We are living

March 19, 2013 Karen Huber

I can't get over this, how it actually is snowing here. Right now. Nearly every day this week has been tainted with the white stuff. It never adds up and it never lasts long, but we sit at the kitchen table with a friend, talking about life and culture and adapting and learning and there it is again. Snow. We all laugh as we're all from America and it's not like we ever get enough here to need shovels or plows. But still, the weather is like this: slow cycles of drips from heaven. Wait a minute and it will change again.

We are in a sweet spot.

Paddy's Day, as renewed Irish residents

March 17, 2013 Karen Huber

This was our first St Patrick's Day in Ireland since 2010. Spoiler alert: still green, still chilly, still wet. :)

Actually, this has been a mostly brilliant week weather-wise, and the country has a distinct festive feel in the lead up to its national holiday. It's like Christmas and the 4th of July rolled into one mega celebration. We knew it was meant to rain today, so yesterday Matt kicked us all out of the house and took us to Clonmacnoise, a national heritage site where the remains of a medieval monastery lay along the River Shannon.

In the exhaustion of new life, new rhythms, new words and new people, it's easy to ignore the beauty just around the next bend in the road. It does our hearts good to roam in it, breathe in the river air, run till our feet are wet.

So Happy St Patrick's Day from this very green isle. Wish you were here.

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How do they celebrate Paddy's Day where you are?

Sentimental birthday typo

March 15, 2013 Karen Huber

We just celebrated Matt's birthday this week, and like all things with Big Plans, the day got little out of whack. I came down with a bad full-body cold and the weather dipped below freezing, so our fun day out with Ash in the city was a no-go.

I decided to redeem the day by special ordering snow (thanks, God) and designing a subway art picture to commemorate the life Matt and I have lived together all these 13+ years. I've seen these everywhere online and thought to my delusional self, "That can't be that hard." And in truth, it wasn't. I just picked an idea - cities we've called home - played around with fonts and layouts, and voila! Homemade pressie for husband of the year.

Flint Hill Fellowship (a call to art)

March 10, 2013 Karen Huber

Sometimes God forces our hand. He leaves us without many options, in a tight place, and we find ourselves calling out for help. It's hard to do that, to lean on other people, to make ourselves vulnerable, allow ourselves to be needy. But this is where service, compassion, and love come in. And that's what makes communities, families, and homes come alive.

That's where Jesus dwells.

Nose-picking rhythms

March 5, 2013 Karen Huber

Asher picks his nose before falling asleep. Every night, without fail, it is the last thing he does before closing his eyes. I know this because I am always beside him, sharing his twin bed, listening to his music, trying to coax him to sleep. On nights like tonight it takes just minutes. He plays with a couple of action figures, rolls to his side, picks his nose and out like a light.

Other nights are long and loud and full of tears, his and mine.

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