A Change of Address

My blog is moving! This blog is getting a new address and a new name:

In Search of the Perilous Realm

I've already imported all the posts and comments, so it should feel like the same book with a different cover. The "old path, new feet" theme was a quick middle-of-the-semester I-want-a-blog-and-I-want-it-now idea, and now that I've had time over the break to actually give thought to the subject, I've decided a change is in order.

As of now I am no longer posting at this address, and eventually I will be deleting it. Change your bookmarks, if any of you overkindly souls have gone so far as to have me bookmarked.

Happy New Year!

In my reading this morning I came across this passage from Psalm 4 which seems befitting for the start of the new year.

Many people say, "Who will show us better times?"
     Let the smile of your face shine on us, Lord.
You have given me greater joy
     than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine.

I will lie down in peace and sleep,
     for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

I love this. It is at once a prayer for blessing, a song of thanksgiving, and an expression of trust. As the year beings we are all hoping for better days, days of peace and plenty. The psalmist directs us to God, who is the foundation of all our hopes. He gives thanks for last year's blessings, and reminds us that we are blessed whether or not we've had an abundant harvest, because we have been given life and love by our God. Finally, he reaffirms our trust in God by reminding us to rest, to keep Sabbath with God, because it is God who keeps us safe, whether we wake or sleep.

Have a blessed new year, everyone!

New Photoblog!

Not only have I moved my old Blogger photoblog to a new host, I've also figured out how to put a feed from the new blog in my sidebar! You can visit my new blog at de Lumine, and the slideshow on the right should get updated automatically when I post a new photo.

Christmas Break

It's been a few days now since the end of my semester. Finals week was--well, it was finals week. I think I finished well; at least, I'm fairly satisfied, and definitely done. I finished Wednesday and moved home Thursday last week. Since then I've done Christmas shopping, gone to the Nutcracker ballet, rehearsed with my church worship team for Christmas Eve service, put up decorations in the house, helped my sister make our tree the "best tree in the year," baked cookies, made gingerbread, listened to the first part of the Messiah, and listened to various other less classical Christmas music (like Bing Crosby).

So you will understand when I say that I'm enjoying being home, and it's nice not having the stress of schoolwork, but things don't feel like they've slowed down much yet! I'm beginning to wonder if I made too many plans for break (whether articulated or not). I probably did; I tend to be overambitious, especially with time. There are certain things, however, that I really do want to do over break. Beyond the non-negotiables like seeing family and celebrating Christmas, I have three things I want to do every day for the next few weeks:

• Pray. And set aside specific time for devotions. I let this slide as the school semester wore on, and I need to start doing it again.
• Write. Something--anything. It can be weaving a poem or collecting notes for a story or even rattling off a blog post, but I want to write regularly this break.
• Read. And if I read nothing else, read The Brothers Karamazov. This is a challenge that I'm doing with one of my friends from school: the whole book during break. He read Brothers a few years ago and loved it; this will be my first time. The plan is that we'll read 30-40 pages a day and discuss. So far, I've read... none. Heh.

Those are the main things. My to-do list is much longer than that, but I won't mind so much if I don't get to the rest of it. I don't think those three will be unmanageable so long as I stick to them daily; perhaps, too, having them written down will help.