emmanuel

Our family opened our few small gifts a little early this year (like usual). It's nice to get all that fluff out of the way and be able to think and dwell together on the incarnation.

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. It's what we do for each other and those we love, so we decided to do that for Him. Then we talked about the mystery of Emmanuel (God with us)--of God coming to earth and dwelling with us. As Yoda would say, "Hard to understand, it is." :)

I hope you all have a peaceful time this Christmas in thankfulness to God. Being thankful for Him entering into our mess here and redeeming.

I've learned some things recently that have helped me re-focus my life on Jesus where it should be. I'm looking forward to this coming year as we, as a family, more earnestly share that hope, joy, and peace with others here in Gresham.

-John

winter hail

God speaking to Job:

38:14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.

15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.

16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death [a] ?

18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.

19 "What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?

20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!

22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of the hail,

23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
for days of war and battle?

24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?

25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,

26 to water a land where no man lives,
a desert with no one in it,

27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?

dirt

Most guys ask for tools or big toys. I ask for dirt. :)

Winter gard-nin is in full swing here at the Schwartz household. This is three-way I'm adding to newly created beds. We're turning much of the back yard into garden. I'm looking forward to seeing a nice crop o' corn next summer!

the food effect

 
Kids are always happy, just before you feed them. :) This happens to be at Taco Del Mar.

hunting?

Scanned a few photos from a beautiful trip to Mt. Adams with Dad, Shon & Timmy, Joe & Luke, and my boys Zach and Drew. You'll notice no animals. :)

And, here's some phone pics from our trip to the wilderness. You'll notice... no animals. Mighty hunters, we.