Five Minute Friday: Comfort

Some of you may know about Lisa-Jo Bakers's Friday link-up called Five Minute Friday.  I KNOW it's Sunday, but I though I would link up anyway. 
The point is to write, unedited, on the given prompt for just five minutes.  This week (or, last week, now that it's Sunday) the prompt is the word COMFORT.  Here goes!

I've been trying to sell this chair and ottoman.  It's not really "me" -- the tapestry upholstery, the huge size, the tasseled fringe.  But whenever I mention it, Lucy protests. Loudly.

You see, when we moved to our house in Arlington, Lucy was just a baby not yet a year old.  And on many a morning, after we had walked the boys to school (or later, after they had left for the bus with Papa), she and I would snuggle in this chair, in the corner of the living room, under that very quilt you see in the photo, and read and read and read. She and I fit right in there together, warm under our blanket.

In fact, when Lucy was a little bitty and she would get overwrought, she would cry out for comfort, "Read books!  Read books!"  Like that would make everything right with her world.  Her thumb, her pink blankie and reading books together in that big chair. 

Now she's bigger.  We don't fit so well in the chair.  And we've only sat in it to read together maybe one or two times since we moved that chair to Texas (where it fits much better than in an 100-year-old New England two-family home!).  Now we read on the sofa or on her bed at night.  But she can't bear the thought of that chair being gone because for her, it represents comfort, being together, being little and taken care of.

I still don't love that chair and ottoman.  But I might have to keep them, just for Lucy.

What, what what?

Okay, yeah, I know.  I never blog here anymore. What can I say?  It's complicated.

My dear friend, Jody, said that even if I was having trouble writing, maybe I could still post photos.  Great idea, Jody!  You are the best.

So here is a little review of the past two months or so, in photos.

Walter and his best bud, Corey, at the soccer final four in Houston in March.  They came in fourth, but Walter got to play and they had a GREAT season!  We are so thankful that Walter has found a friend like Corey (and others!).

I made hot cross buns on Good Friday.  Baking is therapeutic for me.  First holidays in a new place are hard.  Easter was no exception!

The family Easter photo.  Probably should have shared this before May, huh?  OH WELL!  I'm proud of all these people.

Easter bread.  I don't always make the same thing, but I DO always feel the need to make a yeast bread for Easter, purely for the symbolism!

The tree that my neighbor gave me last fall is so dang useful for decorating!  Easter tree!

In April, our pastor from Cambridge came to town on his motorcycle.  Oh yeah, he's bad.  To celebrate the visit, we invited all the people who once attended our church in Cambridge and who now live in Texas to come to our house!  It was a great, great time.  How cute is this little buddy trying to hold his eyes open on his daddy's shoulders?!

He gave in.  So adorable.

At the end of April, Lucy had her spring orchestra concert.  There she is, front and center.  She has recently become really excited about playing her violin, and it is fun to see (and listen to!).

The biggest thing on our horizon is our church plant is going to launch at the end of the month!  Yes, this month! EEEEEEEKK!  And HOORAY!  All at the same time!  We are excited to be at the point of beginning to worship together publicly on Sunday morning.  Up to now, we have been meeting in the afternoons for Bible study and discussion of our mission, vision and values.  Now we will begin to do REAL church!  Yes!  I truly can't wait for John to begin to preach every week.  I have been missing hearing some Gospel preaching.

In light of the busy summer we have ahead, John and I took a quick overnight trip to Austin last weekend.  We visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and it was just gorgeous.  I do love this kind of landscape, and it shines in the spring!

Did you know Central Texas could look like this?!

I can hardly believe that our children's first year in school in Texas is coming to a close in just a few weeks.  I continue to struggle mightily with culture shock, and am praying that the Lord would make me softer and more mature.  Thank God He gave me a husband who can coach me and help me to see things more gently.  I'm rather fiery if left to myself; I desperately need softening.

God is good, people.  

Go Hawks!

Walter's soccer team is playing today in the second round of playoffs.  If they win, they will go to the state tournament in Houston!  It has been a lot of fun to get to know the boys and families who play soccer.  Best of all, Walter has LOVED being on the team.  He has been so much happier since he now gets LOTS of good exercise and has made some good friendships.
Lucy made a poster to encourage the team.  I think I'll bring it to the game today. Is this cute or what?!

Go Hawks!

Saturday cheer

Here are a few things that cheer my heart these days.  Some are big, some are small.  

Here is Lucy using glitter spray to paint a green pumpkin and a planting pot.  I mean, how can you not love glitter spray on a pumpkin?!  In February?!  Does it get any more random?

Here is a terrible photo taken with my phone of a very hilarious thing.  Never for tears.

No further explanation needed.

You might notice two extra boys in this photo.  We have known them since they were 2 years old and 6 months old.  They came to visit and we LOVED EVERY MINUTE of it.  And several of us wept tears of grief when they had to leave.  They are my other two sons. (And not to be forgotten, their sister is also dearly loved, but not ready to go on the plane by herself!)

My mom and dad's big dog.  She is getting quite old but is so lovely and sweet.  We loved seeing her in Tucson.  She's so big that sometimes in the kitchen she has to back herself out instead of turning around.

Okay, I really don't want to turn into the person who posts cat pictures.  However, our kitty is so cute and funny and he really brings us joy. I am grateful that he came to our house.  When Lucy is crying and sad, he cheers her up.  And, if you are my friend on Facebook, you might know that he was recently baptized by Theo.  So, there's that.

