Closing Shop

Dear friends,
After quite a few years blogging here, I'm closing shop. I've been journaling since I could write, and journaling online since high school. But I'm increasingly less comfortable with the internet, and also craving more real paper and ink in my life. My writing has drastically changed since studying and working in journalism, as well as blogging, and I'm hoping this change will heal that. I've been told I like/need solid "closure" in my life and making this final post is it.

I still fully support bloggers and creative, internet pursuits. A personal blog is just not for me right now.
I plan to keep up my new food blog because it's a different kind of venture. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Knowing that most of you who read this blog are my real life friends, neighbors, colleagues ... and mom!, I want to say thank you for following me to this little corner of the internet, and thank you for supporting my creativity. Truly.

Now let's go to Barnes & Noble or something :)

Birthdays!

These cold months are full of new years for us.

Nov. 7 -- New year married.
Nov. 27 -- New Christian year beginning with Advent.
Jan. 1 -- New Year in the western calendar of months.
Jan. 13 -- New year of life for Jake.
Jan. 18 -- New year of life for me.

We had some friends over to celebrate the later two events.



It was a little funny asking to everyone to sing me happy birthday. But I loved dishing out the goods.



And I really love a house full of friends.
(Credit for photos of us goes to friend Colin. Which I appreciate so much!)

O Gracious Light

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.


We read this, the oldest recorded hymn outside the Bible, at our small group once a week. I can't think of a better way to praise God for the beauty we have in snow.
The Lord has put the idea of "purity" on my mind this month. It's something I honestly don't think much about. But I've been feeling the burden on my heart to seek cleanliness (not just righteousness or goodness) and to be free of mixed motives. The snow is such a good reminder of that. If you haven't sought purity in a while, I highly recommend it. The Lord has been so good to restore me, I want to whisper reverent proclamations to even the tiniest mite.

Dark chocolate/ balsamic/ chipotle ice cream.
Bon Iver.
In a carwash.

FOOD BLOG!

Hey friends, brace yourself.
I started a food blog!
I know. Me.

I don't think the link on my sidebar is working, so for now click here.

I hope you enjoy it! I'm looking to start trading recipes and such.