Life is Messy

My strong need to be orderly and organized has recently flown the coup. Well, the need is still there; don't get me wrong. However, I'm realizing that perhaps there is untapped joy in the disorderly, the messy, and the unpredictable.

I come home to toys scattered about the house. There is usually a basket of unfolded clothes on the couch. Glancing around, I can usually spot at least five things that "need" to be done. The dishes need to be loaded. Dinner needs to be fixed. The dog needs a bath. Toys need to be put back in their basket. The trash needs to be collected. The list is endless.

During one of my rants regarding the messy house, I had to stop myself mid sentence. No one in the room was missing out on life because of a few dirty dishes. As a matter of fact, maybe I was the one missing out. Jacob was in the recliner with Aaron, making him laugh out loud hysterically. Just his laughter was enough to make me stop in my tracks. The dog ran to greet me with his new toy in his mouth, as if to say, "where have you been all day? Let's play!".
The room was overflowing with life.

I decided in that moment that I choose life over order. Memories over mess. The dishes can wait...life is fleeting. Today, I choose the ones before me.

A picture paints a thousand words

Angels from the realm of "what are we supposed to be doing"? I love this picture. It captures so perfectly our Christmas Eve pageant. The pageant had Aaron making his debut appearance as Baby Jesus. Let me tell you..."Little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes", seemed to have rang true for us that night.

As I look at this picture, I am reminded of the chaos that was really taking place at the moment. Angels, not knowing when to say, "Peace on earth and good will to all people" - the Wise Men forgetting to place their gifts - the shepherds in their disheveled and mis-matched costumes.

Isn't life the same way though? Amidst our chaos, we seem to find sanctuary in the little things. A cooperative baby Jesus. A good laugh. A hot cup of coffee. An unexpected call from an old friend. We need some calm amidst our chaos these days.

I am reminded today, once again, that Emmanuel, God with us...is in the midst. We have our ultimate calm in chaos of life. Thanks be to God!

Lori

Ordinary Days

Walking into the sanctuary this past Sunday was a bit of a let-down. The dozens of gorgeous poinsettias had been removed. In their place on the window seals, hung the regular church greenery. The enormous Christmas wreaths that covered the walls had been removed, revealing the new coat of white paint that had recently been applied. O Holy Night had been sung for the last time until next year. The red vestments that had decorated the communion table and lecterns had been changed to a new color.

On the Christian calendar, the days we have entered are referred to as "Ordinary Times". We discuss the ordinary days in the life of Christ. Even with the feel of Christmas let-down, I think ordinary days are where we find life's richness. It's in the ordinary days that we see the meaning in the small moments of faith and life.

In the Burgess home, I've captured some photos over the last week, that represent "ordinary days" in our life. Its in these moments that I find the most joy. These moments are pure, vulnerable, and rich. As we begin the new year, may we all capture ordinary moments, but always find their sweet message to us.

Peace on earth,

Lori

Good Ole' Fashioned Family Christmas

This is my wonderful family. We look nice, don't we! Maybe it's because this Christmas, we all somehow avoided the hospitals and any type of horrible sickness floating around. This Christmas was perhaps the best ever.

My family flew in for 10 WHOLE days. I think it's the longest we've ever spent together...ever. And we all still love each other, even after the fact! And as a matter of fact...I miss them dearly.

Life just doesn't get much sweeter. We had great food all week- hats off to my mother' s homemade cooking, we played lot's of Taboo...I'm still the best at it...we played countless rounds of Canasta - the funnest game ever. It was what Chevy Chase might call...a good ole' fashioned Christmas! It wasn't really about the gifts...though I am LOVING my new Canon xsi. It wasn't about the tree...although we had a great tree. It was about the gift of presence this year...and that was the best present ever.

Thanks be to God for family. We are truly blessed.

Til' next time...

How was your Christmas?

Lori