Well, Baby Wes is finally here! 9 lb 3 oz, 22.5 inches long at around 8:45 pm yesterday. (The twins may be a little disappointed that they won’t get to share a birthday…BTW Happy 9th Birthday, WRC and Lottie!) We are all very happy and relieved. Precious daughter #2 is okay too!
Let me just say, however, that I am about crafted out. I have made so many Santas and elves and gingerbread men and reindeer, not to mention reindeer headbands, that I am becoming cross-eyed. But all in a good cause.
Filling time, we also watched Little Miss Broadway (1938) starring Shirley Temple and George Murphy and a cast of stellar supporting character actors…
…and also Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)–they watched the whole thing!
We enjoyed both movies and I recommend them for younger viewers!
The girls and I are going to the hospital this morning to see Mommy and the new baby. Thanks be to God.
God our Father, maker of all that is living, we praise you for the wonder and joy of creation. We thank you for the life of this child, for a safe delivery, and for the privilege of parenthood. Accept our thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
We thought that today would be the day. Daughter #2 was scheduled for an induction, but it was delayed, so we are still waiting. Pray that all goes well.
Greetings from the prairie where we are whiling away the hours waiting for baby #3 doing Hobby Lobby crafts…
…and having a good ol’ time being patient and taking it slow. We watched the Disney Sleeping Beauty (1959)–I was impressed–Disney animators/writers were really at the top of their game. And you can’t beat the music by Tchaikovsky.
We also watched White Christmas (1954) on Friday night…
As you know, my personal favorite.
It is too cold and icy to go outside. But we have done laundry and folded a lot of clothes. We’ve vacuumed and straightened up. We’ve read a lot of Pete the Cat and Maisie and Angus and the Ducks.
Heavenly Father, fill my heart with joy and peace even as I wait, knowing that You are working all things for my good. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope…(Romans 15:13)
Best opening sentence in literature? Debate in the comments. Anyway, yes, it is December again and with that comes the re-reading of A Christmas Carol. I highly recommend the annual practice.
Eat your heart out. In the background, you can catch a glimpse of my new built in bookshelves. I’ll share a full picture someday–right now they are still being styled. Please note, I had to move the studly Kirkwood Pioneer because Mr. Smith kept getting a little too close. Nobody chews my needlepoint!
Eat your heart out again. Mr. Smith has (finally) learned that blankets are more fun when you snuggle with them than when you attack and tear them to shreds. This is a major life improvement for me–and I’d say for him, as well.
It’s a cool picture of St. Louis through my front windshield and the street looks almost impressive–until you realize practically everything in this photo is vacant or an office building that was converted into apartments. And please note the ice covered streets. Sigh.
Finally, before Thanksgiving I had a three-day trip to Wyoming for work. I saw some really big equipment.
I made it safely to the snow-covered prairie–a very windy trip, but uneventful. I controlled my 241 horses and raced north, arriving in good time. Praise the Lord.
All is well.
*And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well When the tongues of flames are in-folded Into the crowned knot of fire And the fire and the rose are one.
I am heading up to the prairie today to be with daughter #2 while there is a break in the weather. Pray for cleared roads and no precipitation! Pray that the baby comes in a timely manner and in the right way. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
And here’s a song I like:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP)
Well, we got more snow–how about that? Luckily I had gone out early in the morning to run errands, so I could just stay home and watch the snow fall. Thankfully, daughter #1 had cancelled her drive to Indiana for work, but she still had to drive home from downtown and that was moderately traumatizing.
The snow was really coming down when I took this picture, but the iPhone does not capture that adequately at all!
Well, I certainly underestimated the weather gurus and their forecasts of snow on Saturday. We got 5 inches more or less and I was stuck at home. I’m not complaining–I like a snowy day in my cozy home. Luckily daughter #1 helped me on Friday to bring up my Christmas ornaments from the basement. She also helped me put together my new King of Christmas artificial tree. It popped right into place and since the tree is equipped with all the latest technology, the lights automatically connect through the pole, easy peasy. I love a real tree, but in my dotage I feel no guilt about this newest acquisition. The boy had to come over like three times last year to help me, so now I can be reasonably self-sufficient as per my decorating. The tree even came with special gloves to wear for fluffing.
Pre-fluffed…not bad!
Daughter #1 also helped me get the mantel set up…
Friday night I had unwrapped all my tree ornaments, so on Saturday I put them on the tree (post fluffing).
I am pleased.
Since I finished reading Shane, I watched the movie. It is one of those rare examples of a movie that is far better than the book. The book is good, but the movie is great, a classic, the original that everyone copies. The screenplay by A.B. Guthrie is sophisticated and complex, although telling a seemingly simple story; the direction by George Stevens is brilliant. The actors are all at the top of their game, and in the case of Alan Ladd, he was never better. By the climactic fight between Shane and Joe Starrett where the horses are going crazy and Marian is screaming, I was in tears. And then, the build-up to the final shoot-out–wow. You could certainly write a thesis on this movie and the way it builds tension etc. The best scenes are not even in the book. And when I was writing the blogpost about film scenes in the rain–how did I forget Shane?
(There are so many spoilers in this trailer!)
Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent! We started a new sermon series on the first chapters of Luke. We also had a baptism, our pastor’s (adorable) baby son. Our adult ed class was on the beginning of Matthew–led by a seminary professor and excellent. Did I mention that we sang good Advent hymns?
After church we went back to my house where daughters #1 and #3 met us to celebrate the boy’s birthday. I made his favorite meal–tortellini, French bread and salad and we had cake.
Good, good times. An eventful 4-day weekend!
Have a good week! Take some time to pause and reflect, to remember how gracious our God has been, His unexpected provision and answered prayers, and His steady faithfulness woven through every ordinary day.
*Charles Wesley, 1744
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
dual personalities 