Advent

Advent. I've never been too good at faithfully celebrating the candles and the doing meditations in any consistent way, but I'm glad for this season and making attempts at focusing on the EVENT of advent.

Jesus, help me to still myself before You and to drink in Your sweet life and presence.

To search my heart and find some frankincense and myrrh to lay before You...

Treasures of time and stillness.

This week in my home there was an Advent Retreat. I only had to open my doors and the ladies came bearing food, candles, a wreath and meditations to share in honor of our King.

Sweet words to help us to quiet our hearts, a candle lit and silent meditation.

The sonlight reflecting off the snow, pouring in through the windows and warming our hearts. He came to visit, happy that we had set aside these hours to meet with Him.

In His honor.

Needy and hungry we came.

Stilled and filled we left.

Sweet fellowship with His Body.

Profound and beautiful.

Simple and sweet.

Gazing on Him through the eyes and faces of these lovers of His.

And the night before was a sweet retreat of another sort. Sitting in an old stone church with my mother and friend where the loveliest of melodies and voices filled the cathedral - notes soaring high and swirling around us.

Glorious worship on a cold winter's night.

And I fasted facebook for this past week as a sort of first advent gift for Jesus. It feels strange to visit that place again although I love the feeling of connection and the interesting little tidbits and funny things my friends post. It's a very worthwhile thing to give up if it will help me connect better with Him though.

I wonder what this coming week will bring... how can I focus on my King and enthrone Him in this season.

Poor Moose

It's been a rough spring, summer and fall for our dear Moose.

All started in April when someone took him to the lake and forgot to clean his ears.

That led to a wicked ear infection that went on and on and on.

For months.

I tried the "natural methods" to heal his affliction, to no avail.

I don't think I was consistent enough and it turned into a monster.

Even taking him to the vet and the resulting ear drops were not successful.

Poor dear Moose.

Ear drops, head shaking, ear cleaning, crying, more head shaking.

My father thought we should put him out of his misery.

As in permanently.

Back to the vet we went. Again.

By this time it was fall and the vet put Moose under to get a good look at the area and to flush it out just in case there was a piece of weed or grass in there.

But nope. Just a raging infection.

So after a dose of strong oral antibiotics along with some new drops the infection, gloriously cleared. We were so happy and Moose was most likely hugely relieved after months of misery.

Anywas, the dear big thing is once again head shaking and crying so he's back on another round of antibiotics and ear drops.

He is one pathetic sight with his drooping shoulders and huge soulful eyes gazing out mournfully at the world as he deals with dizziness, pain and probably all kinds of other noises in his head.

He looks at us with his sad eyes and tilted head and we pray for his healing.

The amount of money I have spent on this beloved animal is staggering to me.

I'm always thinking about hungry children in other countries and find it hard to justify spending so much on a pet.

But I certainly can't stand to see him suffer and I think God loves it when we are kind to our animals. More than that I cannot comprehend.

There is however, hope on the horizon. One of my students told me today of a diet their dog is on that cured it of ear infections.

So, fresh and raw may soon be on Mr. Moose's menu.

I am hopeful for this poor dear pathetic lovely animal.

And the Snow Came

Our amazing fall weather has abruptly changed gears and it is WINTER TIME!

Freezing temperatures - really and truly freezing, even for this area (down to -22) and snow snow SNOW!

The loveliness is mesmerizing and it's truly a beautiful thing to lay snuggled on my bed under my heat bags while watching lazy flakes make their way to the ground and cover the trees outside my window.

We've been enjoying movie nights that start ridiculously early due to the darkness that descends by 4:30. The evenings seem endless but I'm happier than can be with my new friend who loves to settle in for prayer times, listening to messages on the computer or an evening or two of Anne of Green Gables. She is a new convert to our homespun Canadian entertainment.

Winter pleasures abound...

Hot chocolate with whipping cream.

Happy dogs dipping their faces into the snow and exploring the new white world.

The fireplace warming the room and our hearts.

The crunch of snow under the tires

A fairy tale landscape

Watching the neighbors harvest their grapes for iced wine in the night.

