your impulses. By means of these you will be able to find Him who is within you.”
– St. Isaac the Syrian

I am reading ::

Nothing a the moment…I’ve been working on Emma off and on but I’m in a slump.  I’ve been reading heaps aloud to the kids….we’re generally following this reading schedule for “year 1″. It’s fun but a little intense.

From the kitchen::

All I have to say is: I love my dishwasher.

I’m thinking::

That it is so sweet to hear Basil say “I love you” to his next-door neighbor friend when it’s time for his friend to leave.  Thankfully his friend, although older, is sweet and smiles every time.

I am creating ::

Nativity/Advent books with the kids.  Juliana’s God-mama gave us a set of Jesse Tree ornaments.  We have been following the daily readings and our tree has become so alive with the brilliant yet earthy tapestry of the history God has woven.

Towards rhythm and beauty::

I’m trying to maintain the pattern of prayer throughout our day and deliberate times of stopping to interact with eye contact.  I never thought I’d have to remind myself but, alas, I do.

Around the House::

I’ve crossed off some of the advent cleaning/organizing tasks I’m hoping to accomplish but I’m far from the goal.

On Keeping Home::

4:00 cleanup and they daily sweeping of floors seems to be helping.  But oh the laundry.  Any good tips?  Know any laundry fairies?

One of my favorite things::

Hearing Aaron’s keys jingle against the front door as he opens in in the evenings.

Emelia Update::

She is waving, giving kisses and dancing.  She likes the tinwhistle…mama’s girl :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week::

Music class and library in the morning tomorrow.  Grocery shopping then baking and cooking on Wednesday.  To the Plew’s on Thanksgiving and my Mom’s on Friday.  Hooray!

A  Picture Thought I’m Sharing::

My spunky monkey bookworm, Juliana…I love this girl.  She’s one of a kind.

Gratitude is such a nice word, don’t you think?

Today we painted “gratitude rocks” with our home school group in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday…I really love having a whole day to celebrate thankfulness.  What a wonderful thing, that foe of discontentment…gratitude.  Glory to God, the Giver of all Good things!  Things like…

….among millions of others :)

Basil the lego boy had a joke for me:

This joke has been removed by its creator’s request…he wants to tell you in person :)

Ha ha…making our sick day a little brighter.

Trying to say afloat in this sweet journey.  I couldn’t have chosen better orders.  See how lovely the deck hands are?  You should see the captain ;)

We are still here.  Life is still churning and I have come to miss blogging.  I miss the documentation of life and the slant of light it offers to my days.  I miss the way it makes me cherish moments as capturable and to see them as lovely and real as they are.

So, here we are again.   Blogging.  See you real soon.

Our Emelia Louise Marie was born on March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation (she’s that cute little squishy thing Basil is holding).

So we’ve found our new stomping grounds.

Sorry for the silence…I have lots to say bit little time.  Between unpacking boxes and getting ready for all that Christmas brings, life has been busy!  We have found some time for cuddles by the fire and hot cocoa sipping.

Wishing you and yours a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Love,

Sara and all the Plews

puppet shows will someday have a plot, I’m sure.

meanwhile, just eat pie.

TGI TH.