Deck the halls with boughs of holly

A few of my favorite Christmas decorations...


Our old apartment had a bar/counter where we could hang up our stockings. I wasn't sure where we were going to hang them in our house (no fireplace = no mantel), but I've decided that the piano makes a perfect location! (The little stocking is Sadie's!)

Our Christmas tree in its decorated glory. Dave always makes me "fluff" out the tree, but then he helps put the ornaments on. Our ornaments are a blend of things we each got as children and a few items that we've gotten since we've been together. As much as I like the pretty and polished trees that some people have where everything matches and is color coordinated, I've always really liked the homey feel of a mix-matched tree of memories.

A few other pictures of our holiday decor...

Introducing...

My brother and I have a long history of naming our cars. I'm not exactly sure why we insist on our cars having names, but we do.

To name just a few, we've had Christine (a fire-engine red Chevy Nova that was originally the color of blue-green rust), Quince (named for the number of miles that the car had when bought), Helga (an old German name for an old German car), and Corolla de Ville (which always inspired a certain catchy Disney song).

Now, there's a new car to add to the list -- meet Fiona, our "new" (read: new to us) Suzuki Forenza.

Tis the Season

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children,
they are all 30 feet tall." --Larry Wilde

It would appear that Christmas time has arrived. Dave and I decorated our house last Friday, but the pictures are still on my camera, so this will have to do for now.

This is the (slightly sad looking) stuffed Christmas tree that adorns my desk at work. I've had the tree for a very long time -- I think I received it in a gift exchange in high school or possibly even middle school. Though certainly not the most beautiful decoration that I've ever owned, it is easily portable and virtually indestructible and has served as my own personal dose of Christmas cheer no matter where I have found myself around Christmas.

The Christmas that I spent in Bolivia, the little tree was the only Christmas tree that I had. I wrapped my gifts, stacked them in a pile, and placed the tree on top (you know, because presents are supposed to be under the tree!). My brother laughed when I packed the tree in my luggage that July, but come December, I was glad that I had it!

Vacation time...

Thanksgiving break in T minus 3, 2, 1.....

Tales from Long Ago

That is a good book which is opened with expectation and
closed in profit.~ Amos Bronson Alcott ~

A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight. ~ Robertson Davies ~

I don't remember exactly when I picked up that copy of As the Waltz Was Ending by Emma Macalik Butterworth, but I'm pretty sure that it was somewhere around the 4th or 5th grade. The autobiographical story of a young ballerina in pre-WWII Vienna gripped me from the beginning. I had likely chosen the book from the library shelves because, as a young dancer myself, I enjoyed reading books about dance. Little did I know, however, that the book would end up being one of those stories that sticks with you for life.

If I remember correctly, the autobiography is divided into two parts. Part 1 primarily details Emma's daily life and her beginnings with the corps de ballet in Vienna. Slowly, in the midst of the color and grace of the dancing world, you begin to see the influence of the Nazi regime as they push into Austria. Part 2 follows the shattering results of the Russian occupancy of Vienna.

I can't be certain what it was about the story that drew me in so completely, but as Emma vividly described the air raids over Vienna, I found myself listening for raid sirens in the background. For the next several years after reading As the Waltz Was Ending, I was fascinated with the World War II time period.

A few months ago, I found a used copy of the book on Amazon (it's currently out of print). It's been sitting on my book shelf ever since, but I've been hesitant to open its pages...afraid that the experience of reading it won't live up to the one in my memory. It's taken awhile, but I think I'm finally ready....

Grace in Motion

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. --Ephesians 2:8-9 (New American Standard Bible)

Last December, Dave and I got the opportunity to hear Josh Hamilton and his wife Katie speak at our church. Now a household name to many, that Sunday was the first time I had heard Josh's story. It's an amazing tale of God's grace and faithfulness.

Since then, it seems like Josh has been everywhere -- breaking records at the home run derby, signing books at our local Barnes & Noble (it probably helps that we live in his hometown!), and appearing on a host of news and TV shows. I have yet to hear him speak when he hasn't first and foremost given glory to God for where he is and where he's going.

Josh is speaking at our church again this coming week, and I'm looking forward to hearing what he says. God has given him an incredible opportunity to reach the thousands (millions?) of people that he comes in contact with, and I'm reminded that we are each given that same opportunity -- to be a mirror of God's love and mercy to those around us.

The half-time fireworks were nice....

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that."- Bill Shankly