Friday, December 31, 2010

Big Nights


My sister said,
“You’re giving up tennis courts,
And swimming pools, and…”

But last night
When we got home,
The stars were amazing.

It was six degrees outside,
Yet we did not care.
We had to stay outside and
Look at our big, big sky
And admire our brightly lit night.

And then,
When I had crawled into bed
I looked out the window
And saw a shooting star
Right before
I shut my eyes and fell asleep.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Last Night


The wind howled, the
Rain poured and I lay awake
With thoughts in my head

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I Would Like


I would like
To have a presence;
A quite, wise determination
About me.

One that attracts
Rather than deflects,
Encourages,
Seeks out the thoughts
Of those experienced.

A confidence
That comes through
In any situation,
Not of ego
But one that reflects
That I am loved
By Christ
And not the approval
Of others.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

New Beds


                                                                                    Summit got
A new bed
For Christmas
But Andy
Won’t
Get off of it.
You can call him
And coax him
But no,
He sits in the middle
Like a button.
And poor Summit
Just lets it go
And crawls onto
Her old blanket
                                                                                    And sleeps.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve


     I woke up early this morning.  It’s Christmas Eve and a delightful day is ahead.  First, a chocolate almond torte is to be made.  It has a load of chocolate, butter and eggs.   Then homemade marshmallows in all sorts of shapes for Colette’s hot chocolate tomorrow will be created.  After wrapping a few presents and stuffing stockings,  Tom will help my dad with a project and I will go get my niece Torunn so she can spend the afternoon with us.  We will go get a latte, take a walk with the dogs and have a bit of quiet time enjoying the tree and decorations and each other before going to the Christmas Eve church service.    We will eat a yummy dinner with family, perhaps play a new game and go to bed with thoughts of thankfulness and Christmas tonight.  
     Days never go quite as planned but still, I am looking forward to this one whatever it may end up bringing.
     Merry Christmas to you.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

I'm Sorry

I wasn’t at my best today. 
I mumbled and grumbled. 
I’m not sure what came out
from under my breath. 

And now, tonight,
It has passed
And I wish I hadn’t
Spent time being frustrated,
That I had let it go,
That I had held my tongue. 

I keep learning that things
Take care of themselves.
In ways, usually,
That I do not plan.
Yet it still happens
Sometimes.

And I’m sorry.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Thoughts


Outside, the trees are tied, the bushes wrapped, the wood is covered and the summer toys have been put away.  Inside, bread is baking, the fire is warm and crackly, the Christmas tree lights are shining and my dog, Summit, is snoring loudly.  The air is crisp, the wind is blowing and it is the first night in a good while that stars are not bright in the sky.  Snow tonight?  Yes, I think so.  Winter is on its way.
Recently, I tried to explain what snow was like to my friend, Julienne.  How it crunches when you walk on it, that you can sink down into it or slide on top of it.  How it can be wet and dry and hard and soft and oh, so very cold.  How each flake is different, tiny yet abundant.  How it surrounds you and blankets you and the world seems beautiful, quiet and still.  How you can pick it up and eat it or pack it into a ball and throw it or simply fall right into it.  I could not do its wonders justice.
I was not pleased to learn I would be sharing a room with her for a week, a stranger from a far away land.  She explained to me how she had lost a child to uncontrollable diarrhea, another to malaria and a husband to cancer; and of the three young children she has adopted and her sadness that her son may not be able to come home for Christmas. (Travel is dangerous and expensive.)  My story was of no less interest to her.  We gave each other a gift that week, one of sharing, compassion, friendship and laughter and my life will be richer because of it.  For she is wise in ways so different from me through experiences I cannot fully comprehend.
What I carry in my heart this season is the gift of friendship that goes in both directions, the gift of snow that brings fun and joy, the gift of new experiences (desired and not) that enable depth and compassion and the gift of Jesus.  And I think, if only to me, the presents that I have wrapped tonight (with rather excessive bows) carry more meaning this year.  I am blessed and thankful.
Merry Christmas, enjoy this winter and goodnight.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Old Wood

Our house
Is made of old wood.
From a barn in the East
From a mill in the valley
And from where else
I do not know.
Beech, cedar, pine
And other types too.
It makes me wonder
Who cut the trees down
Who built the lumber up
Whose feet have
Stepped on our floor
Whose horses have
Slept in its stalls.
I am sure
I will never know.
But the house speaks in
Silence, of experience
And richness.
Our home
Is built of old wood.

Monday, December 6, 2010

We Live

We live
A long way
From town.

Good Friends

We wanted
For our company
Tonight
To have the house clean
And decorated
And lovely.

Instead,
We slept in late,
Ate pancakes,
Kissed,
Went for a snowshoe
And made a mess.

We think
Our friends
Now won't care
(At least we
Hope not).

Dinner
Will still be be tasty
And the fire
Will still be cozy
And we will
Laugh,
Perhaps even more.

Indeed,
That's what
Happened.
Good friends.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Our Driveway

Our driveway
Is not for the intrepid.
It is steep and windy
And long.
On it
There is snow and ice.
A back hoe moved
Some of the white
To give one narrow
Bit of driving room.
If it snows any more
We may have to tunnel
To get into work and to town.
Our driveway
Is not for the intrepid.