Merry Christmas

2:13 in the Gospel of Luke:  …vast heavenly army appeared…

A bit further in 2:32 records Simeon’s prophecy declaring some obscenely harsh things: …a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel

Simeon also addresses Mary directly and asks her to listen carefully.  2:34 This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.  Indeed as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul as well.

It is one thing to marvel at being impregnated by the power of God Almighty, but quite another to be told that the life God went to the trouble to historically place in your womb without any sex involved, is going to be rejected…not to mention that the pain surrounding his life is going to be intense for the world.  Wait there is more.  Your soul is going to be pierced with pain…you the one who was “chosen” to bring this revelation forth for humanity. 

Ha, those are words that could slam a new mother right into postpartum depression for sure!

I long to know what Mary’s thoughts were, what her verbalizations were, even if only between her and God.  I can not help but wonder what it was that God granted her in the way of spiritual gifts that could sustain such a calling. 

Mary thank you for your obedience…for the encouragement your faithful following of God infuses to me some 2000 plus years later.  I have been awake since 3:30 am thinking about you and your life and your mothering and your walk.  You inspire me to pray for my adult children, begging our King for their lives to encounter the ongoing conviction of your swaddled, soul piercing. sword of truth. revelation of God.

Tink

5 months of pre-matrimony preparations…

Shan picked and I vased flowers for the shower
It has been a week and a half post Harty wedding day which is long enough for one to ponder how to post about it. Yet…I Have no idea how I want this post to go. I should start by saying that the actual day is a blur, if you have been the MOB you know this to be true. Or should I start by declaring that the process of up to the wedding day feels like it will be seared in my memory forever. Yeah right…this from a woman who cannot remember where she left her eye glasses.

Mrs Jandt helping with wedding favors
I can share a few here and now if you like:
I developed a love for extra sticky post-it notes


A love/hate relationship with Pinterest
A keen awareness that my inner child still has some growing up to do
The understanding that tea dying little muslin bags should not be followed by ironing them dry – the acid in the tea destroys the Teflon coating on the iron
Annoyance for our modern day social aversion to RSVPing



Vendors:  Monica’s Waterfront Bakery and The Cutting Garden




Lots more gray hairs thanks to -- administration/lists/delegation/hiring vendors/thinking through zillions of worst case scenarios. For example. if the wind gusts how shall we keep the table cloths on the tables?



I also developed a LOVE for the sweet memories of having something every single day for 5 months to converse about with both my daughters. I do not think there has been anything in my parenting process that has offered such a long stretch of united conversation time. Of course there were days that we all felt tired of thinking and planning towards the wedding for sure.  I will say though, of all the difficult things about planning one of the happiest events of our family’s history, the concentrated focus resulted in loads of pricelss memories!
 
Wedding day photos are yet to come – I am so excited to see how they turn out.



Before I publish this post I want to thank all of you who pitched in with encouragement and plain hard work, not to mention your patience as you watched me be constantly sucked away into the vortex of “I have so much to do today” --You’re the best!
  Tink~

44 days to go~

Hello…it has been since June and wow—that seems impossible!
Brief update:  June and July were a hub of activity including--

I attended my 12th Leavenworth quilting retreat with bff
We had our son-in-law to be’s family for dinner for the first time
We had a young family in transition, whom we dearly love, move in with us for the month
My besty, Shelleice, from Utah and her hubby paid us a weekend visit on their way to Canada ala Harley style
I spent 2 weeks hobbling with a back set-back that prevented us from traveling to our planned family vacation destination, big bummer!
We hosted 6 visitors from China for 2.5 weeks
I started two wedding quilts and finished one
Two of my small group members tied the knot with each other
My bff, Daisy Days turned FIFTY…we Yas planned a fun day of surprises to commemorate the day (video to come)
Two of my friends gave birth to beautiful babies -- one of which I threw a baby shower for, the other I helped out during her home-birth (I just fed her children and filled her birthing pool and prayed her hubby would arrive before pushing…prayer answered)
And…lastly (you thought I would never stop huh?), we unveiled my circa-Princess-Diana wedding dress from it’s pristine box. It was a special evening indeed!!!!

		the old dress unveiled VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL