Three things need to be addressed.
1. I suck at updating this.
2. I've reached beyond my goal for Puerto Rico. My mom's response? "Someone wants you to go." No joke. My faith just keeps growing.
3. Christmas. Usually I'm not about all the "christmas-y" things. Such as lights, music, movies (minus Elf), etc. This year it's been different. It was BEFORE Thanksgiving and the Nsync Christmas album was busted out. Right after Thanksgiving the house was decorated. And maybe that part is different this year because it's MY house. Lights are outside and in. There's a tree. Window cling-ons. Door hangings. Christmas parties galore. Not to mention, I have watched Elf like, at least 10 times. I have never been more in the Christmas spirit. My heart is just happy. My small group bought stuff for the Christmas Shop and my eyes just seem more open. I can't wait to go home and be with my family. I love that my mom's side doesn't do presents. We just go and eat and be together. That's what I'm excited for. And those precious babies, Skylar and Caleb. On my dad's side this year we did something different as far as presents. We did our grab-bag like we always do, but this year we didn't have a list to write what we wanted and it was only a $10 thing. I'm quite excited for that too. Haha, those gifts could be quite fun. I love being together with them as well. I love having all the kids running around everywhere (7 under 8 years old, if I counted right). ooh I just love it. AND this year I think we're going to Chicago to ice skate that night. New memories to be made.
Going along with Christmas, today's church service was great. I recommend going to crossingsknoxville.com to listen to the podcast. The question was addressed, "What if Christmas was a world changing event, again?" Oh my goodness. What would the world be like? What would stores do if 4.5 billion dollars (yes, that's right, billion) wasn't spent JUST around Christmas time? What if that hope that a baby brought to the world was actually celebrated? What would it be like? I was just about brought to tears during Common Meal today just thinking about that and just thinking about my life. I am so ridiculously blessed. I don't need anything. Yes, I have times of "trouble" but I have an amazing family, I have amazing friends that accept me for me when at times that could be difficult, I have a roof over my head, I have a job. I just want to celebrate that. I want to be able to rejoice that we have such a loving God that sent his Son into a world of selfishness and hate in order to give his people the shalom that was intended.
So what if Christmas was a world changing event, again?
I encourage you to check out these two things.
1. Advent Conspiracy: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091215/us_time/08599194759000
2. Rebel Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC7d5jbAbo
i hope and pray you all have an amazing Christmas and that you can go beyond just thinking the phrase that so easily gets tossed around of "Jesus is the reason for the season" but that you can find hope and that restoration from the babe in the straw.
"so i bid you pleasure
and i bid you cheer
from a heathen and a pagan
on the side of the rebel Jesus"
