Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas in Review

Elation was mixed with pure exhaustion and we enjoyed a wonderfully lazy day.


















We started the day with sweet rolls from a can, bacon, and coffee.  Lunch was peanut butter sandwiches and dinner was frozen pizza with a chocolate birthday cake for Jesus.  Needless to say, I am finished with the kitchen.  We are on the outs.  Only leftovers or frozen, thank you very much.

We watched the snow and Swan Lake.

We talked with the family online.  4 Large families in 4 cities all talking in pajamas together.  I love technology.  Napoleon Dynomite, anyone?

We bundled up and scootered outside but didn't stay long.

We went to bed at 9pm.  Merry Christmas to me, right?

Today is Sunday so we are up and at 'em again.  Alex left the house hours ago.  Christmas on Saturday is killer for clergy.  Christmas on Wednesdays are the best!

It's been an abundant week.  And God's presence has been very real to us.  And for that, we are thankful.  

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Hospitality

It's been a full week.  I'm treating myself to a seat on the couch and a blog post to share because I just cut my 10 pound pork tenderloin and it is marinading for the day.  Protein accomplished.  Time for a break.

My friend wrote a short blog post on the importance of community (click here to see it) and it really rang true for me.  This week has been all about community.

I wrote earlier about 3 friends who need our prayers.  I'm pleased to say all 3 are moving in positive directions and there's no doubt in my mind that the Lord is blessing them with peace and healing.  And I also know they have been blessed by a great community of loving people.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus and a lot of people are coming out of the woodwork to help.

It's incredibly touching.

Our friend E was in a car accident.  So a mom in our mother's Bible study quickly devised a plan to bless her with food and cards and well wishes.  She designated her house as a drop off point and arranged for delivery.  And she told me that women she had never met were bringing meals to her house for E.  This community of women went above and beyond the call of duty to help and it undoubtedly reflected the lavish love that God has for us.

The spirit of giving this season has been very real.

And I think giving is beautiful just like this little girl's smile.  :-)



My friend Dorry wrote blog post this week on Christmas shopping (click here to see it) and it reminded me how much I dislike shopping.  It's just not very fun for me.  But, on the other hand, I love the grocery store.  I love feeding people and entertaining and giving to friends in that way.  And this Christmas week, I've had ample opportunity to do so.

We had a fabulous time Tuesday with our college friends.  Lots of razzing each other.  Lots of merriment.  And lots of laughs.  When we're together, we (for better or for worse) revert right back to our college days.


Wednesday, we hosted our Colorado friends for supper.  Exhausted and drained, they are pleased to be safe in town and are eagerly awaiting their son and brother who should be meeting them here shortly from Germany (and previously from Afghanistan).  It was a warm evening of community.  And tomorrow, we'll do it again with church friends and staff resting between our 3 Christmas Eve services.

It's been a blessing for me to host so much this season.  A yummy meal and a cozy home is such a gift to share.  It's doesn't have to be the most creative food or have lavish  place settings or be perfectly coordinated.  It just has be authentic and people feel loved.


And now my break is coming to an end.  Dora's Christmas show is over.  Eloise is headed my way and I think we're going to knock out some brownies before Cordelia awakes.  

(And don't tell anyone.  Our pie for Christmas Eve is Sara Lee's frozen apple dutch pie.  It's going to be awesome.)