Wednesday, December 28, 2011

McLeran Christmas 2011


Everyone was glad to see Uncle Jeff, Aunt Candi, and Noah on Wednesday.

The former night nurse has given up her daily Dr. Pepper for the sake of Baby #2!

Thursday morning visiting with Uncle Wally

Thursday afternoon observations with Grandma Otto and Aunt Shirley
Thursday evening silliness with Nana, Grandpa, and Aunt Brittany
Three Christmas sweeties
. . . and a Christmas smooch--no mistletoe necessary
Unfortunately, I have no pictures, but this recap would not be complete without mention of learning the Settlers of Catan game with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Candi.  Their gift has been much enjoyed if playing four times in as many days is any indication!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Expect the Unexpected

“We, with our modern democratic and arithmetical presuppositions would so have liked and expected all men to start equal in their search for God. One has the picture of great centripetal roads coming from all directions, with well-disposed people, all meaning the same thing, and getting closer and closer together. How shockingly opposite to that is the Christian story! One people picked out of the whole earth; that people purged and proved again and again. Some are lost in the desert before they reach Palestine; some stay in Babylon; some becoming indifferent. The whole thing narrows and narrows, until at last it comes down to a little point, small as the point of a spear—a Jewish girl at her prayers. That is what the whole of human nature has narrowed down to before the Incarnation takes place. Very unlike what we expected, but, of course, not in the least unlike what seems, in general, as shown by nature, to be God's way of working.”

―C.S. Lewis, “The Grand Miracle”

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Jam 2011

A bunch of friends came over . . .

. . . and played . . .


. . . and  sang . . .



. . . and generally made merry.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Thanksgiving Is Always In Season

An Act of Thanksgiving to God for Great Blessings
O God, it is good to be alive, and numbered with
the men whom thou hast made:
and
I thank thee for thy gift of life.

O God, it is good to have the power of thought, and
to seek and learn and know:
and
I thank thee for thy gift of mind.

O God, it is good to dwell beneath the sun in the
world which is thy handiwork:
and
I thank thee for earth's beauty, and thy rule
within its laws.

O God, it is good to come to each new day, and to
find the passing years a cure for wounds innumerable,
and
I thank thee for the ministries of time.

O God, it is good to count in word and deed
for ends beyond our own:
and
I thank thee for thy use of me if I have been
of any service to thy purposes.

O God, it is good to rejoice and to be glad,
and
I thank thee for each person, for each experience of life,
that has brought me happiness.

O God, it is good to feel the disciplines
that school the spirit,
and
I thank thee for the trials and troubles
which have wrought in me some hardihood of soul.

O God, it is good to have thine everlasting arms
beneath us,
and
I thank thee now for all thy mercies,
both temporal and spiritual,
those I have known, those I have not recognized,
wherewith thou hast upheld me in
thy wisdom, power, and love.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav'nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

―Miles Lowell Yates (1890-1956)

HT: Feast of Booths, (Pastor Randy Booth) Nov 24, 2011 

 1 Thessalonians 5:18: 
in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Historic Fun

Ian, Anna, and Lewis have thoroughly enjoyed their monthly history class with Ms. Sara this semester.  After emptying boxes from a recent Azure delivery, Anna looked at the pile of cardboard and saw an artifact instead of trash.  After many happy minutes spent with scissors and scotch tape, she ended up with this original rendition of a menorah.

Both our families enjoyed a review presentation dinner
where the students each talked about a different Old Testament character from their studies.
(Snow White was a bonus not in the original curriculum.)

 Emily and Mary Kate did a cute theatrical production depicting the rivalry between Hannah and Peninah.

Toward the end of our evening together, 
Lewis covered the history of Saint Nicholas with some bright young students.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Incarnate Intimacy

Evil always wants distance. But the Incarnate God did not come to us remotely, observing and supervising our salvation from on high. Instead, He came to us. He feeds us, He breathes on us, He makes a mixture of spit and mud and daubs it on our eyes so that we can see.      God always wants closeness. Not the false intimacy of sentimentality and pornography, not the shallow closeness of gratified desires — but the dogged intimacy that does not allow me to turn my face away when I am done.    ---Simcha Fischer

HT: Jen at Conversion Diary

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Counterpoint at Bible Church of Cabot

Favorite Things

The Snow Lay on the Ground--solo and accompanying siblings
Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming
Ian didn't get the stripes memo for the last rehearsal.
Wish I had pics of the entire choir singing and doing their hand chimes.  Lots of musical fun and memories!