How did I get from May to December without posting? I'm as surprised as you BUT I'll tell you what's been happening. My son was married on May 17. He and his wife graduated on June 21. They moved to Toronto on August 2, with help from my husband and I. My twins sons moved out of our house on August 1, with our help. On Sept. 4, we had a second celebration of Nathan and Melissa's wedding. On Sept. 5, we had a 25th wedding anniversary, double 50th birthday party. On Oct. 9, my niece was married in Ottawa, with all my family coming again. On Nov. 13, my mother had an 80th birthday party. And now...I'm looking forward to a family gathering on Dec. 31, to celebrate my mom and dad's 60th wedding anniversary.
Okay, enough personal stuff...you get the drift.
During advent, I've been working on an art journal. It includes a lot of playing with colour, texture and shape. It's really my first thoughts about what advent means. When I'm closer to being finished, I'll post some photographs. I love art journalling because it's about making art for myself. It's not for sale, and I'm not trying to please anyone. In art journalling, I get to experiment with paint, stencilling, and all kinds of techniques. If I make a mistake or I don't like it -- so what! In how many aspects of our lives can we say the same?
I'm really working on what I feel and think about advent. I know on one level that I just love it. It helps me to get ready for thinking about God-with-us. What does that mean? Yet, the whole idea of God's presence feels me with such peace, awe, wonder, excitement. Moderns ask, "Is it really real?" Post-moderns ask, "What is real?" I think I'm caught somewhere between the two.
I love the story of a baby being born in a manger -- outside the norm but a survivor...tough and determined parents. With all the Christmas fripperies, we need to get ready for the deep meaning, to really have a moment of gratefulness and thankfulness. That's what I seek and I know it's hard to have a genuine experience and not just a feeling of nostalgia for what was.
So I'd like to share my journal with you. It will be coming soon.
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