Advent... or in other words, a few thoughts on Christmas

This weekend, we'll be starting the intro to advent. We tried to do this last year with a different advent reading schedule. Now thinking back, I'm sure we did do it but since I had a little 2 month old, my brain was at half capacity to think deeply or ponder thoroughly, the delight of the Incarnation. I'm hoping that this year we'll be able to get through all the reading and discussing and focusing as a family. This is the advent reading list we'll be using this year: Good News of Great Joy Advent calendar. Last year, we used an equally wonderful advent reading schedule found HERE. Of course this season is good old fashioned and just plain fun. But in the midst of all of that hot chocolate/shimmering lights/cozy fires fun, I so want my heart to feel movement toward God's heart and His ways through it all. While desiring to bless my children with gifts and loving the realities of their bright faces on Christmas morn as they run to the tree and find all their treats, I so longingly wish to deposit a soul hunger to know the man Christ Jesus. Who is this man that we celebrate? How could eternally existing God come in the form of man? How great is this one and yet how lowly???!!?!?! There's a wonder in Christmas time, a special grace upon hearts. A hunger, if the hungry one would be still enough to know it. My heart is cold but I believe, Jesus! You, once a babe. You depended on your mother for food and care. You crawled and you toddled. You, Jesus, wondrous you! I pray that the wonder and amazement of advent would seize your heart and bring you into the adventure of "knowing". I pray that for me too!

Homeschooling: On reading vs. watching tv

             I am currently reading through an excellent book, titled "Read for the Heart" by Sarah Clarkson. I originally ordered it last school year in an attempt to help my almost 11 year old voracious reader sort through the myriad of elementary/jr high books. I, myself, was such a reader at her age and I can understand the importance of reading books of outstanding spiritual/moral/inspirational qualities. Unfortunately, I did not read many classics during my informative years (mainly, I believe, due to not being encouraged during my public schooling years to do so) and wish to encourage my almost 12 year old, now, in that direction. I finally began the book yesterday and am already half way through it, which is saying a lot about how interesting it is, considering that it's more of a reference tool. The book is easy to read, the author has a clear and engaging vocabulary, and I must say she has me wanting to pick up some of these books myself, with her descriptions. Her lists include picture books, Golden Age Classics, Children's fiction, fairy tales & fantasy, history & biography, spiritual reading for kids, and poetry. Obviously, this could not possibly be an exhaustive list. I'm not sure that would be possible, however I find it a perfect place to start. I've already started a list of library look up books for my daughter and can't wait for her to put down her Nancy Drew's for a few minutes and pick up some more literarily challenging books.

beginning again

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 

Psalm 52:8

I figured it was time, again, to try this little thing called "blogging". I may not do it very consistently but after much thought, that something is better then nothing.I find myself FULL of good things to blog about, when I don't have a blog to put it on. I'm very curious if it will and how it will translate to this page. I chose the name because, let's be honest... many times life in the mundane feels much like an olive press. I know many good things will be brought forth through the laying down of my life and taking up my cross daily but remaining faithful to do so in the little ways and engaged with Jesus during the day in, day out can be hard and uncomfortable. Not that it's that way ALL the time, but some of it is. I'll be blogging about anything and everything that crosses my mind. It will be a plethora of wifehood, motherhood, homeschooling, house of prayer meditations, upsets and joy-filled times. Some really, really silly and seemingly unimportant things and some deep things from my heart. I don't want to say that verbal processing is necessary for me but I do appreciate the ability to read back into things God is doing in my heart once I am past it, to see what little bit of wisdom and/or maturity it brought forth. Through all of the ups and downs of life, I endeavor to do what the verse above says... to trust in the steadfast love of God forever. I don't want to accept His leadership begrudgingly or half-heartedly but, looking back on my life from the "judgement seat perspective", I want to see that I fully and gratefully embraced all that He had for me. Not so easy. Thank God for His grace to walk on the straight and narrow. Stay tuned to see how this messy ordeal goes.