Interim

Interim: "n. An interval of time between one event, process, or period and another."

And that's what this week is, isn't it? The flurry of Christmas is over. The garbage can in the garage is overflowing with shredded wrapping paper, waiting for the trash man to take it away. Gifts are being played with, users manuals read, and waistlines have expanded. Most of the visiting family has returned home.

But the new year isn't here yet.

This week is the lull. The waiting. The meantime. I'm feeling particularly introspective this year. Pondering 2009 and all that has taken place. It's a little overwhelming for me to think about. You never know what a year will hold. I think reflecting can be a holy act. Acknowledging, thinking, thanking, remembering. Looking for God in the ins and outs of life within the time frame of a whole year. Where He has brought us, what He has taught us, where He carried us.

In just a couple of days we will throw the confetti and blow the noisemakers and look toward the future with hope for what a new year will hold. Exciting and unknown. Full of possibilities. God only knows what a new year will bring. But there is value in the meantime. God, show me Who You Are in the meantime.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Laundry Pile Family.

Christmas is Coming

Things are looking a little more Christmasy around here.

The house is decorated, with my favorite "wreath" on the front door.


The tree is up. We went with our old faithful, 6 ft. $25 in 1995 artificial, dug up from retirement in the basement. Just the right amount of tree for our increasingly smaller living room. I am never more aware of how much the kids have grown as I am when the first snow comes and there are more bodies in the house along with all of the snow grear. The kids decorated the tree, although some of the ornaments are already missing.



Breakfast in a Christmas bowl makes oatmeal festive.

Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays?

I never click away from Lifenut disappointed. Gretchen's words are delightful, thought provoking, and occasionally heart wrenching. This Chrismas post especially spoke to my heart. Thank you Gretchen for a perspective check. Bring on the Christmas shopping.

Winter: The Real Story

Here it is, raw, unedited. Real. How our front door looks from the first snow until spring.
Kind of makes me want to cry.

December? Already?

Am I the only one that feels like Christmas has tiptoed from behind and then pounced? I hear talk all over of people putting up their lights and trees and being done with shopping as the month just begins. This year seems to be a little more laid back for the Laundry Pile family. We still have a wooden pumpkin hanging from our front door. Now mind you, it's the inside of the front door but it hangs just the same. Our thankful paper chain decks the halls in our kitchen. So far, there are no lights on the outside of our house, a first since we have lived here. And now it's a little too chilly to ask poor Nate to climb up on the roof to wrestle with half lit strings of lights, never to feel his finger tips again.

And I'm ok with it. At first I felt a little panic rise up inside me, maybe mixed with some guilt. Isn't it our responsibility to "make Christmas" for our kids? But as I've thought about it, I think this year we are going to just take things at our own pace. We'll eventually figure out what we want to do for a tree. Gifts will be purchased. Carols will be sung. I refuse to let it become insane. I'm going to take a deep breath, and just live December. I'm going soak in the Christmas story, remembering Jesus and why he came to walk on this planet. I don't think He is honored in our chaotic insanity. I think He's honored in our intentionality. I think as December unfolds before us, I'm going to ask Him which things He would have me put at the top of my to do list. And I'll wait patiently and expectantly for His answer.

She's Warm, That's for Sure

Poor, poor Everly.