"Small Things and Possiblity"

Dennis Brather wrote the following about this season of Advent:
"We live in a world in which bigger and better define our expectations for much of life. We have become so enamored by super size, super stars, and high definition that we tend to view life through the lens that so magnifies what we expect out of the world that we tend not to see the potential in small things. But as the prophet Zechariah reminds us (Zechariah 4:10) we should not "despise the day of small things" because God does some of his best work with small beginnings and impossible situations. "
This nativity scene is from Vietnam. I think if you click on the figures, you will see that they are made from paper.
A special thanks to Sharon for allowing me to pictures at her home.

Celebrating Advent

The Season of Advent. Advent is from the Latin word adventus, meaning"coming". For Christians , this is the time we focus on the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Four years ago, our friends Roger and Naomi gave us this Nativity scene. They purchased this hand painted scene while on a mission trip in Guatemala . Every time I look at the scene, I am reminded of the purpose of Jesus coming into the world, "Word Made Flesh" and dwelling among us... This nativity scene also serves as a vivid reminder that His birth transcends every culture and ethnicity. I love the colors in this particular scene. I look forward to tomorrow, I will visit with a friend. She has collected over a hundred different nativity scenes. I hope to share some of those scenes in the coming days.

As I child I remember counting the days until Christmas. Today, as a adult, I work to make each day count.

"Season of Advent Anticipation and Hope" by Dennis Bratcher is worth reading.

Making the most of the weekend

7:30 a.m. aah... sleeping late
8:00 a.m. exercising
9:00 a.m. Bible study... breakfast...laundry... cleaning...
12:30 lunch with Jerry ginger mint tea and veggie soup
2:00 pm more cleaning.... ugh will it ever end
laundry...
6:00 dinner...
Barnes and Noble
8:00 p.m. Stringing Christmas lights outside

Why Blog...

Last December, I started a blog on a whim. A simple conversation with my daughter, turned into a tutorial about starting a blog. The spark? I don't remember.

Now almost a year later, I have around 100 posts. Why blog? At the beginning, I struggled with that question, what would I write about?

Now, looking back, I have written about work, cooking light, a scholarship gala, tutoring ESL students, my dog, my family, and a wedding. In some ways, I writing this blog allowed me to avoid other long over due projects. But today, I am posting a few pictures from last week's Indiana Pre Thanksgiving dinner.

Anchors

Establishing new traditions...

After my parents died, the anchors of our family were gone... thanksgiving dinners, trips to see Grandma and Grandpa ended, summer vacation, spring breaks, phone calls, high school and college gradations...sitting together in church..there is a empty space. everything shifted... things on earth would never be the same...

Five years ago, I had an idea...I asked my sister to help coordinate a pre Thanksgiving dinner at Mounds State Park... We did this the weekend before Thanksgiving....For next two years, we were at a shelter at Mounds State Park... small and sweet, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, turkey, dressing, making smores... kids playing at the playground...touch football... The week before Thanksgiving gave our extended family time together before our immediate family shared Thanksgiving together....

Tomorrow, I will drive to Anderson for our fifth annual pre Thanksgiving dinner... it will not be at Mounds State Park... the group has expanded... cousins and aunts...I will miss being outside, the playground, the smell of wood in the fireplace... walking at the park... experiencing this season of the year outside....The weather is suppose to be wonderful....what is most important... being together....

I will also miss being with our family in Ohio... and St. Louis...


What is true now....My anchor.... God.... faithful, loving, kind,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XLWFlni4BA&feature=related

Marley in Lexington

As I was returning books to the Eagle Branch Library, I saw the cute little puppy. His name is Marley. When he grows up, he will be a toy poodle. He is cute, but he is not as cute as Hooch.

Celebrating one holiday at a time!

Tonight we hosted a group of EIT's. They are engineering and computer science graduates from City College of New York, Purdue, University of Cincinnati, Rose Hulman, Carnegie Melon, Clark Atlanta University, Texas A & M, Cornell, and RIT.

It was fun... alot of work, but fun. I tempted to decorate with some Christmas decorations.... then I remember a conversation I had earlier in the day... celebrate one holiday at a time. We had a Thanksgiving theme.... fall colors ...gourds on the front steps...

On Thanksgiving night, I will decorate for Christmas.

Celebrating!

The joy of celebrating another birthday!

Happy Birthday Dennis

Happy Birthday .... we love you!

Click here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dePMU8R131s

God Bless you.

Jerry and Jacqueline

This Thursday, a glorious fall day at the Carnegie Center.

Formerly a library, the Carnegie Center is located in the historic part of Lexington. Each week, I have the privilege of working with adult students who are learning to improve their English speaking, writing, and reading skills.

In class today, we celebrated November birthdays. Nila, Nellie, Carin, and me! Later in the day, I discovered that Andrew Carnegie's birthday was November 25, 1835. Happy Birthday Andrew!

Nellie's birthday is November 13! Happy Birthday!

November 8 birthdays... Carin and Jacqueline

Hair stuff

A list of the burns from my curling iron...
Curling iron slipped out of my hand, hit my eye... a trip to the emergency room. Almost burned my cornea..
Curling iron slipped out of my hand hit my neck ..another burn
Burned my wrist
Burned my..cheek again...
Burned my forearm
My cheek is slowing healing... I burned my cheek Sunday morning getting ready for church...
Monday morning... One of the students at school asked me... what happened? So much for make up concealer...

I have to do something different. I refuse to go back to wearing pink sponge rollers to bed. Or those hard rollers.. I am thinking about getting some extensions......
After painting the bookshelves this weekend, I may make a trip to Sally's.

Birthday Wishes

Frosted Pumpkin Cake... not your traditional birthday cake, but it was my birthday cake today. I did not blow out candles on the cake or make a wish, but the today's devotional from Max Lucado, put into words my vision and desire.

"Finishing Strong"
"Heaven was not foreign to Jesus. He is the only person to live on earth after he lived in heaven. As believers, you and I will live in heaven after time on earth, but Jesus did just the opposite. He knew heaven before he came to earth. He knew what waited him upon his return.
And knowing what awaited him in heaven enabled him to bear the shame on earth.

... He focused on the prize of heaven. By focusing on the prize, he was able not only to finish the race but to finish strong."
From the Book, Grace for the Moment... Max Lucado

That is my desire... to focus on living a life that matters to God.. and finish strong.

The icing on my birthday... having dinner with Verna, Gene, Tom and Nancy.... Then emails from Edie and Penny... the phone calls from Jara, Jonathan, Beth, and Suhulia.

Driving to the park to walk

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air." Eric Sloane

November Cooking Light

It is the first Tuesday of the month...time for Cooking Light. Each month, we select recipes from the recent issue of the Cooking Light Magazine. Our host this month was Koko... I look look forward to the luncheons.

My recipe was relatively easy... no strange or expensive ingredients... so going to lunch was going to be easy....wrong! After living in Lexington for five years, I thought I would be familiar with this part of the state.... wrong. I got lost going to the Koko's home.

Thank God for Ruth Anne, cell phones, and friends that are gracious....