the season

Now that we are done with birthdays in my family for this year I am ready for Christmas. My plan for today is to organize the craft room and then to get the Christmas boxes down from the attic!

I know what I want for this year:

traditional, simple, natural

I want to decorate less and to bake more. 

I want to spent as much time as possible with my children and as little time as possible shopping.

 We will see how this works out... ;-)

celebrating

November starts with two birthdays in our family. First out is Elias, who turned 13 this year - our first teenager!

I love tĥis guy. He is so smart and funny.

And a good elder brother to his younger siblings.

Three days later it's my turn.

I seriously had no intentions to celebrate this year. But than on my birthday I suddently thought it would be neat to have some girl friends over for a cozy evening. I texted some of my pals around here - and nearly all of them showed up to nights later!

I wanted to give the table a rustic and natural feel, with a little dose of glamour. ;)

I was serving an homemade minestrone soup, so I actually did not need so much space for serving on the table. I lay two large pieces of thriftwood on the table and placed my collection of silver candle sticks inbetween. 

 Stars cut out of birch bark, mismatched glasses and mismatched chairs.

Minutes before the guests arrive...

It was a cozy evening.

beauty that hurts...

This year I really enjoyed fall. Often when the first fall storms hit our island I felt not really ready for it. Summer is so short. This year it was just perfect. As I get older I find myself living more in the present. Enjoying what is (even when imperfect). Seeing the beauty that is. Just taking in every sweet moment, my children, colorful trees on the wayside, a stranger smiling while passing by...

But than something strange happens. 

Beauty effects me.

Beauty hurts.

You know this bitter sweet feeling?

This ache? This longing?

And it leads me to the source of every beauty that is.

The Creator.

My human nature is sometimes prone to worship the beauty I can grasp with my senses.

But that will leave my soul empty.

There is only One who deserves my awe, my adoration.

And worshiping Him fills my soul and makes me whole.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!