“Why are there Christmas lights?”
Livia’s been demanding an answer to this question. Demanding. It’s like the presence of Christmas lights on houses is offending her somehow, and it’s time for answers for such an offense! She’s asked the question several times now and I usually end up talking about darkness and light. Livia understands darkness, it’s a word she uses to describe the Kingdom of the Night exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo. (Unlike me, she’s fascinated with that exhibit.)
December is the darkest month of the year; the days will begin to lengthen again once we reach the Winter Solstice. In this month of darkness, we string lights outside our houses and on our Christmas trees, we light candles in windows and relax in the flickering warmth. We long for light. This longing finds eternal contentment in the Light of the world, the Savior whose coming we celebrate during this season. The desire for beautiful strings of lights during a dark season is a reflection of this greater longing for light in a dark world. The news has been full of darkness recently… I’m thankful for a Savior who brings light to the hearts of men, and who will one day fully redeem the darkness.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that had been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
…He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:1-5, 10-13
It’s hard to venture out today with one’s camera and not take photos of the ice.
Cowboy baby or Baby Cowboy?
I am quite possibly the pickiest peppermint afficionado that exists. I love Bob’s peppermint candy canes, but other brands sometimes taste a bit off (which is why I ended up with a gigantic box of 48 candy canes, they were Bob’s). Bob’s sugar sticks, sold at Cracker Barrels, are quite possibly the most divine candy on the face of the planet. I am a complete snob about peppermint ice cream–it has to meet certain specifications to receive my stamp of approval. Blue Bunny? Two thumbs down, way down. Edy’s? Two thumbs up. And Renae’s homemade ice cream? The best I’ve ever tried. Though I love the chocolate/peppermint combo, I do not enjoy most peppermint beverages (Starbucks dark chocolate peppermint frappucino, I’m looking at you). Picky, picky, picky. In order to not sound too Scrooge-y, I’ll leave you with this. I adore this recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Kisses. Mm-mmmm.
As a kid, I always wanted it to snow on my birthday. I imagined a sledding birthday party would be the coolest thing ever. Today I got my wish.
It started snowing when I woke up at 7:00am, and the snow has continued since then. It’s beautiful outside, white and flakey and very cold. And though I haven’t been sledding yet this morning, I did enjoy coffee and egg casserole and cinnamon rolls with five delightful women. Life is good on December 6th. After all my moaning and groaning, 30 doesn’t feel so bad!
“We going to putt paint today?”
My child adores crafts. One morning while we were snuggling in my bed, the first phrase out of her mouth was, “Let’s paint today.” I could have composed a list as long as my arm of tasks I’d choose to do before painting with a three year old, but sometimes a mom’s just got to bite the bullet and get out the brushes. Liv and I have been working on these snowflake ornaments for days now. “Putt” paint was the final step. Sometimes I wonder if I have the next Jackson Pollock on my hands.
I’m just as shocked at this news as the rest of the country is. It’s surreal to imagine such violence at a mall I’ve been in many times. What a tragedy.
