last nite was a special evening...candles were lit, prayers were said, hearts were spilled open, strangers played "spoons," children appeared in adults, and the new year was brought in with full acknowledgement that it is by grace alone that we are here to enjoy yet another year of the 2000's. in a little english tudor cottage up in the hillsborough by my home, we shared an evening with 3 other families gathered by the fire, with food and fun with plenty for seconds of both. as the clock grew close the the ticking hour of renewal, seventeen candles were lit each in turn as the holder of each candle said a prayer of thanks and asked a question of heart...where would god have my heart and my will for this year? it was perhaps one of the most memorable new year's yet in my quarter-century of life...and something that i would like to bring to my own future family traditions. instead of confetti and glitter---a clean heart and conscience, a new purpose for the year, an open ear to the heavens, things of the heart which matter---rather than a momentary party, only to be forgotten with the next party...it seems these last few days have been filled with the tiny blazes of candles all around...

here are some pics of my brother from his family bday party---instead of eighteen he looks like he has the same shining in his eyes as when he was five: