Pardon my silence in this space! We live in a wonderful but power-outage prone neighborhood, and have just returned home after a two day exile due to a power outage for... wind? Snow? Rain? Ice? Not really sure what caused it, but we definitely (as always) lost power.
Power outages are so fun for the first couple of hours, until you realize that the interior of your house is 55 degrees, and you are out of gas for your grill, which is the only way you can heat food. It's times like this that Ben and I dream of equipping our home to be off the grid with a wood pellet stove, a gas range, and a small gas generator. But I doubt we'll do this anytime soon. We are very lucky to have family in the area, and so whenever one of these outages is upon us, we load up into the van and head over to grandma's house. Many members of my family, including me, think this is the best. Delicious food, great company, and an inviting home. Then this morning, when the real snow arrived, the big girls had a wonderful sledding companion (my mom) and I actually sat down and quietly enjoyed a cup of coffee in silence. The absolute best, I tell you.
I'm still here with two babies in my tummy! Or, as Hugo seems to hope, three brothers? We've tried explaining the facts, to no avail. St. Nicholas visited the house with new slippers filled with candy for the littles, we are working through the advent calendars one day at a time, and we assembled gingerbread houses over the weekend. Bit by bit we are working through this Advent, and we are getting to be such good and patient waiters! I am learning more than ever that this waiting business is not passive in the least. It is active, hard work, even amid silence and stillness.
Ben and I went to see the midwife yesterday and everything looks fabulous. But I'm getting ahead of myself: I'll fill you in on all of that tomorrow.
Thanks for the many prayers, thoughts, and love you've been sending our way! It is such an encouragement, and really keeps us going.
(look! Two stockings on the mantle! Only five (or six, if you count the dog) to go. I think we need a bigger mantle).
I hope wherever you are, you are warm, dry, and enjoying your Advent, too!