Ice.

 We came home to a rainy Burlington and then a freezing Burlington.  This led to some gorgeous flooded and frozen fields.  We wandered, we explored, we slid, and we  enjoyed the sheer beauty of so much ice.  

The Owl and the Turkeys

Right alongside the driveway at Claes's we had the good fortune of some beautiful, feathered visitors.  First, a giant barred owl which sat there in a tree branch for two days, watching, watching, watching for prey.  Then, a congress of turkeys that found their way past the house pecking and preening the entire way. The turkeys came back each day.  

Lucky us.  Lucky birds.

 

Puzzle Me This

 

No Thelemarck Christmas would be complete without a ridiculously hard puzzle to complete. This year we did three. They kept getting harder. 

Five Cousins in New Hampshire for Christmas

 

Instead of matching pajamas for Christmas this year, we bought all of the kids matching red Swix hats.  They are the best group of cousins for sure, so we spent time photographing them. Kaj had a bit of a meltdown the day we wanted to get group shots, but he pulled through at the end. It's no fun at all keeping up with the older kids when you are the youngest of five!   

Thelemarck Christmas

We celebrated Christmas in New Hampshire this year.
Bjorn flew in from Arizona.  Barbro and Dave drove from Vermont, and of course all of the cousins and aunts and uncles were there too.  We ate a lot, had Swedish smorgesbord, made pasta for christmas dinner, sang lots of Swedish songs, drank Glug, and went walking and sliding in the beautiful the snowy woods. It was a lovely holiday this year.  

 

Solstice Eve

winter solstice hike 

up the snowy path with friends 

crunch crunch the cold snow

Christmas Images 2022

As always, Christmas was beautiful in our home.  I love the decorations and the time we take to make sure it looks festive.   Here are some simple snapshots of things around the house.  

 

Oklahoma

We know we belong to the land

And the land we belong to is grand!

and when we say

yeeow-a-yip-i-o-ee-ay!

We're only sayin'

You're doin' fine Oklahoma!

Oklahoma OK!

 

Big Tree Little Tree

For the first time in our lives, we had two Christmas trees up. 

One in the living room as usual, and one at the top of the stairs.

We loved them both.  

 

Oh Christmas Tree

The last couple of weeks have been a blur around here and we seriously could not find a second to go get our tree.  We had time between 4 and 6 pm tonight - and the tree farm closed at 5!  So, we shot out to Whites Tree Farm and picked one out in the dark. It took us about 5 minutes to find it and wouldn’t you know, we like it!  

 

Senior Photo

We found out that senior yearbook photos were due about 4 days before the deadline. We had no idea.  So we ran out early one windy morning before school and I snapped a bunch of photos of Anders hoping to get at least one good shot.   I liked a bunch.  Here are some of our favorites.

 

It’s Coming On Christmas

We’re cutting down trees.  

 

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Then Jesus said, 

"Did I not tell you that if you believe,

you will see the glory of God?"

John 11:40

It's absolutely true that my mother was a believer.  She had more faith than anyone I know.  It was her faith that pulled her through all 96 years of her life, especially at the end.  Soothing her through all of her aches and pains, her loneliness, her confusion, her loss - all of this was possible to bear because of her unshakable faith, love, and trust in God. I admire her belief; constant and unwavering.  I imagine that her ending was full of true happiness and light.  Father Richard Eneji, a Nigerian priest at the hospital, administered her last rights and ushered my mother across the threshold of life.  He was certainly a channel of the Holy Spirit and created a sacred passage.

Mom may your heart be at peace and your light shine on in us.  

This is the song that was playing as she passed from this world.  

Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taizé) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube

Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit), known as the Golden Sequence.  It is commonly regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of sacred Latin Poetry ever written.  

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit,

From heaven shine forth 

With your glorious light.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Come, Father of the poor,

Come, generous Spirit,

Come, light of our hearts.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Come from the four winds 

Come breath of God

Disperse the shadows over us,

Renew and strengthen your people.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Most kindly warming light,

enter the inmost depths of our hearts

for we are faithful to you

without your presence

We have nothing worthy, nothing pure

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

You are our only comforter, 

Peace of the soul.

In the heat you shade us;

in our labor you refresh us,

and in trouble you are our strength.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

On all who put their trust in you

And receive you in faith, 

Shower all your gifts.

Grant that they may grow in you

and persevere in the end. 

Give them lasting joy! 

Veni Sancte Spiritus.