Waiting....

 It feels like a wonderful season of waiting: waiting for Baby Jesus, waiting for the arrival of Baby Kleeman, waiting to know who our little baby is.  But we're busy preparing and rejoicing together.  The other night we got together and cousins made gingerbread houses (actually parents did). We also got our tree and decked our halls for Christmas.  Although this is technically not Emmeline's first Christmas, it feels as if it is her first because she is able to enjoy the snow, lights, music and story of Jesus.

 

Thankful hearts

Our hearts are thankful for many things including our families, our wee baby and our big girl baby Emmeline, for sweet little hand-made tunics, wispy hair, books with baby and silly faces. In the difficult moments we try to have thankful hearts and look at the many blessings God has given us. Wow friends, sick days are so tough!

Advent begins

Our days have been full of steamy baths and droopy eyes as we enter week four of sickness in our house. It seems that just as Emmie gets better she gets another round of colds. But somehow the quiet, stay at home, grey days are perfect for the beginning of advent in which we prepare our hearts for remembering the birth of our Savior.  In these moments I recall His great coming into a dark and fallen world, coming as a tiny babe to save us.

We've been busy despite the colds and Emmie has taken up the recorder and laughs with delight when she produces a sound. She makes us laugh so often with her silly antics, words, animal sounds and expressions of love. In the busy Christmas tuning, teaching, dissertation editing season of life our wee baby girl makes us think of Jesus the baby who came so long ago.  Let every heart prepare Him room.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,

shall come to thee o Israel!

Our 2014 Advent Wreath

Bath-time beauty

Wintertime Emmie

Playing by the fire

Our 13 Month old Emmeline

Emmie plays the recorder with great joy

Working on right end

Coming Spring 2014

If its been a little quiet on this front for a bit its because........

We are thrilled to share the news of a new addition to our family.

Baby No. 2 is scheduled to arrive late Spring 2014. Please join us as we pray for our little baby and rejoice in God's blessing to us. 

Autumn light

As the days grow darker we nestle in and sit by a blazing fire or candlelight most evenings and even some mornings.  We cuddle up under cozy blankets and drink our tea. To see a new season from a child's eyes is to marvel at the changes and to see as if for the first time.  This year we watch leaves dance a spiral dance from the sky and listen to honking birds fly by announcing their journey. We taste clementines with big eyes and ask "more", "more" as we watch the lights flicker and warm.  We simmer soups and we're thankful for God's many blessings.  

Rilke's words

Herbst

Die Blätter fallen, fallen wie von weit, 

als welkten in den Himmeln ferne Gärten; 

sie fallen mit verneinender Gebärde.

Und in den Nächten fällt die schwereErde 

aus allen Sternen in die Einsamkeit.

Wir alle fallen. Diese Hand da fällt. 

Und sieh dir andre an: es ist in allen.

Und doch ist Einer, welcher dieses Fallen 

unendlich sanft in seinen Händen hält

Maria Rainer Rilke (September 11, 1902, Paris)

Fall

The leaves are falling, falling as from far

             Where distant with'ring gardens grace the skies, 

They're falling with a gesture that denies.

And in the nights the heavy earth falls by 

Into the loneliness, from a far star.

We all are falling. This hand falls, as it extends. 

And take a look at others. It's in them all.

And yet there's One, holding this fall 

With endless gentleness in both his hands.

translation by Guntram Deichsel

Slow Autumn Days

Our days have slowed down a bit since Papa sprained his ankle. But little Miss E doesn't seem to mind at all. She is so busy in our slow days, playing her own tunes on the piano, singing her own songs and reading books to us.  She is fascinated by the migrating birds and runs to the door or window when she hears them.  She knows when the ringtone changes on Papa's new phone and looks around for the new sound.  It appears that little Emmeline loves music just as much as we do. There's a surprise!  Now we begin to wonder which instruments (and how many) will she play?