Christmas around

here are some pics of our first Christmas in the new house...the new town...the whole 9 yards. I must say, the weather down here is very pleasant. We should be in the 60's and 70's all week. not too bad huh?

 

P. decided to decorate the tree this year with little white strands of yarn...the running joke is that we called it the "spaghetti tree". it was only missing the meatballs.

**all photo credit goes to P.Brock

 We have had 2 main forms of entertainment this year (in addition to the traditional christmas movies and games). First, Puff in her antlers has been an endless source of amusement for us...and a terrible nightmare for her. She runs around like a bucking bronco as soon as we put them on her head. On top of that, Tab has started the bad habit of chasing her around the house saying, "Christmas Puppy!" in a very weird voice. She hates that too. My guess is that she's counting down the days until we can go home.

The second form of entertainment is Just Dance 3 on the Wii. When I say the whole family loves it, I mean it. Mom, Dad, kids, dog, etc. 

time for the next round of guests, and food, and Just Dance 3....Happy New Year folks! 2012

It's the most expensive time of the year

I made the smart decision to begin saving more after depositing each paycheck...but the problem with this new plan of action is that i decided to implement it during the most expensive time of the year: Christmas.

Needless to say, my savings account will not be experiencing a new and improved flow of funds during the month of December. In fact, quite the opposite will be happening. But there is truly nothing better than the fun and excitement of spending time, and hard earned money, to prepare a Christmas gift for someone you love.

Also, I was informed that today was "Christmas Cain", while tomorrow is "Christmas Adam" and after that comes "Christmas Eve". Who knew? Kids these days. 

So here's to many hours of planning, spending, gift wrapping, decorating, baking, and memories. And here's also to the post-holiday-season depression that will set in sometime around January 2nd. Let's think about that later.

This photo was taken right before a Christmas party hosted by some old friends. (old as in, we've known them for a while. They are only in their early 20's.) After the party and an exciting game of the classic, "Dirty Santa", Ross and I came home with gifts very characteristic of our personalities...He had a stack of abridged C.S. Lewis books, and I had a card game.

When I got home yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised by the Christmas decorating effort around our little mexi-castle. Priscilla didn't miss anything in her attempt to deck the halls...even the mounted deer in the boys room got to share in the Christmas cheer.

(more pictures to come)

p.s. Ross gave me a Wii for Christmas, and Just Dance 3 has been the topic of all conversations ever since. I have played 7 nights in a row. some might call that obsessed, I call it exercise.

a call to celebrate

For a college student, a party is nothing out of the ordinary. We party all the time. Or, we like to pretend as if we do. We classify everything as a "party"...even sitting on the sofa playing Mario Kart and drinking beer with 3 of your best good friends fits the qualifications.


But on Sunday night, I experienced a different kind of "party". One that would be more accurately classified as a celebration, or a feast. A feast of God's people.

And let me tell you, it beat every single game-day weekend party I've ever been to. No game of beer pong or spin the bottle could ever come close to comparing to our grand celebration.

But when I told my friends that I was going to a party at my church, they gave me a weird look, thought about it for a second, and then sort of half-laughed/half-rolled their eyes at my pathetic attachment to church functions. I am sure that the mental image they conjured up consisted of wheel chairs, fruit punch, christmas napkins, and shortbread cookies.

Let me get this straight: my church is not a nursing home. In fact, we had a rotation of 4 different bands on our brightly-lit stage that night, a bar in the corner stocked with alcoholic beverages, (and not a drop of Natty Light. take that, frat row.) a dance floor that was jam-crammed with people at all times, and a 15-foot long table full of food.

 

 

And let me tell you... God was glorified. Our joy and laughter at being able to feast and celebrate the birth of our Savior made Him look beautiful. The redemption of Christ is what brings so many different people together on one dance floor, celebrating the bounty and provision of our King.

 

Listen to the words of Jeremiah to the people of God:

"¹⁰ “Hear the word of the LORD, you nations;
   proclaim it in distant coastlands:
‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
   and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
¹¹ For the LORD will deliver Jacob
   and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
¹² They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
   they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
   the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
   and they will sorrow no more.
¹³ Then young women will dance and be glad,
   young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
   I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
   and my people will be filled with my bounty,”
            declares the LORD."


How often are we encouraged to dance and sing and eat and drink for joy to celebrate the bounty of the Lord, Who delivers us from the death we deserve because of sin?

Not often enough.

What kind of King do we worship? The only One who has the power to bring joy and gladness to a world that is broken with sin. That is the reason we worship, and the reason we celebrate His goodness. Let us rejoice and be glad. 

*photo credit goes to Melissa Lien

this world is not our home

it is amazing how easy it is to become consumed with the busyness of everyday life. it is amazing how easy it is to obsess over and desire things that have no eternal value.

and it is amazing how easily i become consumed with myself. my desires. my problems.

i have decided that when i have children, i will force them to repeat this line every single day..."other people are more important than myself."

relationships are the stuff of life. other people are more important than i am. and ultimately, the relationships i have are the only things of eternal value on this earth.

tonight i drove down the dark, rainy, empty interstate, and i couldn't help but ponder melancholy thoughts that were circling through my head as i sped along. and i always come to the same conclusion in moments like that: i am SO thankful that this world is not my home. All of creation is crying out for redemption, and I am right in the middle of it. i am thankful that someday this world will be beautiful and perfect, and in absolute union with the Creator.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.