Crystaline perfection...

It's snowing. The first of the year. I love it.
The hush that comes over everything. The soft blanket that drapes the familiar things we see everyday in downy brightness. Smoothing hard edges until the landscape becomes magical.
I love to sit and watch it fall in featherlight flakes silently down from heaven...especially at night. It changes things. Changes my perspective on what I see every day. It melts away the chaos inside of me as it cloaks my little world in quietness. I can hear Him speak softly to my wild heart.
It amazes me to think about God's wonderful creativity. Did you know that He never repeats a pattern? They are all unique...like us. No two are the same. That's an incredible thing to me. I can't wait to see the storehouses of snow in heaven. Can you imagine? You are awesome, God.
I can't wait to see the delight on my children's faces when they wake up to a white world.
Tomorrow, I will be bundling my kids in their winter coats, hats and scarves to play in the snow and planning hot cocoa and cookies for snack after school. For now, I will sit here staring out my window at each testimony of a wonderful Creator God.

DUCKS! Do or die...

Well, after living in Springfield for almost 10 years I finally went to a Ducks football game at Autzen Stadium. (Now, mind you, I do not particularly like football in and of itself. I watch Duck games on T.V. from the warmth of my own or a few selected friends' home whenever my husband wishes because I love him and he loves to watch the Ducks!)
Big Daddy and I were given tickets for the game against Arizona today. I was excited as this was to be my first experience at an actual game. We had great seats...section 11, row 47, seats 13 and 14...right on the 50 yard line. I had worn a sweater, vest, scarf (green of course!), brought a hat and a blanket (also of the Ducks' green and gold affiliation) to insure my warmth on this chilly day. Settled into my seat, my ears suddenly cringed with the blast of the shrill, screechy yelling of the woman sitting next to me. "WOW! " I thought to myself, "these fans are something else!" She continued with her...um...encouragements through the second quarter. I paid some attention to the game, but most of it to how annoyed the two people in front of us were getting with this woman who could amazingly hit two very dissonant notes in the same yell (which, incidently, causes the human spine to arch away from the sound in a very obvious attempt to get as far away from it as possible).
Half time was only mildly entertaining as the marching band formed the superman symbol to accompany the theme they played. A reprieve from the screeching (thank you, God!). We bought outrageously priced cocoa in a thermal mug to fend off the chill in the air. Seated again, we were glad to see there was more room in our section as most everyone else had not returned to their seats. Thoroughly cold now, I paid more attention to the game than before asking lots of questions like "what happened?" and "why did they do that?" like any other un-football-educated wife would. Big Daddy was very patient with me and explained everything so I could keep up with the plays. Unfortunately, the Ducks never recovered and lost a whopping 37 to 10.
All in all, it was a fun experience that I would repeat...in warmer weather. Now I can say, "Sure I've been to a Ducks game!" if the subject ever comes up. I think if you are a people watcher this would be the perfect venue for that. You get to see a whole other side of people. Some sides you wouldn't necessarily want to see, but they are there anyway. I prefer the warmth of my own home, the glow of my own personal screen, the taste of my own (much more reasonably priced) cocoa and the comfort of my favorite pajamas for my next winter game. Ahh well, to each his own I guess.

Oh the world of live theatre. I wish I could be there now. I would love to see one play a week for the rest of my life.

My husband and I were able to go to Ashland in October with some friends to see an Oscar Wilde play called The Importance of Being Earnest. It was just phenomenal. All of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors are extremely good at what they do. If you have not been there you should go. It is an experience I would not trade for anything and one I plan on sharing with all of my children when they are old enough to appreciate the scope of it. It's simply wonderful.