Jessica is here!

The Car is dead. Merry Christmas!

So are little purple-ish civic is finished. We were heading up to Buckley on the 23rd and she broke down. Luckily we got to a gas station and weren't stranded. We ended up having to rent a car, load our present in it, and leave the car problem for the New Years (there may be a chapter II.) However, it looks like Ben, Angela, Jacob, Johanna, Simeon, Doug, and Jodie are now the proud owners of a big, blue van. We have a communitymobile (for better or for worse) so we better find some place to drive.

A cRAZY pEACE

I already indicated that this is not going to be the most contemplative Christmas. Kids are wonderful but they blast the stuffy notion that worship is all about being quiet, and thoughtful, and quietly introspective. There are moments: candles lit in the dark, little eyes mesmerized, Johanna's little voice singing "Away in a Manger..."

...more often Johanna is dragging Simeon (or our Dog Holly) around the living room trying to wrap him in swaddling clothes and demanding that I put a bedsheet on my head and play Jo'fef to her Mary.

I can't say that I mind. I haven't felt altogether introspective as of late anyhow. Those of you who know me closely might be able to discern that this is not an altogether bad thing. It has been good to be busy, to not get caught up in the host of things that buzz around my head to no end... to banish doubts and just do. So, I am glad for the jubilating, crazy peace around here..

catching up

so, jode, you can celebrate that i actually figured this thing out!!!
yes, though i walk through the silicon valley of techies, i remain in cyberspace darkness.
so, i'll write!!!!

i am just finishing an evening at Jeremiah's Promise (where i will be working full time in the new year--living there half of the week!) filled with gifts for three of our young ladies (ages 18-20), my three -workers (the founder and director, the resident manager, and our social worker) and one of our former girls and her baby (who greatly enjoys chewing on tissue paper). i received some lovely gifts, but they just aren't me. i really hate when that happens--you know a big gift certificate to a sushi restaraunt to a girl who doesn't eat sushi! so...the joy will be in blessing others with some of my gifts. i seem to find that i have more fun giving gifts that people really enjoy anyways. =)

you'll find out slightly more about my new job in your christmas letter--sorry john, your's hasn't gone out yet. the cards are going out in shifts! some, like most years, will be after the fact, but hey, i'm all about spreading out the joy for longer periods of time! ;)

and did someone say boggle!!! wow, i haven't had the joy of playing for quite some time. yes, we will indeed do so in times to come.

did any of you see the movie "the chronicles of narnia" yet??? it is AWESOME!!!

hmmm...i'm being very choppy in this vignette. alas. sorry. just to let you know that things haven't changed in my personality too much, let me mention a few tidbits from my quirky file. while in a rush, i spilled coffee on myself the other day. i also wonder if i have early altzheimer's (not to be overly joky b/c my grandmas does have it and it's tough!) b/c i never cease to amaze myself at the number of times i leave things behind. i'm worse than when i was a kid!!! i recently received my favorite ice cream from a friend--bubble gum!!! now why is it that this wonderful flavor is reserved for creameries and NOT the grocery store???

surprise of the year: angie needs to reform her diet. yes, heath, after all of your imploring of me to cut my sugar intake, i'm finally realizing the need to use this addictive substance sparingly. you see, western medicine can no longer help me in certain areas. my allergies remain a constant source of nagging and hopefully comic (and not only tragic) relief. however, there is nothing comedic about the headaches, sore throat, thousands of used kleenex, and sinus pressure. yowza!! so, my allergist, after having had 7 years of allergy shots as a kid and 1 1/2 years as an adult, said that my shots weren't working and he couldn't help me. apparently, i had exhausted his expertise, not to mention umpteen different vareties of allergy drugs on the market. soooo...i'm joining the ranks of the medically disenchanted seeking healing and health via vitamins, minerals, better diet, deep breathing, etc. ahh...yes. just a short time ago i was laughing at the thought of visualization. i tried it in one of my counseling clases and just felt absurd. well, the tables have turned and i'm open to so much more. no, i'm not even thinking about anything remotely related to eastern religion but i am open to prayer healing, fasting, yoga, eating whole garlic cloves (great antioxidant but disgusting tasting!!!!), and the like. this will be quite the journey. the new year shall prove the strength of my committment!

speaking of health, please be in prayer for my dad. a few weeks ago, he mentioned to my mom that he experienced something that felt as bad/or worse than a heart attack. of course, being the dutch farmer that he is, he did not wake my mom in the middle of the night when it occurred!!! so, like me recently, he had an endoscopy--sticking a scope down into one's stomach. he then had a biopsy to see if there was any cancer. his father died in his early 50's (same age as my dad) of throat cancer--which my dad has always said would be his fate. dad has not gone back to the dr. yet, so we don't know the status.

alas--nothing new in my love life--but i think a guy asked me on a date--a mention of coffee or dinner from someone at church on the prayer team, of which i'm co-leader. hmmmm....not crazy about the guy, but i'll try not to "kick him to the curb" too soon as i'm often accused of doing among the girls. ;) the closest thing to love in the romantic sense i've experienced lately is more of my roommates getting married. yasi will get married in early feb. so again i am roommate hunting. i have a revolving door of marriable ladies. but, alas God is ever faithful in providing new roommates, a job where i can build family-like relationships (in time), and a few solid guy friends who stand in the gap of showing me the care, love, and consideration of a the opposite gender that has taken me longer than the average female to discover.

i will close with a verse that i've committed to memory and have come to love from isaiah 30.

