Status Report: January

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Drinking…an after supper cup of tea. 

Feeling…tired. Two trudging walks through drifted paths and a whole-house cleaning is tiring. I’m also feeling satisfied with a day well spent.

Enjoying…lit candles. Nine of them. Candles are my wintertime “living” replacement for fresh flowers. Candles and bowls of oranges.

Taking…daily dawn walks in the woods with the dog. I never see another soul and I like that. There were heavy clouds today, so no sunrise, but I still saw twilight turn to day. Our sunrise, by the way, is at 10:09 AM. Sunset is at 3:59 PM. Five hours and fifty minutes of daylight. At least we’re on the upside of the short days—tomorrow we have two more minutes of light. 

Hoping…that extremely cold weather we had for most of December is gone forever so we can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, and pulling babies in the sled. When the days are dark, getting out for a little natural light is a sanity preserver, but that’s difficult to do at -30.

Anticipating…a return to normal life and regular blogging. Holidays are fun, but I’m always glad when they’re over. I love quiet, too, and is the quietest month of them all. 

Planning…to make a lap quilt from kilts to go with my kilt pillows. 

Reading…Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, a novel filled with phrases and sentences I want to remember forever, like “I do not remember grief and loneliness so much as I do peace and comfort — grief, but never without comfort; loneliness, but never without peace.” Or “writing has always felt like praying…you feel like you are with someone.”

Remembering…January ten years ago. Sometimes it seems like a lifetime since; sometimes it seems like yesterday.

Missing…those who have gone before.

Counting…my blessings. My life has changed a great deal in the past two or three years, and most of it is good: new sons and daughter-in-law, new granddaughters, and another grandchild coming soon. 

Signing…off until tomorrow. My book is waiting.

Sunday's Hymn: The Sands of Time are Sinking

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for - the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark had been the midnight but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.

The king there in His beauty, without a veil is seen:
It were a well-spent journey, though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness his mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.

The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel’s land.

O I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner into His house of wine
I stand upon His merit - I know no other stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.

—Anne R. Cousin

Traditional tune:

Indelible Grace with Buddy Greene:

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Like the Sound of Many Waters at Conjubilant with Song
• Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent at Hopeful Morning
• It Is Well With My Soul at Gospel Grace
• Standing at the Portal at The Happy Wonderer
• Christ’s Two Appearings at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 53, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Untrodden Ways

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

I've Made a List

I posted at Out of the Ordinary this morning. I compiled a list of six books of theology that every woman should read. 

I’ll post a Sunday hymn here this coming Sunday and then be back to regular posting on January 1. I didn’t expect to take so much time off over the holidays, but I’ve had more visitors than expected, and I need a few days to catch up and get back to life as normal.