A day to spend reading, shivering, and baking

I can tell we are almost in the winter season. A few evenings ago, I was standing on my front porch and noticed an event I can't see until this time of year... a sunset. Glorious color was visible through the trees west of my house. We still have some remarkable "color" so we are getting the best of two seasons. Because of the hot and dry summer, our big trees didn't turn their usual bright red but the smaller trees and bushes are making up for it and we continue to have a lot of golds and rusts ... beautiful. I drink in all color that is remaining, being fully aware it could all be gone with one rather strong windstorm.

Yesterday was so busy and stressful, getting Christopher to his classes early in the morning, picking up my husband so he could take care of everything necessary to send back the motherboard, picking up Christopher and then our car at the mechanics, dropping off our friend's car (reluctantly as it is a beautiful ride in a "newish" car), all within six hours. Christopher treated us to pizza last night. I can't count the number of times I thanked him as the pizza was delicious and not having to cook after a busy day was even better. He works very hard for his spending money so his dad and I knew it was "sacrificial giving". :)

It's cold and windy out today... a perfect time to slow cook beef stew and put together an apple crisp (or cobbler?) for dinner. I still haven't tried the cranberry cookie recipe. I have all the ingredients coming to room temperature (except cranberries) so I can quickly mix them up and bake them while in the kitchen.

A package arrived yesterday containing Christopher's birthday presents from his sister, as well as goodies for Mom. She sends the kinds of packages I do, always trying to include sweet surprises. Some are purchased at garage sales or on clearance (like the matching "topiary" which are just what I needed for my bedroom dresser), scented hand cream, a Christmas CD, and the delightful book by Noel Piper... purchased by my son-in-law when he took advantage of the sale on the Desiring God website... two copies, one for Stephanie and one for me. You'd think it was MY birthday. :)

So... thanks to all three of my kids (two born to me, the other prayed into the family as an in-law), I enjoyed a restful evening listening to music on the Sony CD player (I haven't upgraded to an iPod, yet) and reading Noel Piper's book called Treasuring God in Our Traditions. I have wanted this book since I first read about it, the entire subject of rituals and traditions being one I care about deeply... probably due to the influence of Edith Schaeffer early in my marriage. I especially like her book as it reminds us that our family traditions are a perfect way to show the reality of God in our life. I hope to write more about it on Sunday (yes, I am going to begin Sunday Afternoon Teas again even though life isn't perfect... no pictures and I'm not comfortable on this computer).

I listened to the beautiful Christmas CD sent from New England but I later pulled out my favorite Rich Mullins CD titled Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth just for inspiration. How beautiful, what a poet was Rich Mullins. So often when I think of Heaven, I imagine great Heavenly choirs singing praises to God.

But... last night... listening by way of headphones. I imagined sitting around a Heavenly campfire with Rich singing such words as (taken from a lyrics site):

It's more than just this fire here
That keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger
Than this room

And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing

The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver
Of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You

And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

There's more that dances on the prairies
Than the wind
More that pulses in the ocean
Than the tide

There's a love that is fiercer
Than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's
When her baby's at her side

And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing

The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegence
I owe only to the Giver
Of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You

And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

And if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You

And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

...and these words from another song on the CD

And now the night is fading and the storm is past
And everything that could be shaken was shaken
And all that remains is all I ever really had

What I'd have settled for
You've blown so far away
What You brought me to
I thought I could not reach

And I came so close to giving up
But You never did give up on me
I see the morning moving over the hills
I feel the rush of life here where the darkness broke

And I am in You and You're in me
Here where the winds of Heaven blow

Poetry...