Advent 2009

Julie and I have set up our new Nativity set as we begin Advent 2009.

Last Christmas Julie's gift was the Willow Tree figurines nativity set.

Recently Henry built and painted the creche and Sunday we assembled the table to put the set on.

Julie added the finishing touches of lights and cloth.

"Come Lord Jesus!"

Thots on leaves

October through mid-November Julie and I enjoyed the God-created beauty of our "Autumn Glory" maple trees turning orange and red. A few times my mind has wondered about these glorious leaves; below is a simple poem entitled Autumn Leaves:

hiding
budding
perfect
patterned
giving
absorbing
releasing
weathered
waving
reaching
shade
transforming
rustling
releasing
dropping
covering
crunch
dried
gone

PS: As I compose this post our trees are now barren and "welcomed" the first snowflakes of winter 09-10.

Celebrating fall ..

One of the cool things about being "empty nesters" is time, energy and space for the creative spirit.

This has been particularly true for Julie! Recently her artsy right brain kicked in to create this display of our family over our archway.

Combining beads, gords, rope and pictures of our children and grandchildren she created this wonderful fall decor! Take note of the leaf outlines on each of the pics. Most of the pics are non-posed so a story or moment is told as we lovingly enjoy the display.

We are celebrating the wonder of our Creator God this fall!

Overdue!

A new post is overdue! Too often I am too tired to sit down and compose a post. A typical week for us ...

• Sunday - church, enjoying a few hours together, evening hours spent prepping for the week to come, and oh yes, checking my fantasy football teams [my sons and I each have two teams we manage in our family league]
• Monday - we both work and are up early, then its lesson preps, teaching, school stuff, teaching an evening class at Malone University, Bennett comes for the evening through Tuesday
  
• Tuesday - Julie is grandma!! Each week this is Bennett and some weeks Allie and/or Andrew come for part of the day, G-ma thoroughly enjoys her day and it is such a blessing to hear her talk about special moments, for Henry, see Monday without the evening class at Malone, in the evening our daily 3 mile walk [OK, we don't get the walk in each day ...]
• Wednesday - see Monday!
• Thursday - see Monday w/o evening class at Malone
• Friday - see Thursday
• Saturday - well there is always something to do!!

In the midst of all this we know and seek God's love ...

Our house is quiet, empty ... we are adjusting to and enjoying 'empty nest syndrome.' We are growing in our love and friendship with each other! :-)