Our dear friend, Liz, came to visit from Houston.  Having her in our house was like having a bit of home.  We've been in church together in Cambridge for 7 years and it was so refreshing to spend time with her.  We can't wait for her next visit!

Our church admitted 16 new members.  And we haven't even launched public worship!  As you may notice, our group skews to the WISDOM end of the spectrum, if you know what I mean.  Come on, you young, foolish whippersnappers!  We need you, too!

These bowls nesting in a deep drawer always make me smile.  I especially like the primary colors.  I love opening that drawer.

Oh yeah, baby!  I found this chair at an estate sale and I LOVE it!  I saw it the first day of the sale, but it was much more than I wanted to spend.  I waited til the second day, when everything was 50% off, and it was still there!  Isn't it gorge?!  It's in great condition, too.

So, there you have it.  What's cheering your heart this fine Saturday?

One year ago this week

Let's just not discuss the fact that this blog hasn't been updated in 56 days.  Deal?  A whole lot of life and whatnot has been happening and I have not had the wherewithal to report on it all.

I do hope that my wherewithal increases soon. It's been in decline ever since we moved.  I need a new supply.

I was thinking about the fact that one year ago this week was when John and the children and I first came to Kerrville to meet the people and be "interviewed".  For the children, they had a fun week in the Texas sun, visiting with grandparents and other relatives and friends.  See?

Meanwhile, John and I were in Dallas for a few days being interviewed about possibly becoming church planters in the Southwest Church Planting Network and establishing a mission church here in Kerrville.  While the kids gallivanted around with their grandparents in the luxury motor coach, John and I made our way south to Kerrville.  Here are some things we saw along the way.

We spent the next few days meeting lots of new people and talking about our vision for church planting.  I think I spent the whole week weakly praying, "Jesus, help me."  I was shaking and in shock that God might actually ask me to move away from my beloved city to the...middle of nowhere.

So now here we are, one year later.  We have lived in Kerrville for almost 7 months!  It's been a painful year, but certainly one in which we have felt the Lord leading us and caring for us.  This whole thing has had a sense of inevitability about it.  We have cried many bitter tears over leaving Boston, but have also seen God do amazing things as we work to build community and pray for our church to be born.  God has given us amazing blessings in new friends, neighbors who feel like old friends, a church group who loves and supports us, and the proximity of family for the first time our married lives.

I think I feel a bit like Mary after she had given birth to Jesus.  The Bible says that she "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."  We are still pondering all these things in our heart.  We are wondering what God is up to, and how He will work in the midst of our weakness and doubts.

Happy Third Day of Christmas!

And here's to hoping not one of you receives three French hens as a gift today!

As I have said before here on the blog, I relish the days between Christmas Day and Epiphany/Three Kings Day/Twelfth Night/January 6th because that, my friends, is THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!  If we listen to the radio or watch the ads on television, they tell us that the Christmas season began way back around Halloween, and now it is all over.  
Well, GOOD NEWS!  It's only the third day!  So if you didn't quite get all your Christmas cards mailed out, like me, then you are IN LUCK!  You've got NINE more days!  Wheeeeeee!

I promised last week that I would show you a bit of our first Christmas in Texas.  One thing I didn't see coming as Christmas approached was that we would all feel such a strong sense of loss in not celebrating Christmas in Boston, in the ways to which we had become accustomed over the last 16 years. It took all my fortitude to find and set up the Advent wreath.  Not be sound overly dramatic, but it was through tears that I searched the boxes in the garage, asking God to help me find what I needed and to give me grace to set it all up.  The children wondered how in the world it could possibly be Christmas if it wasn't even remotely cold out?   On that note, does any one have some Christmas-y shorts and flip-flops I could borrow?

I tried to explain to the children that the meaning of Christmas does not depend on the weather.  In fact, as my dear friend in New Zealand reminded me (hi, Carol Anne!), Christmas is a SUMMER holiday for half of the world!  John and I didn't grow up with picturesque New England Christmases.  Our children have been spoiled by living their entire lives in a place that to me, while I was growing up, was ONLY IN BOOKS! It's so hard to change, isn't it?

But Lucy said the sweetest thing on Christmas Eve.  She said, "God gave me a thought!  He told me that even though it doesn't look like Christmas, it still feels like Christmas!"  I love this for two reasons.  One, God speaks to her heart and she listens.  Two, God gave her comfort and reassurance that even though her world has been turned upside down, CHRISTMAS STILL COMES.  God with us.  Alleluia.

The wreath is made from dried chile peppers.

Christmas morning mantle and one very excited little girl!

This is the kitty that adopted us a few days before Christmas.  His name is Navidad.  He is super cute.

Crockpot full of traditional Christmas Eve soup.

Christmas morning feast may be my favorite meal of the year! Cinnamon rolls, bacon, spiced winter fruit, vanilla pear mimosas, coffee... 

Cousins came over that night and they tried out Just Dance 4! Very fun.

Christmas dinner made my John, complete with Christmas crackers and paper crowns.

I do hope, dear friends, that you had a blessed Christmas Day, celebrating the Incarnation of God!  We are spending the next several days of Christmas with my parents, and I hope that we will do some more Christmas baking and go on some good hikes.
Tell me in the comments what you're looking forward to in the remaining days of Christmas!