Sunday, November 25, 2012

November Eve


The trees are mostly bare now. Against the sky, the architecture of trees stands exposed and elegant. The end of November nears. Rainless days means chilly temperatures and frost-nipped nights. On the other hand, rain brings somewhat warmer temperatures but a damp that drives deep into the bones. Since we can't control the weather, we'll take what comes and find the pleasure in each day's gift.

Just one month until Christmas. The season of Advent, of anticipation, is nearly upon us. Lists and plans form in my head. But before the busyness, before the rush of activity to decorate our home, bake cookies, stitch gifts, and accomplish the myriad of tasks that take up December, I want to take time to prepare my heart. On this quiet November eve (quiet after a weekend of guests and celebration), I think about the season ahead and what I want it to look like. 

What is the spare architecture of my heart that will stand against the sky of time when all the delightful sparkles of Christmas are taken away? What will remain solid throughout the season of celebration? I pause and reflect. 

Linking to Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary of the Little Red House.

 

18 comments:

  1. Thank you for giving me something to think about. I have stripped the house of the fall garlands, pumpkins and pinecones. This next week or so is a period of quiet and calm before I begin, little by little, to prepare the house for the season of Christmas. We hold Christmas from the 24th of Dec to the 6th of January, so I don't fill the house with decorations too early. Advent is a time of preparation in many ways.

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  2. Hi Lorrie - I'm sitting here like you reflecting on Thanksgiving in the quiet after the wonderful storm of family. Hope you and yours had a memorable one!
    As I anticipate the Christmas season, I'm hoping and praying that I can keep in my heart the true meaning (again) and not let the busy-ness of this time of year overwhelm me. I've often wished Thanksgiving and Christmas were about 6 mos apart! I'm going to wait a bit for holiday decorating and let the warm fuzzies of our Thanksgiving have a chance to soak in. It was one of our bestest, I think - had all my kids home at the same time and they spent many hours catching up and making new memories - just my 3. Something about that makes a mama's heart swell with love and thanksgiving to the Lord...

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  3. What a beautiful post. This season will be a blessing if we let it. Enjoy your week!

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  4. Beautiful thoughts...

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  5. Very sweet post
    Love for you x

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  6. Lovely thoughts and post! Have a happy week ahead!

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  7. Beautifully framed images.

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  8. It always simply amazes me how the contacts we make through blogging can be having completely different seasons to us. The start of winter there, and the beginning of summer here.
    Stay warm, have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping by my blog today.

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  9. Love this. Your first sentence in the last paragraph is so beautiful. If we could reflect more and run less, we are on to something!

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  10. I like the reminders I am getting this morning...to makes lists and prioritize...and to prepare my heart. Reflect more...run less!

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  11. It is a time that we can take for a pause, just to give us time to prepare for a season which can be all too busy.

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  12. I appreciate your thoughts on taking time to reflect on what our Christmas celebrations will leave us with. It's certainly more than the gifts. Lovely mosaic. The bare trees have their own beauty against the sky don't they? Blessings, Pamela

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  13. Our own Thanksgiving guests left yesterday, so this post has special meaning to me today. Taking the time to be quiet...to prepare our hearts...to purposefully plan...all thoughtful reminders...

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  14. This is the perfect time to reflect, to think, to ponder...Christmas glitz is wonderful, the brightness is needed in these dark days, but so is time within our hearts.

    Thanks for reminding us.

    Jen

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  15. Lovely photos and a very nice post too. I am one of those who dislike what the winter celebrations have become.

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  16. Hi Lorrie, Oh the tree images, so beautiful, bare bones, majestic in their strength, standing on their own...awh, but I do miss the canopy...but soon, very soon, it all returns~

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  17. I like the mosaic you made with two views of trees. Nice.

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  18. Wonderful post in both words and photo! I quite like naked tree at this time of year!

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