Thoughts on Les Miserables--the grace scene

What the priest does in response to Jean Valjean's crime is wrong. He lies to the police and puts himself and his household in mortal danger by opening himself up in vulnerability to this stranger not once but twice. He has already shown him unmerited kindness, which was repaid with betrayal, theft and violence. His act is wrong in the sense of cultural norms, societal justice, conventional morality and safety. It is naive and foolish. And yet we all know instantly, as we watch or read the encounter, that it is absolutely right. The collective gasp in the theater, once the impact sinks in, is telling. The movie version with Liam Neeson made in the 90's seems to me the most powerful portrayal of this moment but the impact is tangible whatever the medium. The priest does a ridiculously unwise thing and we immediately know it is breathtakingly right. It is the Kingdom of God at work.

Ballad

When the water quietly found it's way
from inside the tubing
where it belonged
to outside the tubing
where it didn't belong

it began to escape
heady with freedom
bent on reaching that
forbidden territory

carpet

but soon just one floor
one story
wasn't enough
and with no one
 to object
it began the descent

through the vents
new horizons
on walls
in walls
down walls

what's this? more carpet

and a cool garage floor to fill

until--
the fatal mistake--

rushing headlong into the great outdoors

one step too far
one adventure too many
one toke over the line
sweet jesus

discovery.

And for now
we live
at La Quinta.

Christmas 2013

I love the sight of these tiny shoes by the door :)

I

Snow Day!

School was cancelled so Ava spent the day with me.  A beautiful snow and no wind--so rare and so fun!

 Then back inside for hot chocolate and books by the fire!

Tree Hunting

This was a VERY quick process this year because it happened to be VERY cold the day we had planning to get our tree.  With an icy wind blowing the decision became easy.  Ava waited in the car until it was time to do the actual cutting.

Listen....

Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. - Frederick Buechner

Fall family times

Late in September Eloise came to spend the night with us.  Lots of cousin love!

Ava is now 7--such a milestone age!  We celebrated with her friends at Birch Bay and then spent the night there.

 We celebrated Jon, Kaci and Ava's birthdays at our house later in the month.

Cara, Doug, Ron and I celebrated in Mom's memory on her birthday (the 18th) at Dos Padres.