Haiku from the prayer room (& Christmas)

Winking gold lights watch

blue dusk fill, fall and dimly

cover drifted snow.

Minor, picardy

third and humble thyself in

the sight of the Lord.

Jazz harp and bowl

seventh for funk prayer songs

improv is worship

Peace like a river

Joy like a fountain, Love like

oceans in my soul!

I spend the snowed-in weekend in a good place. Good food, good people, good fun and laughs. Perhaps too much sugar - but the homemade toffee was delicious, and I'd never tried Turkish delight before. (P.S. which is good, but not good enough to warrant Edmund's betrayal!)

Christmas day saw numerous guests - I believe there were twelve in all, including the three little kids running around. Fondue, a beautiful fruit plate, and other hors d'oeuvres and wine filled the time before dinner. Dinner - epic. Two roasts: lamb AND beef, both incredible, both tender and tasty. Also mashed potatoes, mashed yams, horseradish (for the lamb), greens & pear salad, pineapple, avocado on the side. And I'm probably forgetting something. It was SO good, and perfectly healthy and safe! For dessert we had the homemade toffee, and Cassi's special chocolate-frosted chocolate quinoa cake. And rhubarb wine.

We laughed so much all day. During dinner, one guest, Christ, got it into his head that we all needed hats. I was sitting between him and Renee, and they both had hats, so he found some purple tissue paper and red ribbon, and made a hat for me. Apparently, it looked like bunny ears. Then he made a red hat for Rebecca out of a napkin, and an orange-and-gold tissue paper hat - nicknamed the "glory" hat - for Jonathan. Then everyone else got hats from Renee's collection. And we wore these random hats the rest of the evening. Strange folk? Fun folk. My kind.

And then, because of the blizzard warning the next day, Christ and I got trapped an extra day in Georgetown. Which meant even more merriment. The kids had wanted a fire on Christmas, so we built one on Sunday instead. As the snow began, Jonathan and Gabe built a fire. Once it got going, the rest of us (minus the two sleeping girls) trooped out to join them. A couple cigars were lit, and a bottle of port and some glasses brought out, and Christ's iPhone provided carol lyrics. Fire and snow and drink and song. We stayed out until the wind picked up and the light died down: welcome blizzard! We laugh in your face!

Snow turns all things beautiful.

Now I am back home - in my home for less than a week more. I must begin packing. There are many things I must do. But I had a wonderful, emotionally restful weekend. Physically restful? Not so much, since the little one claimed me as her care-taker, and I carried her around most of the weekend. Kids are energy-draining. But snow and laughter and fire are energy-giving. As is good food. I am thankful that my first Christmas away from family was that wonderful and fun.

I move soon. Life changes. What is next? I just don't know. But I'm sure it will be good.

25th on the 19th

When Disappointment meets Hope, Hope prevails.
When Disillusionment meets Passion, Passion prevails.


Now that I meet 25, it looks very similar to 24. Or at least to the mature 24. Was I mature? Am I mature? At least more so than I was a year ago, so that ought to count for something, nu? Myself has fewer misunderstandings with Me and I; Me and I still argue, but I thinks Me likes to argue, so that won't ever completely cease. We shall see.

2 + 5 = 7

7 Days in a Week. Flip 25 for 52 weeks in a Year. 52 * 7 = 364 Days. Much can happen - often does happen - in those days. Here's looking forward with expectant uncertainty for whatever will happen in the next 364 Days. Much can change. If this past year is any indication of my life, the increase in amount of change will continue its dramatic climb. Not quite exponential, but on a large order. Zoom, zoom. Roller-coaster up. Rocket launcher, complete with sound, flame, and smoke.

My brain's a little scattered now and here.

Here and now: a little later in the day: my brain's still scattered, but much more happily so. I think the best present I received was seeing a friend who I haven't seen in, what... over a year and a half? It was wonderful.

I decided, as it is my birthday, to dress up, and I wore my still-brand-new little black dress with the fun swirly skirt. And many people at church commented on it. 'Twas encouraging, I must admit. I could dismiss enjoying compliments as shallow or conceited, but really, that's not the case. Such words, when they are given, are tremendously uplifting. I'm in no danger of beginning to dress up all the time just to get people to compliment me, but it's certainly nice when they notice! Now I just need someone to dance with, so I can put the swirly skirt to good use!

Maybe I do feel a little older. Just a wee bit. God has been trying to get me to accept that I am a woman, all grown up, and even in the course of this one day, that has been strengthened in me. I am not a child. I am not only a young adult. I am not a little girl, not matter how lacking in height I am. Rather, I am a woman, a lady.

Hah. That reminds me of high school. Madrigal Dinners - I wish I could remember at least one of my names! Wait. Latin. I picked a good name there.

I am Lady Amadea.