Advent is here!

Advent rocks! Love it!

Woo hoo!

Got my Advent wreath re-stocked with candles.

Have my Advent calendar hanging in the kitchen.

Two new fresh Advent devotionals await the family at the dinner table.

And a basket full of Christmas/Advent/Winter children's books are gift wrapped and ready for our daughter to unwrap a book a day until Christmas Eve (helps with the eagerness of the gift giving/receiving).

Advent- bring it because I am ready!

Post-Turkey Let Down

After two days worth of feasting, I am coming off my Thanksgiving-turkey and all the fixin's high. Crash and collapse. My kiddo wanted me to play a game with her... halfway through I was so exhausted I fell asleep before my turn. How sad is that?

I have decided though that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays especially because of the food, family, football, holiday parades, and the practice of gratitude. I do not view this holiday as just a precursor to the Advent-Christmas season like the retailers would have me believe. No, for me Thanksgiving stands alone as one of my favs.

Now all the turkey has been eaten and only the skinny pieces of pie are left on the kitchen counter top. Until next year Thanksgiving... see you soon!

Reading again...

While I have not been busy blogging, I have been reading (although slower than my summer pace). Here are the latest. greatest or not so greatest reads...

• Strangers and Neighbors: What I Have Learned about Christianity by Living among Orthodox Jews by Marai Poggi Johnson
• Bonhoeffer: Worldly Preaching (His Finkenwalde Lectures on Homiletics) translated by Clyde E. Fant
• The Leadership Challenge, the Fourth Edition by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
• The American Saint: Francis Asbury and the Methodists by John Wigger
• Exodus (for our DISCIPLE 2 Bible Study)

As you can see I am not engaged in fiction reading at the moment... other than the picture books and learning to read books our daughter brings home from the library.

For Advent I will be working through two devotionals, reading a Christmas book a day with our daughter, and finishing two of the books from above (Leadership Challenge and American Saint are not quite finished).

What are you reading?

Thankful Things

Here they are in no particular order; my Thanksgiving Thankful Things. I am thankful...

• that I have a mind and can use it. Although my stubbornness gets in the way and it becomes harder to learn new technologies. I still have a mind, can think, reason, and remember how to be reasonable!
• most of my body still works properly (despite five days of the flu to tell me otherwise).
• that chocolate was invented and has the medicinal properties to heal all that ails me.
• I do not have to spend all day gathering dirty water for my family, but that I can support a group of people to build a well and thus change daily life for someone I have never met.
• my daughter goes to a school where her teachers love her enough to tell her about Jesus and love her enough to grow her character.
• that I am married to a man with enough grit to face new challenges with determination and confidence.
• I am debt free (with exception of the house) and owe nothing to anyone, but love.
• that music of all kinds continues to weave it's way into my life and gives me great joy!
• for my goddaughter's giggles.
• for the privilege to be pastor to someone in their darkest hour and carry them to Jesus for His Loving Healing Grace.

Blessed Thanksgiving to you!

Loss for Words

Over the past three weeks I've been at a loss for words. I know you're thinking, "Michelle not having something to say! Ha! That's like a politician coming through on a promise. It just doesn't happen."

Well, it has happened- to me at least. At first I didn't even notice. I just kept on moving; going about my business as usual. Then, when I peaked at my blog the infrequency of my entries startled me. My personal journal is also empty.

Is there something wrong? Am I dried up for words? I don't think writer's block is impeding me nor have I lost my desire to write.

I just don't want to.

Kinda like Mary pondered things internally in her heart after her visit by the Angel Gabriel; I just have this need to ponder, brew, stew, and mull for awhile.

I'll let you know when the things change.

Mutant

No one needs to be surprised. We confirmed last week that our dog, Duke, is indeed the mutant that we supposed he was all along.

All paws, thicker than a Hummer, and stubborn as a mule- we now have biologically supportive data (blood tests) that confirm he is indeed "a brick shy of a full load".

After a second seizure our vet ran blood work analysis on Dukie... liver fine; thyroid fine; and thus neurological functioning- is not fine.

I knew we picked the mutant of the litter. Just didn't know it went into his brain.

And of course, the breeder has never had a dog like this one. No history of seizures or disorders of this kind... Duke is the first in his class, alright.

Sigh.

Anyone want a used dog?

For cheap?

Behind for November

Gosh- where in the world have I been?

Not blogging that is for sure. Been on Facebook, checked my email, but not here.

Last week as the first full week in November my schedule was consumed with piano lessons, voting, elections, teaching classes, hosting candle parties, continuing education seminars, and all sorts of odd little items.

Have no idea where the time went, but here is a brief recap:

• said a, "Blessed All Saints Day", to those who honored their loved ones in eternity!
• voted in the election
• learned what we're doing well in regards to children's ministry and also where are deficiencies are
• taught way too many classes last week to count
• organized some terrific Ministers of Visitation and did some 2011 planning at the same time
• hosted a fun party for some terrific girl friends
• wished that the dishwasher repair would have failed so I can get a new dishwasher
• missed the reunion of the Sophia Sisters- blessings to you wonderful ladies
• tried to catch up on my reading

I'll try to think of more provocative material to write about this week. Until then- peace to you and to yours!