merry christmas to all!

It doesn't seem too long ago that I was still living at what I will always refer to as "home" with my parents and two younger brothers, and would wake up on Christmas morning to my youngest brother's knocking on the bedroom door ... and then knocking on the bathroom door ... "Why do you need to brush your teeth? Why do you need to wash your face? It's Christmas! Come and see the presents!"

Funny how things have changed ... this morning I was the one to wake up at 6:15 AM and not able to fall back to sleep knowing it was Christmas morning! By 7:00, we were out the door with gifts in hand, heading to my parents' house. We arrived to find that youngest brother was still in bed! Now 16, and could sleep until noon, I was quick to knock on his door! 

As usual, we read the Christmas story, opened stockings and gifts, and had breakfast together ... all before 10 AM! For our family, Christmas excitement cannot be contained -- no matter your age!

how is it December already?

I guess my absence here over the past several weeks gives you a glimpse into the state of my life lately ... busy, busy, busy! Always somewhere to be or something to be doing. (A bit different from a post not too long ago... can you tell I had to say good bye to my student teacher recently?!) I hope it's just "that time of the year!" 

Yes, it's true ... the holidays are upon us! How did that happen? Let's back up just a bit.

November snuck up on us after the wrath of Hurricane Sandy in late October. While our personal effects were minimal, by the first days of November it was clear that many others needed our help. Though school was cancelled through November 2, our days were filled! Friends and family were in and out of our home to escape the cold. We volunteered time at our church, which partnered with local organizations and municipalities to provide meals for two nearby shelters. My husband's working hours went through the roof as he tried to meet the needs of those in our community who were struggling as a result of the storm. Yet in the midst of the chaos, it was amazing to see how God worked in and through us (and so many others) to share His love with people in need.

But, once we were able to settle back in to routine again, November brought some great times:

1. A successful a.j.e.less designs open house party! This year brought our highest sales and best attendance yet! We decided that 10% of our sales from the night would be donated to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

2. A night out on the town! We thought that the student teachers should get to see NYC in its full glory, so we took the ferry into Midtown at dusk, stopped for a bite to eat, and went to see a Broadway show! It was definitely not your typical Thursday night (and a little harder getting up that following Friday morning)!

3. Supper Six. This great idea sparked at my church a few months ago -- families signed up to gather for a meal with 2 other families that they did not know very well. Each family agreed to meet once a month, taking turns hosting dinner in their home. The hope was to build community in the body of Christ. We were assigned to host first, so I broke out all the dinner plates (actually had to borrow some from our downstairs neighbors) and set the table for 10.  It was tight, but we made it work! We bought enough wine and bread to go around, baked two different lasagnas, and asked each of the other two families to bring salad or dessert. I admit I had some butterflies in my stomach as I waited for 6:00 to roll around that Sunday (we are not at the top of the most outgoing list!), but the 10 of us had a wonderful dinner together! It was great to get to know others from our church family that much better. It's amazing how much closer you feel after just one meal. I was worried that their kids may feel out of place, but they each brought their own additions to the conversation. We look forward to our upcoming dinners with these new church friends!

4. The second grade students were responsible for presenting the Thanksgiving chapel at our school. It's always a bit stressful putting the program together (you can only imagine practicing with 30 7-8 year olds), but the end result always turns out adorable, even if mistakes are made. My favorite part of this year's program was a slideshow of pictures drawn by the second grade students about what they are thankful for. I promise I didn't even make him write this! :)

5. Of course, the Thanksgiving break was also a highlight of the month! We spent the holiday with my family this year. It was a small and quiet gathering, but relaxing. All in my family were very thankful that my youngest brother's recent knee surgery was a success and that his recovery is quickly progressing! But of course, the list of things to give thanks for is long ... more to come about that soon! (I hope not to wait so long before posting again!)

life on hold

In the day to day of routine life, it always seems to me that life is on fast forward. It always seems that there is more to do and not enough time to accomplish it all. Yet, when a storm forces us all to slow down for a few days -- or a whole week, it seems we have nothing to do! We so quickly become bored when the lights go out.

