geneve.

geneva, a city for international politics and business and travellers seeking a gateway to the mountains. it's not exactly on the top-ten list of coolest spots in europe. it's a city with purpose: banking, the UN, watches, you know swiss things. as i was researching geneva i read this small but incredibly interesting fact: geneva was one of the hotbeds of the reformation. the reformation that broke the protestant church from the catholic church, the reformation that refocused christians on the central tenants of christian faith, as taught by jesus. encompassed by the 'five solas' they translate into 'by grace alone, by faith alone, through christ alone, through scripture alone, to the glory of god alone.' this is the bedrock of protestant thought, particularly in the reformed and presbyterian traditions.

via: www.monergism.com

john calvin spent much of his ministry in geneva and consequently there are many significant sites in the old city associated with the reformation. the international museum of the reformation was absolutely excellent. it gave a great overview of the story of the reformation from its beginnings and martin luther, through to how it is currently expressed in present day. a fascinating story and a very well appointed museum, definitely a must-see for anyone visiting geneva. 

we were also able to visit the small church where calvin preached more than 2000 messages! in the early days the geneva council required him to preach three times a week and twice on sundays, this was later reduced to once on sundays, and three times during the week.

and finally we climbed the bell tower of the cathedral. it was a spectacular day, crisp and cold, but with brilliant sunshine! the climb was personally very gratifying for me, as i was exactly one year post injury and three months post surgery and able to do it all without pain! recovery is definitely in progress. 

geneva's famous fountain, from the roof of the cathedral

after a lunch of cheese (what else?) and crepes (oh my!) we started to head for the mountains. it was wonderful to finally see some of the city that i've travelled through many times in recent years, but only ever enjoyed the airport. and it was a real blessing to learn more about the history of our faith and the struggles that so many endured to keep the faith. 

the coffee. it comes with a chocolate and a glass of water - it's pure genius.

a collection of thoughts.

life is ticking by here. it is how it should be. here's what i'm thinking.

• bright lipstick makes your face look better - even when you are looking haggard (which is how i was this morning) 
• i need to treat this recovery and rehab stage in the same way i'd treat a training programme for a marathon - with dedication and focus and realising that it will take up a lot of my 'free time' 
• knitting and reading are two of my favourite things in the entire world. 
• i feel better with lots of water in my system. 
• work (finally) got a microwave, and despite the concerns of microwaving food that float (no pun intended) around, i love the variety that has been added to my lunch selection
• shopping the sales makes me wonder why i ever buy anything full price? 
• wool for the latest baby blanket has arrived (no, not for us)
• february is shaping up to be a month of parties and entertaining and i cannot wait. 
• i love the quiet simplicity of january. 
• i am hitting up a local department store on my way home to buy some amy butler fabric on special, a.b. and marvellous should watch the post! 
• two adults generate an enormous amount of laundry - what happens when you add children? 
• nothing perks me up like freshly painted fingernails. 
• the this american life app rocks my world, and keeps me entertained on long tube commutes, get it. 
• i've just discovered the joy of using the steam room at the gym post workout, how have i missed this for so long? 
• god has redeemed so much in such a short space of time - and i am in awe of it all. 
• looking forward to date night with le boy tonight - we're doing sausage rolls from here (love this recipe!) and starting this series. snuggle time on the couch here we come! 
• i think i'll pick up some hyacinths tomorrow, my office needs a spruce up, starting with some colourful and sweet smelling flowers. 
• i need to decide on some houseplants, let's get something growing. 
• i'm starting to think about what i'd like to do in the garden this summer. 
• curtains are begging to be stitched - perhaps tonight before dinner? 
• getting back into a routine is more difficult than i realised. 
• i need to go to bed earlier. 

to simplify.

a simple advent. that's all i want for christmas this year. oh and to get le boy's jumper (sweater) done in time. but how do we prepare? how to get it all done? the baking and the making and the visits and the work and the decorating and the events? how do we keep the event of jesus coming to earth as the central idea of our days? how to keep from becoming caught up in the busy-ness of it all and forget the business of christ?

by stopping. and stilling. by bending low and thanking god for humble beginnings and babe-grace. by putting the needs of others ahead of our own. by focusing on the truest thing we can, the sacrifice of praise for he who would sacrifice it all.

this year we have chosen to remain in one place. and we are delighted at the prospect of standing still. for years we have each travelled, across land and seas to be home with our families, and those are times we cherish and times, i'm sure we will miss this christmas. but we are also learning how to be our own family. to establish and develop our own traditions.

