I had no idea that I'd allowed nearly six months to pass between entries. We were idling through into March, and then in a blink, it's almost July.

This has been a week of pondering and remembering and purging.  We have had our house on the market since early March, and have had four subsequent open houses, all of which brought in a family or two who loved our house, but were also trying to sell their own. Not a lot of optimism in selling right now, even at our bare-minimum price (enough to cover real estate costs, taxes and have a decent, if small, down payment for another house). We love our house, we just thought we'd try to find one that needed less upkeep, and had a smaller mortgage. However, after four open houses, and four months of keeping the house "showable," we've decided to just stay. We'll keep the for sale sign up, because it doesn't cost us anything, and we'll continue to listen for God's whisperings as we continue to follow His lead.

In a few weeks, we are having a "house purging" yard sale. Ian and I are both "accumulators," and come from a long line of them. We had all sorts of things tossed together when we got married, and I have never had the chance to sort and toss at each of our moves like I'd hoped. We thought we got rid of a lot last summer! This year, we are really taking into account the things that are important to us and letting go of all the things that don't really matter.

In the current issue of the Torch, in Dr. Conn's opening thoughts, mostly focused on the demolition of the Beech Building, he made a powerful statement in his last paragraph, one that brought tears to my eyes as I realized they were similar words that Ian and I have heard spoken in our hearts. He stated, "Life moves on. The old stuff gives way to the new. But the things that matter never change."

Life does move on. We continue our efforts to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, and not the circumstances that are almost literally screaming in our faces. Job security. Struggling to start our little family. Realizing that what we thought was "light" living for us was being more comfortable than we needed.

But God is good! He continues to bless us, and to bring blessing and encouragement and the right words spoken in the right time. Even now, we have unexpected hope in dealing with school loans. We know that even more unexpected blessings are just around the corner. We have learned to thank God for moments. To thank Him for the time we have with each other, with friends and family, in our home. In all things, give thanks.

Merry Christmas, and many, many blessings in the new year.

Today consisted of a full morning of filling the sink with warm, soapy, vinegary water and setting to nestle therein several dozen pieces of heavy leaded crystal. Glasses - for wine, champagne, cordials (who knows what else!), two lovely cut pitchers, and a few assorted pieces. In the car sit several boxes full of more crystal and china, made in China, ironically, purchased and shipped from Manchester, England, more than a decade ago.

These are the pieces that brought pleasure to one twinkle-eyed (at least as I see him) old Scotsman, Ian's dad, Dr. Eric Vance. Jacque told me that she never thought the china particularly beautiful, but he "liked the look of it" and so bought it; the whole set. 16 place settings and all the extras. How did he know that one day, his son would marry a girl who loved to "dress up" her table once in a while, and loved even more to play house with beautiful things?

Of course, who else knew that this same girl, bewitched as a child, by the love stories of George MacDonald, would secretly desire to marry a Scotsman, and live in bliss on the highlands of that country all her days? Well, the veterinarian I did not marry, but the son of a Scot I did, and my heart couldn't be happier.

Thanksgiving and Christmas this year will find my home, with it's various tables dug out for all my guests, decked out in fine English (Nee Chinese) china, with beautiful crystal and splendidly patterned silver, with family and friends feasting and rejoicing and generally decking the halls. My heart is full to bursting as I look back on the blessings bestowed on my humble little home by God my Father. Ian and I rejoice that healing has come to our family, and my brother has found his truest love, while he was looking the other way, and extended family has also received the welcome call to celebrate life and the Reason for it. All will be seated in our home this year. My dreams of a home to be both refuge and "hang out" to anyone who needs either, have come to fruition. Never would I have seen myself where Ian and I are today. God has opened doors, and continues to bless us, despite our fears of not having enough to make it.

His ways are not our ways. His plans are not our plans! He knows why I am still at home, and not in the work force. I try to remember that He has given plenty for my hands to do while I am here, waiting for the next step.

So, this holiday season is for you, Doc. How I wish I could have had the honor to meet you while you were walking this earth. To hear you say, "You've got no look o' the Pope in ya," as Jacque said you would (I am, after all, of Protestant Irish decent). Thank you for raising such a fine son. I love him more than I could express. I hope to meet you in Heaven one day, and see you whole and healed, resting in Jesus. Happiest of holidays. I hope I present a table worthy of a second glance.