"repentance and rest are your salvation,
and quietness and trust are your strength."

may the Lord grant us an increasing measure of these.

with love bigger than distance, deeper than daily experiences, and more faithful than my blog entries,
ang

hoooooooooooooray!!!

Winter Solstice

Perhaps it is just the waning of the days... But, I am sad about the paired down New Year's Eve extravaganza, sad that I can't seem to get even an e-conversation going, frustrated with telephones, and jetplanes, wishing that I could see you all more, together, in one room, again, soon, pregnant, or not, flirting with soon to be wives, or knitting, or grading, or worrying, or joking, or making lasagna. Yet, I am lucky in that I CAN see Angela nursing, and worrying, and planning, and making buddah :) kole (sp). Glad that we can be here for this important new start and hoping that we are making a welcome here for the new parents big enough to make our community proud.

Christmas in Iowa

With Jodie's encouragement - this is my first real attempt at posting on this blog. It's 6:30 AM and I am once again wrestling with the sermon I have to give in just 3 hours. It's cold, windy, and snowy outside - another typical Iowan winter. Yet, there's a beauty about this season that I can't get over. The crunch of the snow under one's feet, the iceicles hanging from the trees, and simply the stillness that's in the air reminds me again and again of one of my favorite verses - "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) ..... In the midst of the busyness of this season (and for some of you 'parenthood') I pray that each of you will be able to simply take time to know ... that He is God. .....
In His Everlasting Love,
John

New Year's Discussion

I am for one missing the big new year's plannnings. We are hoping for a community here that will spring up as big as our dreams at all of those meetings. Yet, I have been wishing to have the New Year's gang stalking us a bit more, making sure we are handling things all right, worried that we haven't forgotten you, ready to step in and give us advice....

I am even missing boggle. If I could be at the Cabin, or Anne and Naj's place with everyone I would even be a good sport about boggle. I would only tease John judiciously. I might even relent an play a game of MONOPOLY with him. Of course, I wouldn't play to win just play so that John wouldn't win (even if that meant joining in a co-op with the rest of the players.) I would enjoy getting another chance at Apples to Apples and I would let you all take turn babysitting our snotty nosed kids.

and he shall reign forever and ever

We still are asking for prayer for the CPTers. The deadline was extended from last Thursday to last Saturday and now no news (except perhaps an Iraqi man sent to help advocate for them may have gone missing as well.) I am not entirely sure if I titled this entry that out of irony or hope. This is only to say that it is frustrating to hear the proclamation "PEACE ON EARTH" and yet see no peace... (just the perpetual crosses borne as the Peaceful challenge power). At best, Peace on earth, is a prayer. One that in the present state of the church (especially in the states) only seems unsubversive somehow at Chistmastime. Yet, may all that worship America be flung off their thrones and out of their vain imagining and may Christ indeed reign forever and ever.

PJ Time

Here is a picture of Johanna and Simeon. One of Jacob is forthcoming.

Christmas

Its beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas around here. There is certainly nativity around here with Jacob suckling vigorously. Johanna can often be found "reading" her Christmas book on the couch and I must admit some pride of generativity when she says "there was no room for them in the inn" or "they were sore afraid." Finally, Doug is doing his best to be with those for whom there is not room. Life is slowing down for me, classes are done, and I am looking forward to some rest. Simeon is crying off his little head as I write....not wanting to take a nap.,
So, wailing, suckling, and the phrases of the Christmas story envelop us here.
We are attempting to carve out some Holy spots of contemplation... and yet... who knows if Christmas has ever been a time for contemplating ... getting forced around the country, counted, jostled, trying to make a birth in a stable work and then fleeing in the middle of night to Egypt. Doesn't sound too contemplative. So perhaps, it is ok that we work in our bits of awe, now and again, in the midst of bustling.

Kidnapped CPTers...

The group that has kidnapped the CPTers has announced that they will kill them by Thurday if the US doesn't release prisoners. Please Pray.

And they called their son

Angela and Ben will have to tell you.
Doug and I were just outside the room keeping watch over our little flock at night when WHOA this little guy took over for his Mom and let out a very lusty cry.... It was an amazing experience. No Angel heralding...just Angela's announcement: We have a whole baby.... yet a trenchant reminder that love and life are not exceptional states but a recurring truth.

He is a ruddy, black haired, brown eyed little guy.... with a good set of pipes.

Please keep Ang in your prayers as she recovers.

It's a ....

Tiebreaker!!!

Angela, Johanna and Jodie

Ben, Doug, Simeon

As of 4:20 this morning we have a new addition at 74 Dunn. Future community votes that divide along gender lines will no longer end in stalemate. It's a .....




......







......






.....





... BOY!



Born at home. No medication. Active labor around 7 1/2 hours.

No word yet on name, size, length, etc.

Updates to follow later this morning hopefully.

I most definitely win the gobs of money in the prediction pool.