With love from Patrick & Michelle

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Glory to God

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:11-14

Joyeux Noël

This post is dedicated to our French Famille: Nico, Christina 'Belle', and Emma

Joyeux Noël et bonne année! Tu nous manques.

Bûche de Noël

(chocolate genoise, chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache, and meringue mushrooms)

Poutoux,

Poulette et Mr. Smiley

P.S. We received your loving e-mail greeting!

Christmas in Canton

Portraits from our wonderful Christmas Eve...

Christmas time is here

Happiness and cheer

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year...

Jack & Sophie

with Lolo Danny

with Lola Mila

with Dad Scott & Mom Jenn

Auntie Jess & Auntie Shell

Uncle Pat

Jack, Pat, & Charles

with Uncle Charles

Mom & Dad

Charles & Jess

Sarsozo Family

Shelley & Jenn

Shell & Pat

We hope your Christmas Eve was happy and blessed. Wishing you peace and love...

Winter came down...

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,

And we, we were children once again.

Bill Morgan, Jr.

I woke up one morning to the sound of my husband's excitement that snow is falling! Still in our pajamas, we took to the woods in front of little home and played picture-taking in the snow. It's the first day of winter. Happy wintertime!

The All-Good

My God,

Thou hast helped me to see, that whatever good be in honour and rejoicing, how good is he who gives them, and can withdraw them; that blessedness does not lie so much in receiving good from and in thee, but in holding forth thy glory and virtue; that is an amazing thing to see Deity in a creature, speaking, acting, filling, shinning through it; that nothing is good but thee, that I am near good when I am near thee, that to be like thee is a glorious thing: This is my magnet, my attraction.

Thou art all my good in times of peace, my only support in days of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end.

Help me to see how good thy will is in all, and even when it crosses mine teach me to pleased with it. Grant me to feel thee in fire, and food and every providence, and to see that thy many gifts and creatures are, but thy hands and fingers taking hold of me.

Thou bottomless fountain of all good, I give to myself to thee out of love, for all I have or own is thine, my goods, family, church, self, to do with as thou wilt, to honour thyself by me, and by all mine.

If it be consistent with thy eternal counsels, the purpose of thy grace, and the great ends of thy glory, then bestow upon me the blessings of thy comforts; If not let me resign myself to thy wiser determinations.

- A Prayer from the Valley of Vision: The All-Good

The year is almost coming to a close. Here I am sitting at home, looking out the window and thinking. Thinking on what it would be like if I was a stranger peaking in the window of this house and listening to the happenings inside of these walls. I would like to think that one would see a simple life, albeit filled with busy work; and one would hear cries and laughter, and talks of trials and triumphs.

Sadly, if I were blindly looking into my own life this year, I would probably say that this was a terrible year. (Imagine losing two cars, emergent repairs to an old house, unforeseen expenditures, not having enough time to finish work, to talk, to spend quality time with your spouse-- that was the running theme of 2010.) To be perfectly honest, maintaining a marriage, a home, a job, not to mention family and friendships, proved to be very challenging for me this year. I know this holds true for my husband too, who continues to stay strong in finishing grad school.

The strange thing is that if I were to look clearly at this year, the things that made it terrible are really quite remarkable events. Through each and every trial, God has compassionately taken off my blindfold so that I could see His work in my life. He was working all along: through our caring parents, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbors, our co-workers and classmates, and most of all at church service -- all there with loving support, always ready to lend a helping hand. (Imagine that God is even at work when we call on our plumbers and mechanics. No joke.)

Looking inside the heart of my home, I am humbled by our Father's goodness to an often times undeserving child. So as I sit here, waiting... I'd like to think that this place is the little house where All-Good resides. I think that 2010 will go down in my book as a terribly good year.

Love,

Michelle

New Year's Vogue

In anticipation of New Year's Vogue magazine...

Natalie Portman, Vogue January 2011

Perfection (Black Swan)

What can I say, we were blown away by Natalie Portman's performance in Black Swan. Without spoiling the plot for those of you who have yet to see it but want to hear about it-- this movie is melancholy, funny at times, pee in your pants scary, and beautifully executed. If you enjoy a good psychological thriller and appreciate the disciplined art of ballet, you will be blown away by this film too.

Nina: "I had a dream last night about a girl who turned into a swan,

but her prince falls for the wrong girl and she kills herself."

- Black Swan

Christmas Tree

On this cold winter day, we caravanned with our friends to visit the Flatsnoots in search of our Christmas trees.

Stopping by at a nearby cafe for a warm drink and some small talk.

Lucia "Lulu" having fun.

Our Christmas tree.

This year, we opted to display non-edible ornaments. (Although there may still be time to make them.)

The lighting of the Christmas tree is not complete without a little sweetness. My first attempt at baking a chocolate bundt cake.

... to All a Good Night.