Thankfully there was just a brief time in our house when the power was out. That was the worst of it for us -- some howling winds that made the house shake, and a half hour without power. We were so fortunate, and glad to hear that our friends and family were as well (though some are still without power). My heart hurts for so many in the surrounding areas who did not fare so well and lost so much more than power. It is heartbreaking to watch the news and see the devastation around New Jersey and New York City. 

I came across Psalm 107 in my devotions today. I found it fitting and uplifting - hope you do too. I know that God can bring good out of this awful situation, and I know that He will.

Psalm 107:1-9, 14, 29-31

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south.

"Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

They were hungry and thirsty, 

and their lives ebbed away.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

"He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,

and broke away their chains.

"He stilled the storm to a whisper,

the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind."

these are a few of my favorite things

... about this fall!

1. The leaves changing colors. A few weekends ago, we drove 4 hours up to Syracuse to visit friends and it was the perfect time of year to do so ... the roads were lined with trees and I was content to pass the time simply by enjoying the amazing colors around us! We also enjoyed a leisurely hike last Sunday, which gave me chance to capture these beautiful fall colors with my camera.

2. Fall foods. Being a dessert person, I love this time of year for its apple crisp, homemade apple sauce, pumpkin muffins, and various pies (though pumpkin is my favorite!) I have also become a fan of the Keurig machine at school since the PTO has kindly provided apple cider K-cups for us non-coffee drinkers. Good thing I don't anticipate putting my bathing suit on any time soon!

3. Fall decorations. I love driving through neighborhoods to see front entryways graced with mums and pumpkins. (But I could do without the disgusting Halloween displays!) Though I don't have many autumn decorations of my own, I have become obsessed with lighting my new pumpkin spice candle every night!

4. Having a student teacher. What a difference it makes to have an extra set of hands in the classroom at all times! I don't know what I am going to do without her come December. I am enjoying it while I can! The last few weeks have been especially nice because she has been taking on more and more responsibilities in the classroom, which means less planning and grading for me! I've enjoyed the opportunities to work with students in smaller groups while she is teaching, as well as plan ahead for upcoming events like field trips and our 2nd grade Thanksgiving chapel. 

5. Resting on the Sabbath. As a teacher, it has always been difficult to truly set aside a full day each week to rest ... until now. Thanks to the help of a student teacher, I've been able to get my necessary work done on Saturdays, along with grocery shopping and laundry, so that I can enjoy and focus on God on Sundays. I've used recent Sunday afternoons as opportunities to do things I love that I wouldn't normally have as much time for -- craft projects, visiting with friends, walks with loved ones, being outside. The best part is that my husband (now that he is no longer in grad school) can also now relax on Sundays, so we've enjoyed our Sabbaths together. It is a wonderful feeling not to dread Sundays as a day of preparing for the school week ahead, and to sleep well on Sunday nights having relaxed during the day! I am going to try my very best to stick to this pattern even after my student teacher is finished with her semester.

6. Seeing God's provision. God provided the perfect non-profit ministry job for my husband in late August, and it has been so rewarding to see how happy he is working in this position. Like any new job, this one can be overwhelming at times, but overall I can tell that he is enjoying his day to day activities and feels that God has placed him here for a reason. It has been especially gratifying to see how (in just 2 months on the job) God has provided for the ministry in times of need. Right when we start to worry that the food pantry shelves are looking sparse, or that the monthly bills won't be paid on time, God provides through generous donors. I love coming home to hear my husband's work stories about God's miraculous provision, and it is a continual reminder that God provides for us at home too.

Though I am a summer-lover through and through, this fall has definitely had its perks! Giving thanks for it all ...

soon to be mommy!

We are in Syracuse for the long weekend, enjoying time with great friends who are soon to be parents for the first time! Of course I had to take advantage of this opportunity to take some beautiful fall maternity photos. It's hard to believe that the next time we visit, their baby boy will be here! 

the whole gospel

Here's a post I've been mulling over for a while ... finally ready to publish!

