Our living room currently with a fresh re-paint, our garage sale MCM lamp and the fern we've had for 3 hot austin summers and are going to try to keep alive through a Connecticut winter (still planning to paint that fireplace surround at some point).

Anyone else wanting to take a pre-vacation vacation this week? Phew. Some good rest time is just around the corner, and I've had the hardest time concentrating on much else. Somehow, in the middle of wanting to lay around and read books all day, I've had the privilege of some great writing assignments lately. I've got the links below.

Brian and I will be celebrating our 26th anniversary this week. One year ago at this time kicked off what we now refer to as the Season of Fortunate Events - with Brian's diaconate ordination, Natalie's confirmation, our 25th wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving and a wedding shower for Alex & Rebekah all in the SAME WEEK! Can you even believe it? (Here's proof: part 1 & part 2)

And that was just the beginning. I think, in some ways, we are still getting our wits about us. I'm grateful for all the ways we've been carried, lifted, encouraged and held throughout this year - and each of the 26. One time a younger (unmarried) colleague asked me (referring to long marriage) "Don't you ever feel trapped?" I laughed and said "Yes! All the time. And most of the time, it the most freeing feeling in the world." I'll throw some of our marriage conversations from the last 10 years on the blog in the links below, as well.

Peace and much gratitude, friends,

Tamara

p.s., next Sunday is Advent 1! I've posted a couple of helpful reminders here and here. I'll be posting a daily meditation each day. If you haven't yet, this might be a good time to sign up to get the blog posts in your email (see that box over there on the sidebar). You can also "like" the blog page on FB (here) where I'll post the daily links every morning of Advent. And, please feel free to share the posts with friends. This is one of my favorite seasons on the blog, and I so much enjoy sharing it with many of you.

September: trip to Philly for nephew's birthday party and a visit with our college girl

October: quick road trip to visit friends in Burlington, VT

October: family visit (and a wedding) in Binghamton

October: the Fox family visits (and we do lots of things!)

October: we spend lots of quality time with our new church family

October: the Mays visit! (and we do lots more things)

all the time: we keep working on making our house feel like home

some fun and lovely links this week:

Official White House Photographer Pete Souza Reveals His Favourite Photos Of Obama | My favorite is the little kid taking a face plant on the President's sofa. Classic. (Thanks to my friend Beau for this super fun link!)

The Power of A Dinner Table | I read this a while back, but thought it was especially timely to share as we all head into a week of feasting. A lovely story of gathering. via NY Times

Exclusive: Christ's Burial Place Exposed for First Time in Centuries | Totally fascinating! I was talking about this at a dinner get-together last weekend, and it reminded me of the brief video. via National Geographic

The Stones Will Cry Out | Christie Purifoy weaves together her reflections from a difficult week. Good words as we head into Christ the King Sunday in the liturgical calendar. "Go on, says the stone. Disturb the peace that is not really peace, says the tree. Because one thing creations knows, has always known, is that we hail him as King by making his kingdom visible." via Christie Purifoy

Rule of One Gifts | Oh my goodness, my mother and sister are a dynamic duo when it comes to helping people simplify and beautify Christmas. You need to watch my mother's fun and quick video tutorials for the very best and easiest homemade gift ideas. (I'm talking literally easy, here.) via The Merry Little Christmas Project (p.s., have you bought my sister's book yet?)

from the archives (and other things I've been writing)

Soylent and the Cost of Convenience | Not really an archive since it just published this week. I found this subject way more interesting than I first expected. via Think Christian

The gift I finally have permission to share with you (2015) | The song Kendra wrote and performed for us for our 25th anniversary party last year.

My family line of honeymoon babies (2008?) | An unofficial family tradition spanning three generations (so far!) of giving birth to our first baby about 9 months following the moment our wedding photos were taken. And why I can laugh at the grace of it all.

I'd love to hear what you are planning for your weekend, friends.

Tell me in the comment section below.

Our fall photo diary (and some really good links)