Monday, December 31, 2007

May your WHOLE LIFE be radiant ...

I was reading from Luke's gospel this morning and came across such a great passage. By now you know I have a high interest in lighthouses ~ that I love to photograph them and make cards out of them, etc. I love them for many reasons, one of which is because they are such a clear picture of the spiritual truth of light versus darkness. As I read through my Bible this year, I was really impacted by how many verses contain this illustration, and it is very beautiful to me.

When we were in Israel in 2004, we visited on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee a place by the name of Qatzrin. It was a small village that had been excavated and restored to look like a first century town -- very much like one that Jesus would have been familiar with. This first picture is a wall, with a lampstand on it. The very dark stains are from the oil that burns in the lamp. See how the lampstand is up high on the wall? When the lamp was lit, it would light up the whole room.
The next picture is another room in a typical house. The black bag-like thing is a wineskin.
"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, it is put on a lampstand to give light to all who enter the room. Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then YOUR WHOLE LIFE WILL BE RADIANT, as though a floodlight is shining on you." LUKE 11:33-36
The picture above is a first century lamp. Olive oil would be poured inside, a small wick inserted into the opening at the end and then lit ...

I read more of chapter 11 of Luke to see what context Jesus spoke these wonderful words about light and darkness. Doesn't He give quite a warning when He says to "make sure that the light we think we have is not really darkness?" Wouldn't that be so tragic? That's exactly what the religious leaders of Jesus' day were doing and Jesus called them down for it. So I have to ask myself -- where are my "dark corners"? Jesus is clearly saying that He wants all of me, every little thing I do and say and think about ... everything I own, everyone I love ... everything is His! I want MY WHOLE LIFE TO BE RADIANT, don't you? No dark corners! Wouldn't that be awesome? Jesus also said, "You are the light of the world ... don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:14-16

Let's have 2008 be a year where our whole lives are radiant! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Some of Grandpa's best shots ...

I've decided to post just SOME of Grandpa's
best pictures from this past week ...
he really got some good shots that I didn't get at all ...
After their long trip from Austin,
happy faces greet grandpa's camera!
Who is this stranger?
This is Grandma Jones with Jackson!
See! I wasn't stuck in the kitchen the whole time ...
I got to play and have a lot of fun too!
Jackson liked our road rug very much ...
Isn't this great of Adam?
It is so difficult to get a good picture of him!
This is not because he is not good-looking,
it's just that he intentionally messes up pictures we try to take of him!
Emily doesn't like to have her picture taken ...
but Grandpa snapped this really pretty one of her!
This is so cute of them!
And this is so completely typical of these two!
See how cute they are watching Karis?
Some day (no hurry, guys) they will make very fun parents ...
A typical pre-teen pose ...
Livie was pretty exhausted from the trip at this point ...
We don't have any bad pictures of Karis at all!
Karis, all dressed up in her Christmas outfit ...
Livie and I enjoyed playing Christmas carols ...
Karis was all ready to go and play in the snow ...
We had PERFECT snow for play!
The whole family got out there and did
crazy play with the white stuff ...
There was a rousing snow fight ...
Livie was kind enough to give Karis
sleigh rides ...
Uncle Adam was right in the thick of it ...
Andrew and Jackson sharing big hugs Christmas morning ...
Aren't their faces so precious in this picture?
Sabrina showing Karis what Grandma Jones made for her ...
This is the ball that Livie got for Jackson ...
So many nice gifts to open ...
Me, opening our Thomas the Train Lighthouse ...
I think this is so beautiful of Olivia!
And look at Karis tucking her baby in!
This is Livie's last year before she is a teenager ...
I have never seen her so happy
and so grown up ...
Nana and Roy opening their gifts ...
It's hard to get a good picture of Nana ...
she really doesn't like to have her picture taken ...
Good for Grandpa Jones getting some decent shots of them!
Nick and baby girl Nia ...
A nice picture of me and sweet Karis ...
And Nathan Paul always takes a good picture ...
he is completely adorable!
I think this was right after Rachel's
new hairdo was finished ...
Nice of the Jones family ...
Uncle Adam looks HUGE compared to
young Nathan Paul!
Rachel and Nick opening their gifts ...
One last one of Queenie ...
Good job, Mr. Jones!
Your pictures are beautiful!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Our last day with Sabrina ...

We woke up knowing this was the last day
for Sabrina's family to be with us ...
Karis woke up her usual hungry and happy self ...
She amused herself for a long time with this apple,
and actually ate the better part of half of it ...
Jackson Drew played toy soldier for awhile
out of his bucket labeled, "202 toy soldiers" ...
isn't 202 the randomest number?!
He likes to set them all up and knock them down ...
a decidedly "boy" activity ...
Both Jackson and Karis colored for awhile ...
Coloring is a good, quiet activity ...
we were ready for both "good" and "quiet"
at this point in the week ...
Doesn't Karis have the cutest little button of a nose?!
She is just absolutely adorable!
Such a nice picture!
At 22 months, Karis is at just about my favorite age ...Olivia checked on her e-mail ...
we have exchanged addresses and have vowed
to faithfully send messages ...
There was time for one more game of Bananagrams!
Jackson, our train-lover grandson!
Jackson relentlessly chased our Thomas K around the house ...
we caught him hoisting our door beam
with the express intent of "getting" Thomas K with it ~
Thomas escaped by diving around the end of the couch ...!
With a winter storm on the way,
the family van was packed and ready by mid-afternoon ...
the little kids took their naps and then ...
... it was time to go!
... with a little help from daddy ...
And off they rode, southward and homeward bound ...
... we were left with empty tins ~
but we have a week of happy memories
and hearts full of love for this dear family ...