it's slow around here at the moment. a joint stiff with swelling and pain, and a girl who is always eager to do one more thing can be a challenging combination. i am learning. i am preparing for a season of slowness. of incremental progress, measured by the degrees i can bend my knee. of being patient and pacing myself. of learning how to pace my days, rather than fill them to the absolute brim.

trees will be trimmed this weekend, rows upon rows of double moss stitch knitted, and we will begin our advent study. in the midst of it all, i pray we prepare not just our home, but our hearts for the coming of christ.

preparation.

i wrote a little about preparing the other week. i am grateful to have had the time to ready us for the operation. it all went smoothly and life here, while quiet, is very peaceful because of those preparations. i rest easy knowing there is food is the freezer and wool ready for the needles and period dramas queued for watching. i rested easy because marvellous came and gave up her week to love on us and care for us. i am amazed by the endless stream of visitors we have had, who take time out of their busy weeks to travel to a small suburb in london so that i may have company. we are filled with visits and doctors appointments and naps. and yet despite all this preparation. despite the prayers and cooking and the finishing up of things and the emails and people from abroad. we weren't quite ready. and i suppose we never are. 

change, big or small, demands attention and time and energy. and there are always bits for which you are not prepared. the pain. or the feelings of being unwell. the kindness that has been shown you. the unexpected care packages. i was not prepared for any of these things. and yet, in his grace, we are given what we need, as we need it. and so the medication does a great job of numbing the physical pain and the care package takes away the sting of separation from family. i am learning to ask for and receive help. i am learning to allow others. to count my thanks. to be patient. to heal.

we are never completely prepared. we cannot be. there would be no painful healing, no growth, no unexpected delight.

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1

quiet.

we're pretty quiet around these parts these days. warms drinks and food. enjoying the relief of the pain medication. lots of ice packs. naps in the morning, afternoon and evening. welcome visitors bearing gifts of food and wishes of speedy recoveries. this recuperation thing is exhausting. i'm grateful beyond words for the kind care of le boy and marvellous. i spend much of my day in a room with a small print of 1 thess 5:18 it's a very good reminder.

we're moving slowly. and we are living grateful lives.

monday musings.

to say we're in a bit of a big week is an understatement. if i'm honest, things might be quiet here this week, but for good reason.

• marvellous arrives tomorrow 
• i'm getting work squared away for 2.5 weeks off 
• surgery on thursday for a knee that isn't working the way it should
• job interview for le boy on thursday (yes that's the same day as surgery) 
• i'm getting laundry done and the house tidied and meals in the freezer 

it's a lot. but there are so many blessings. 

find printable here.

• marvellous arrives
• i'm fortunate to work for an employer with generous sick leave 
• my surgeon is the best, and this is pretty much the appendectomy of orthopedic surgery
• le boy has a job interview, in a difficult economy 
• we've spent the weekend getting caught up on laundry and making food and sorting life here and there
• i'll spend the next week with two people who love me better than anyone and i'm already grateful for their grace

operation: preparation

we have grace of time right now. we have the grace of knowing what is coming next. we have been allowed to prepare.

in a week i will benefit from decades of research and medicine, i will have medicine repair what cannot heal naturally. my knee, injured in a skiing accident, has kept me much more sedate than i would prefer. i long to run hard and fast (for me) along the pavement. i long to sit cross-legged on the floor. i will, in time. i will have surgery to repair what cannot be healed all on its own. ligaments do not naturally heal. but they can be healed with invasive and intense surgery.

isn't that what god does on us? there are parts of us that cannot be healed with just time, or tenderness. there are parts of us that require much more. so while we favour that part of ourselves, learn to protect it from harm, learn to not sit cross-legged, it never actually heals, it cannot heal on its own. and we require god-surgery. on our souls.

i said that god has given us the gracious gift of time. i go in for surgery in a week, but we've known about this for months, we've known about the long recovery. we've been able to make provisions for that time. marvellous is offering up herself to us that week - we are humbled by her willingness to leave life and come walk with us through the early stages of healing. the slowcooker is working overtime as i prepare meals to be frozen, and i get the house in order. le boy is making minor adjustments to our living space that will make major adjustments to my (our) quality of life. our friends are praying and planning for food and company. we have been provided time to prepare. 

and god gives us this time before be have soul surgery also. he allows us time to clear our schedules and simplify our lives. to prepare for the healing. for the recovery. years ago, before i spent time sorting through who i was called to be, god made space. a job that allowed me time off for appointments, a friend to live with who was supportive, an income that provided. i trained a marathon that year. i was broken of all my defences. and because i no longer could shield the parts of me that i protected, i handed them to him and he was merciful. 

he is always gracious. and he has provided for preparation.