Christmas carols playing as the snow falls steadily preparing our hearts for the Advent Season.

A snowy dark drive to a banquet and auction complete with turkey and all the trimmings!

And it's not even December yet!!

The best is yet to come... but I'm surely enjoying the delights of these wintery days.

Bulging Closet

Yesterday the TV cable guy came and spent over six hours trying to instal the wiring for two boxes that will bring us a plethora of channels. (Great word, I know)

I have struggled since giving in to the amazing saleslady on the telephone the other week. Wondering if I made some huge mistake when I got some very negative reactions.

Daughter: "Noooooo!'

Housemate: "Oh no."

Etc. Etc.

But there have been the positive encouragements as well. My mom being one of them - haha!

I've just never in my life ordered cable. Prevented it's entrance into our home in fact.

Quite strongly.

So no wonder it feels a little weird.

Anyhoo - the lure of the cooking channel, animal shows and documentaries pulled me in.

Well, to tell the truth it was the free boxes, installation and rental for the next three years.

They surely know how to get you!

So, last night after the marathon of installation (which still isn't completed) I left my housemate on my bed happily watching some clothing show about what you for sure shouldn't be putting on your body.

I came home after my outing and snuggled into bed falling into a deep and wonderful sleep. When I awoke several hours later I was strangely aware in the darkness of this "entity" bulging out of my closet. Seriously - I felt like it was a large fat presence in there in my half sleepy state. Not necessarily evil or anything.

Just there.

So I'm aware of the need to put restrictions on the entity. Praying that it will be used for good and not for evil in this home.

I haven't touched it today other than to anoint the box with oil when I finally got up in the morning. Smile.

Just wanted to deal with things at the onset and let them know who's boss.

(That'll be God)

Ok. Confession is good for the soul.

So I'm all good.

Pathways of Gold

Another glorious day.

Seriously - this fall has been OUTSTANDINGLY BEAUTIFUL!

So, after teaching 3 sweet kids

Meeting 2 great friends at Starbucks

(Teaching one of them how to text her sons and watching her laugh as they texted back was over the top fun)

I went to the creek with the pups and my girls.

Oh the joy of breathing in that rich scent of fall,

The leaves and smoke and sounds of the creek rushing by.

Happy DOGS! Chasing sticks, moving endlessly

Ladybug leaping with joy.

The girls leaping too.

It was a grand way to spend a Friday afternoon.

And now I'm spending the evening warming up under my heat bags

Skyping with my favorite daughter while my son and the gals are laughing and playing Dutch Blitz in the kitchen.

My cup is so full.

Content I am.

so many thoughts

I'm caught between happy and sad.

Thinking about so many things.

Things I need to do.

Things I wish I would have done differently or would have never done and...

Desiring to be more streamlined and ordered in my life.

Wishing I could actually see the Father's expression.

Knowing it's kind but unable to realize that in my heart

As I wade through the complications of life.

I don't feel quite equipped for so much of what is required of me.

Trusting that all will be most well.

So aware of my limitations and shortcomings.

Glad for grace, but wanting somehow to perform better.

Feeling small and slow and not very significant.

But knowing this is good if it causes me to look up at Him.

Taking the time -

To catch a glimpse of that gaze - intensely loving.

To catch a line of that song being sung over me - to hear the melody and

To let it wash over me, wash over me, wash over me...

Resting in His love.

Sandals in November

I noticed today that I'm still wearing my sandals.

This is unusual for November, unusual and most delightful!

I have: Brown leather sandals for April to October and

black suede boots for November to March.

Keepin' it simple, just the way I like it.

But to be wearing sandals, and enjoying sunshine

in NOVEMBER - makes me happy!

The days have been remarkably lovely for the most part.

Once again I went out driving today, taking my new housemate down a different direction of the lake. Admiring vineyards and then the stark strange landscape that the fire devoured 7 years ago, enjoying the colorful leaves that still cling tenaciously to the trees and taking pictures of sun drenched Kelowna off in the distance.

Hard to believe it's November, but I'm drinking in the colors and the sunshine. Storing them up for the dark months that are lurking just around the corner.

Happy to still be in my sandals!