looking well in order to truly see

Yto Barrada, "Rue de la Liberte" Tangier Morocco

A few excerpts from a lovely book; Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire

Windows of the soul is a way of seeing that begins with respect. The way we show respect is to give it a second look, a look not of the eyes but of the heart.

The poet Rilke talks about his first exposure to the artwork of Cezanne, how he spent hours in front of his pictures, looking, listening, trying to understand them: " I remember the puzzlement and insecurity of one's first confrontation with his work, along with his name, which is just as new. And then for a long time nothing, and suddenly one has the right eyes."

"If we are to love our neighbors," says Frederick Buechner, "before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as with our eyes, that is to say like artists, we must see not just their faces but the life behind and within their faces."

It's almost 2am and I can't sleep so I'm blogging.. hmmmm... I can't be responsible for anything I type after 11pm (that's when I turn in to a pumpkin... so be very afraid)! 

Christmas is in a few days. 4 days. And I'm here in Amsterdam and it feels so normal. Allie and I decorated our apartment (some lights, a tiny tree, 4 special ornaments I brought from home), we're playing Christmas music 24/7, baking cookies.  I'm here and it's so different and I appreciate it, am blessed by it, and really find myself celebrating it. Around the city it's similar to Columbus in a few ways.... Christmas lights, a few brave carolers, parties, and a little shopping. The huge difference is that restraint is also present.. I'm trying to think of a different better word but it's not coming to me.  What I'm trying to say is that sanity has remained in the city despite Christmas time being here. Wow, I'm not used to that. The past few weeks I've felt so much peace and really been able to focus more. At home I was always slightly stressed around this time of year.. trying to cram everything in, all the shopping, the parties, the baking... all the same things that I'm doing here but without restraint. 

Is this even making sense?

Here are some things I love about Christmas time here... most people who believe in Jesus and celebrate the real Christmas don't even give gifts on the 25th, Christmas morning is a time to go to a special service at church and then return home for a nice dinner with family.  Gifts are given at Sinterklaas (Dec. 5th) and even then it's just one small gift. If you do give gifts on the 25th they are small, even the word for gift implies little gift = "cadeautje" .. the "je" at the end of a word sometimes means small or little. For some reason I just love it, it makes me warm and fuzzy inside... the smallness, the personal touch, the little thought... and when a gift is given it's almost a surprise, an unexpected little joy that you weren't expecting, weren't requiring but is kindly received. I feel more balanced here, the anxiety I usually feel is absent. I hope to be out of the country at this time of year for the rest of my life (except I'd like all my friends and family to be with me as well!) I can wish right? Ha ha! ... I pray that you all experience deep peace and joy in remembering Jesus' birth and the moment in history that changed the world and brought true hope when God became man.

Ok, all of this will be a lie in the morning when I wake up a mean person... so I better make myself sleep... love to you all.

december catch up

Gingerbread houses with the kids (and us). We created narrow dutch houses complete with tram tracks, dutch flags, bikes, and attic windows.

Our bitty Christmas tree. I love it. We had to prop it up with a Heineken crate so you could see it over the couch.

A great party on Friday! We invited neighbors, language school classmates, internet friends... Had a household of wonderful new friends! It was a blast hearing people's fascinating life stories! We crashed around 2am. So fun!

Reading stacks of Christmas cards from Joshua House. Thank you! We feel so loved!

Rachel and Allie trying to stay warm. It's been so cold here this week.