Santa

So I realize Christmas was a few months ago, but I'm just now getting photos to the computer.  The kids loved seeing Santa this year!  Elinore wasn't afraid; in fact, we weren't sure we were going to be able to get her away from Santa!

Family

I think this may be the only picture to date of all 6 of us.

Taken December 19, 2014

Good Big Brother!

Taken December 2014

Where do you feel closest to God?

In my church Bible Study group earlier this week, one of the questions asked was "where do you feel closest to God?" There were a couple of in nature answers; they felt closest when they were in God's creation.

Initially this question makes me think, can't we feel connected to God anywhere? Shouldn't we be able to be close to him regardless of where we are. And fundamentally I think that is true in a more perfect world. God is certainly everywhere and always with us, but our human weakness prevents us from feeling close 24-7 I think. We are the ones who stray.

So after pushing that initial thought out of my mind I had to think about when I feel most connected to God. In the Bible Study they are exploring the Holy Land and where Jesus lived his life here on Earth and how it brought this sense of closeness to God for those individuals.

As I reflected on this, I thought there are certainly things that make me feel his presence more. Often because I choose to slow down and be and listen and really accept his love. My example, my occasion, my place, was communion. So maybe it isn't necessarily a place, but an action, because it isn't always in the same place. Yet for me, I do feel close to him as I reflect on the meaning of communion and the actions taken my Jesus and by me in the act of taking communion.

On more than one occasion during communion I've sat and thought and reflected and held back tears over the gift Jesus gives us. It is a beautiful thing, and something I try to consciously focus on during communion. That isn't always easy given our four kids in church with us, but I try, and I'm also SO grateful when I do.

Ruth - 3 Months

Spring

Each year as the snow melts I find myself being a little sad.  I'm certainly glad for sping, but I'm not as fond of the wet and slushy season before the green of spring begins to arrive.  It's March and there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground, but as it warms this week, it is starting to melt.  I'm thrilled for spring, but I'm a bit saddened to see teh snow go.  The snow is quite beautiful.  And it signals another season has passed and life is moving on.  I'm grateful that time is passing on, but sadden at how it seeems to fly so quickly.

Leisureville

I finished reading Leisureville - Adventures in a World Without Children today by Andrew D. Blechman.  I had the book in my wishlist and it was given to me for Christmas, so I dug into it.  It was a good read and very insightful into the community I didn't know I had any interest in.  I'm still not sure I'm interested in it, but it did make me think a little about business, community, lifestyles and my faith. 

The book took a different path and thoughts than the books I've been reading lately, and I missed the more faith based reading I've been doing, but I kept with it and often thought about how the lifestyle and communities built in this book don't fit at all with what I believe about life and how I want to live my life as a Christian. 

The book chronicles the age segregated communities and their lifestyles.  It also focuses on the political and societal impact these communities have.  While their age segregated worlds may be wonderful for them, I wasn't crazy about the conecpt and the implications they have on the community, school, governments, etc.