It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.  ~ Charles Dickens

We don’t “do” Santa around here, and I am not implying that a Santa hat actually represents true Christmas spirit (you knew that, right?).  But as the only other visual sign of Christmas at our house continues to be an advent calendar, this bit of red, white and green has added a touch of the festive.  And I think I needed that!

Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Change.

Whether we choose it or it chooses us, it can be difficult.  Uncomfortable.  Painful.  As that drill in the wood, it can leave a hole or a wound and can scatter bits of us around like so much dust.

I also believe change can inspire.  Induce growth.  And introduce much beauty.  As that drill in the wood, it can spread a new pattern of loveliness in our life.  (Looking at that sawdust reminded me of the beautiful, intricate details of a snowflake.)

Sometimes, though, there is a long period of time between the pain and the beauty.  Or at least our ability to see the beauty.

(And let’s face it.  Some change just feels too raw to ever be beautiful.  From my human perspective, the redemptive quality seems severely lacking.  Thankfully, God’s in the redeeming business, so I can entrust those sorts of changes to Him.  Easier said than done, by the way.)

It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that we fear… it’s like being between trapezes.  It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer.  There’s nothing to hold on to.  ~Marilyn Ferguson

I think one of the most difficult things about change is the fear of the unknown…the loss of the familiar and the resulting ungainly adjustments.  The lack of certainty or sureness.  And any residual pain that tends to throb at inopportune moments.

Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow; Nought may endure but Mutability. ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow begins a new phase in our family’s life.  The phase where we have family living near-by.  Grandparents.  Within walking distance!  It’s difficult to imagine.  In order for this to happen, a heart-wrenching departure from their life and family in Alaska must take place.  Ouch.  I can’t really imagine the depths of that change.

We are on the welcome-to-Oregon end.  And we are quite excited.  However, we have never lived near family.  I wonder a lot…will we be good at it?  Or will they wish they hadn’t come to be near us?  I feel blessed to have a very good relationship with my in-laws.  I would like it to stay that way!  What adjustments will be easy and what will be hard?  Even though we are certainly looking forward to this change, I do wonder about all those unknowns we will encounter.  I believe the good will outweigh the difficult.

Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.  ~Pauline R. Kezer

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign!

He arose!  He arose!   Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts.  ~ Coleman Cox

O the green things growing, the green things growing,
The faint sweet smell of the green things growing!
I should like to live, whether I smile or grieve,
Just to watch the happy life of my green things growing.

~ from Green Things Growing, by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

Some color from the backyard today…

I’ve even heard a couple lawn mowers lately.  Our grass is definitely growing, but I figure once I start mowing, I’ll be mowing for months, so I’ll hold off for a bit.

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~ Henry Van Dyke

• I hope everyone had a sweet Valentine’s day.  I should have posted this yesterday, but I took these shots today, so there it is.
• Yes, that is a Lego heart. 
• Today is a holiday for us.  Yay!
• I asked my husband to help sort out our closet.  It’s one of his least favorite things to do, but he did it.  Thanks, honey!
• The Olympics are really messing with my routine (I use that word loosely).  I stay up way too late and don’t get other important things done, like reading and picture taking/editing.
• We sometimes get movies to watch from the library.  We put titles we’re interested in on hold and when they come available we see if we can watch them in the evenings.  Of course, about 5 movies have all come in now that the Olympics are on.  I think February is going to be short on reading.
• I’m ready for Spring.
• The house next door to us has been totally remodeled and is for sale.  We’re praying for nice neighbors.
• We made these individual Molten Chocolate Cakes for a special Valentine treat last night.  Yumm!!!  And so easy!!!
• Ethan has some conductive hearing loss in both ears.  For someone who has never had an ear infection that we know of, he’s certainly had trouble.  He’s had three sets of tubes, and the instant those puppies move out, we’re back to hearing issues.  This week, the doc said that he didn’t appear to have much fluid build-up behind his ear drums as he has in the past, but his drums are kinda concave, meaning there is some negative pressure in his ear canal.  He was tested by an audiologist who was able to confirm that his nerves are working perfectly, it’s just a conductive issue.  Where people with good/normal hearing can hear well in the 0-25 decibel range, Ethan’s ears work well with 30 decibels.  So, it’s not anything terrible, just enough to be noticeable and obnoxious.  The audiologist and doc figured it was to his advantage that he’s being homeschooled so he doesn’t have to deal with classroom noise.  Because of that, and because he’s swimming year ’round, we’re not planning to take any surgical action (more tubes), and we’re hoping and praying it’s something that will eventually just resolve.  Meanwhile, I’m also praying for some extra patience.  Repeating myself is one of my least favorite things.
• At the end of last year, the words “joy” and “discipline” seemed to settle in my brain as a focus for 2010.  Here we are in the middle of February and honestly, “discouragement” seems more accurate thus far.  Choosing joy and discipline no matter the discouragement…I think that’s the theme that will remain.
• I need to go fold laundry in front of the Olympics.

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.  ~Pierre de Coubertin