Merry Christmas from Livia, Jeremy and Rebecca!

December Photo Project. The End. See you in 2016, friends!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from
Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

I’m so grateful for a Christmas Eve Service that takes us out of the hustle and bustle of the present-prep and cookie-baking to let us pause and think about Jesus’ birth.

After the Christmas Eve Service at Redeemer I left my camera at my in-laws’ house, thus the lateness in posting my DPPs.

December Photo Project, day 24.

It’s the 23rd day of the December Photo Project and I’m limping to the finish line. I humbly submit photographic evidence that Jeremy and I went on a date and watched the latest Star Wars movie. Sure, the image was shot on my iPhone 5s, in the dark with no flash, and then messed with extensively in Photoshop, but it’s what I’ve got. And frankly, it’s what I want to remember most about today.

Two more days, DPP friends! Let’s do this thing!

I am thrilled to have this woman back in Lincoln, Nebraska… and I took the opportunity to sneak up on her a bit at Grace Chapel this morning. Brook. Life is better with her in it.

What a sweet night at Redeemer. We welcomed the Moyers into membership at church and their kiddos were baptized.

December Photo Project, day 20.

December Photo Project, day 19.

My girl.

I wrote a poem in 3rd or 4th grade that went like this:

It is quiet, it is peaceful
When no one’s around
I am alone for once
I don’t want to be found

Truly dramatic if you consider that I’ve always been an extrovert. However I did have two brothers and I loved to read by myself so maybe that was my mindset? At any rate, I look at this shot of Maralee working in my quiet basement and those lines—as well as these lyrics—come to mind. ;)

I
Love
Renae
So
Much.

She’s letting me post this shot even after I surprised her with my camera. Doesn’t matter one bit that technically the shot is no good. It makes me deliciously happy.

The end.

December Photo Project, day 17.

My fall calendar is winding down just in time for the Christmas season. After our foster baby reunified with his mama last April, I’ve been seeking a new rhythm for my days. Summer doesn’t count as Livia came home from school and all schedules were out of whack for three sometimes delightful, sometimes insane months of vacation. Autumn brought cooler temps and a semblance of normality with a new pace that settled into some good places in my life. The new schedule involves lots of coffees and lunches—both intentional and spontaneous—with many friends. Tina is one such friend, heavy on spontaneity with little desire to plan too far in advance. She was the perfect companion for a quick trip to the mall today and and you know what? Now she and I don’t feel any need to go back there anytime soon. Ha!

This guy.
Developer of webs.
Speaker of truth.
Father of Livia.
Sci-fi/fantasy fan.
Kind-spirited.
Generous giver.
Follower of Christ.

He is mine and I love him.

December Photo Project, day 15.