Just because I haven’t posted any photos to make you all drool lately, here’s what Matt and I had for lunch, with Ritz crackers:

A friend posted this on Facebook a few days ago, and it resonated with me.  I think I’ve read it before, but it struck me again as deeply true. From Henri Nouwen, one of the most profound thinkers I’ve ever read:

To wait open-endedly is a radical attitude toward life. So is to trust that something will happen to us that is far beyond our imaginings. So is giving up control over our future and letting God define our life, trusting that He molds us according to His love and not according to our fear. The spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, trusting that new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our own imagination, fantasy or prediction. That, indeed, is a very radical stance toward life in a world preoccupied with control.

Why is it that our world is so concerned with control?  I struggle with this often myself, trying to plan out what will happen or what *should* happen, when I haven’t the slightest idea what I’m talking about.  But I still talk.  Maybe it’s time for me to be quiet and let someone else speak, eh?

I did not get chosen to sit on a jury, though it took most of 6 hours to get to that point.

Last night was the last meeting for my fall women’s Bible study, and I have to say I already look forward to the next session, which will start sometime in January.

It occurs to me that I should start with the holiday candy and cookie making fairly soon if I intend to have anything done in time to send it before Christmas.  Also, the house is a total mess, which will greatly hinder the decorating-for-Christmas plans we have been nursing all week but have been too busy to follow through with.

So today is a cleaning day–cleaning the last of the kitchen (which we started last night) so it can be cooked in again, finishing the laundry I got mostly done on Tuesday, tidying up and putting away all the things in the living room, dining room, and office that have gotten stacked into piles and shoved out of the way in the last few weeks.  Also, I will check the mail.

And since it’s frigid outside today, I’ll most likely take a break to read on the couch while snuggled under the magic blanket with the dog cuddled up beside me to keep me warm.

All in all?  Things are pretty good.  Now, on with the Christmas music and bottoms up to the coffee mug!