Winter Wonder-Land

This is a very evocative time of year, I believe. So much hope to be found in the Good News, so much to look forward to when this world is made right again. Yet most of us weigh that hope with a jarring reality that forces our eyes open and sends the daydream of one day away with a 'poof!'. In just 24 hours, I have heard news of death, dying, and birth from friends nearby. Sometimes it can be difficult to keep our minds set on things unseen when the present life commands our attention in such visceral ways. Yet every scholarly discipline of this world, with its theories, studies, and plausible data, cannot escape the awareness of the invisible and yet-to-be-discovered truths. Practice hope, my friends, for it will not fail you. The hope of God is founded in love, which will prove to be eternal and the healer of all wrongs.

Now, on to family news... Josh has received a few very hopeful leads that will likely materialize in January and give us a clearer picture of what is being offered to us in the way of employment. This journey has been predictable, according to foreshadows offered by experienced friends, but still unpredictable to us. There's nothing like frantic poverty to expose one's irresponsible spending habits for their shocked husband to marvel at. And certainly nothing like a reduced grocery budget that can turn any woman who feels lost in a kitchen into a gourmet chef. Above all, there is nothing in the world like wanting, to show a family what love and provision feel like.

Noa is, of course, managing wonderfully. She is enjoying meals cut from the fatted calf every night. No, really - we're desperately trying to fatten this kid up! Her weight has not fluctuated since her 12-month checkup (she is now 18-months old). She has gained some height, but most impressive is the growth of her head circumference (measured each time her weight and height are), which has not been slowed in the least by this toddler-esque slimming stage. As her doctor says "You've got alot of brains in there, little girl!". She is adept at organizing and tidying things already (and yes, I encourage these traits with desperate abandon), and spends time every day uprooting everything in her drawers and closet (within reach), only to put everything back. She has animated conversations with her shoes and the Tupperware. She takes great pride in shutting the dishwasher and refrigerator doors for us, and any other door she finds open. She has also learned to give kisses. No sound or puckering of the lips, just her face smashed against her target. Yesterday, I watched her practice by kissing her toys, her shoes (of course), and her closet door. We think she learned this art of kissing from her sweet friend of the same age, Liam, who one day spontaneously took Noa's hand and kissed the back of it. She was apparently enamored.

I found Noa asleep with her bottom in the air one afternoon. She had her stuffed Elephant tucked snugly beneath her chest.

The cold weather has been a wonderful excuse to fire up the oven.

Noa does not have a pair of snow boots yet, so I've let her borrow mine this month. She doesn't seem to mind.

We've had many days of very cold weather (below zero on this particular day). Thankfully, I'm married to a fun-loving man who likes to play in the snow!

As always, the sunshine finally did return after a couple of weeks of clouds and snow. The ground reappeared in a few short days and we soon got out to play again. Noa is enjoying her new-found balance and literally squeals at the site of a hill. She will walk or "run" up and down tirelessly. When she tries to run, her hands come up to her chest and her tongue sticks out the side of her mouth - makes us giggle every time.

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Since I am unsure when my next blog update will be (hopefully in January), I will take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a hopeful Christmas and a peace-filled new year!