One book I made time for this summer was Richard Stearns' The Hole in our Gospel. It has been out for a while ... I had been meaning to read it for years. But, the book never took priority until recently, and after reading just the first few pages, you quickly discover why. It's not an easy book to read! It's written to make you feel uncomfortable with the way things are, and motivates you to do something about it! 

Stearns' essential message summed up in a sentence is this: The gospel -- God's good news! -- is not simply something we believe; it is to be lived out.

After all, if we were starving, sick, lonely, or treated unjustly, would we want to hear the "good news" from people who are blind to our physical needs? Doubtful. But if those same people reached out with their actions and helped to meet our daily needs, we might care to listen.

Stearns writes, "We are the carriers of the gospel - the good news that was meant to change the world. Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian community is not enough. God has always demanded more. When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living our lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God's character - His love, justice, and mercy - through our words, actions, and behavior. ... He called us go out, to proclaim the "good news" - to be the "good news" - and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option" (page 3).

The author goes on to write about how God transformed his heart (and his life) to do just that. His journey is an incredible story, and when combined with shocking realities about our broken world - one filled with heartache, disease, poverty, and injustice - you can't help but be moved. Especially when we acknowledge that Jesus was the perfect example of how to share the good news of the gospel. Jesus sought out the people who were overlooked by everyone else -- the lowly fisherman, the tax collectors, the sick, the poor, the lame, the orphans and widows, and so many more on the outskirts of their society. Why should we not do the same?

This book was especially poignant for me because of where I live. I can walk 10 minutes in one direction and find myself in a quiet neighborhood, surrounded by large, beautiful homes with panoramic views, flower-lined yards, and three car garages. Or, I can walk 10 minutes in the opposite direction and find myself in an extremely urban area where the homes are overcrowded and falling apart, the streets are noisy, and trails of garbage and graffiti grab your attention. What a stark contrast between the rich and poor.

Then there's me. Living in the middle - wishing I could "even it all out." Dreaming of how supposedly simple it would be to take from the wealthy and give to those in need. But of course, I know it's not that easy. I can only do the part of one person -- and encourage others to do the same.

While reading this book, I also came upon a blog post from a favorite author of mine, Ann Voskamp. She recommended several ways we can help change the world (click here for the full post). Here were a few of my favorites:

1. Pray for those in need. I was reminded of how often I ask God for my own needs and for the desires of those I interact with regularly. Yet I so easily forget to pray for those around the world (or in my own neighborhood) whose needs are far greater than my own. I may not know their names or situations, but God does. Reading this book also prompted me to fast more often (maybe one meal a week or one day a month?). I know that fasting would not only remind me what it is like to be hungry, but also to pray for those who are truly hungry all the time.

2. Make it a goal to tithe 10% (or more). Now that my husband and I are both working and seeing larger figures each month, it has become more difficult to continue giving God's portion away. But we have seen first hand how God provides when we give generously, and we trust He will keep doing so!

3. Give wisely. It is important to us that the organizations we give to use our gifts in the most effective ways. It is worth the research to make sure that our money is used to have the largest possible impact.

4. Be near the poor. It is much harder to remember those in need when we do not see their needs. Now that my husband is working in a local nonprofit organization, we believe it is essential for us to live in the community where we can interact with his clients.

5. Sponsor a child. I am considering doing this with my class this year. My husband and I would provide the financial support, but my students could help us pray for the child and encourage him/her with drawings and letters.

6. Buy wisely. Wear justice by shopping from stores that do not exploit their workers. There are a few stores that we haven't shopped in for a few years now, after discovering some ugly truths about their business. Check out the Better World Handbook or the Better World Shopping Guide for tips on where to shop.

I highly recommend The Hole in Our Gospel. It was heart-wrenching, but also a great reminder that we should not just believe in the Word, but DO what it says, even when it's not easy.

the beginnings of fall

I know it's fall when...

1. I want to do nothing but sit on the couch in my pajamas on Friday night after a first busy week back-to-school. 

2. I spend a large chunk of my Saturday lesson planning for the next week.

3. I wake up to a chill in the air, but the day warms to a perfect temperature of mid-70's with no humidity - a great day for apple picking! It will feel even more like fall when I bake a delicious apple crisp!