Last week January 2014

It is hard to remember what our school week was like this week.  Were we in school the entire week?  Yes, I think we were with one day being a two-hour delay.  I enjoy those because they make the morning time so much more leisurely.    We've had snow on the ground for about two weeks now--really unusual for Virginia.  But today a lot of it is gone since it was in the 50s yesterday and today.

Steve was in a recovery mode much of the week, trying to catch up with his body from the jet lag and frenzy of travel to Nairobi, Nashville twice, and a day in New York City thrown in.  His fellows class for The Falls Church began on Monday, but much of the rest of the week had flexibility to not drive quite as hard each day.  He thinks he may be getting back to East Coast time about now.  That's good.  Though I often wake in the middle of the night to the light of his cell phone screen as he reads or uses it to light other reading, I like it better when he sleeps through (and I do too).

Sunset at The Holly and the Ivy

A highlight of the week was dinner at Eden and Charlie's on Friday night.  It was the first time we'd been there as a couple, though I had been there once or twice before since it had been settled.  They live on the 11th floor of The Onyx.  David lives on the 7th floor.

The Onyx

Lobby Desk

   Eden and Charlie both had prepared dinner--a curry over rice.  Charlie's dad was also there since he had just arrived to spend some time with them for the weekend. The vegan dinner was in his honor and was delicious.  What happiness it is to see Eden and Charlie settled in their home and navigating the new waters of "family."                             

View of the length of the apartment--living area

Eden exhibiting some of her newly finished handiwork for a special someone.

With the beginning of the new month, the John Baillie prayers start over, and as some of you know, I love the prayer for the first day. With thankfulness one is led in being grateful for a range of things, but the one that always grips me is, "For the great and mysterious opportunity of my life;"  It is a wonder to begin with that there IS any great and mysterious opportunity that is especially mine. . . and yet, I know that there is.  Whether that opportunity seems great and mysterious to anyone else is completely beside the point. It is defined so by my Maker and given to me as a gift. This alone gives me great pause and many moments of self-reflection, repentance, and inspiration--in that order.

The prayer ends with this:

O God, who has been the refuge of my fathers through many generations, be 

my refuge today in every time and circumstance of need. Be my guide through 

all that is dark and doubtful. Be my guard against all that threatens my spirit’s 

welfare. Be my strength in time of testing. Gladden my heart with your peace; 

through Jesus Christ my Lord. . . Amen.

As I prayed that again, I realized anew that this is the experience of everyone pretty much everyday: We encounter the dark and are doubtful; things threaten our spirit's welfare; we are tested on fronts great and small.  In response, I am called on to remember that God is and has been the refuge/hiding place/dwelling place for his people throughout many generations, and to ask him to be my guide, and to gladden my heart with peace.

There is no winter storm watch or warning, but this is the forecast for tomorrow.  It is unlikely to be cold enough (after today's warmth) to really accumulate much snow, but the big question is always what decision the schools will make, if any.  If we did get a snow day, it would be our seventh of the winter season.  We'll have to see!