So long, farewell

2010 was a very rough year for us. In fact, it was down right disheartening at times. Yet, the Lord was faithful to us and saw us through each rough moment and even saw fit to bless us with precious memories in the midst of our struggles. God is so very good.

I know many people are making their resolutions and taking time to reflect on their lives, today. I am not one for resolutions but I do love to reflect on all that was taken place this year.

Compared to last year: my house isn't any more organized or efficiently clean, most of my projects are still on the to do list, I inherited a panic disorder for a few months, my body is a bit flabbier, I have 8% more white hairs (ACK!) on my head, and I still haven't even come close to putting a nick on my "30 things to do before 30" list. Worst of all, I spent more days of 2010 sick than healthy. Ick.

And yet...and yet.....and yet...

Compared to last year: I read my Bible more, I love my husband more, I spent more time with my family, I gave life to another beautiful son that God blessed me with, I have another beautiful home birth experience under my belt, my garden survived its first complete year and I learned a lot about myself and my fears.

Best of all: I spent the better part of each day hugging, kissing, loving and affirming a squirmy, giggly passel of boys.

So I may not have a perfect house or a hot body or tons of money in the bank...believe me when I say that I am more than ok with my situation. I love my life. The juice stains, the cracker crumbs, the ENDLESS laundry (do you know how many socks reside in our bungalow?). The dog with WAY too much attitude, the crayon marks, the panic attacks from watching my death defying toddler all day, the heart attacks from listening to the other toddler say the most unbelievable things at times (read: "Mommy, this dragon is bigger than a penis"). Would I trade it all for a six pack and 3 extra hours of sleep every night?

No way.

Bring it on 2011. Bring it on.

Tis the Season

Tis the Season for glorious things:

Celebrating babies...one miraculous one in particular, but we can also enjoy all the other babies, bundled in heavy blankets and forced to wear tiny Santa hats.

Drinking fancy holiday drinks, peppered with special topping like shaved chocolate or roasted espresso beans. Its the time of year when you are willing to go that extra mile to deck the halls of your coffee mug for the sake of your taste buds.

Teaching bright eyed little tots about the wonders of Christmas. From the common practice of tree light viewing from underneath its scraggly boughs to the not so tidy joys of eating one's first ever peppermint stick.

Receiving oodles of snail mail each day from loved ones across the map. I love when more cards arrive than junk mail magazines. And this phenomenon occurs only once a year-- wonderful, glorious, Christmas time.

Just a few pretty universal musings I'm sure many of your identify with, regardless of zip code.

But some of you need cold weather, snow, and a toasty fire to really feel like its Christmas.

Our Season takes place somewhere hot and muggy, which is not so universal. My sister and I married a pair of northern boys and for them tis the season of ambiguous weather that does not feel like Christmas at all. And yet it is Christmas, its our Christmas. Its our palm trees lit up with twinkle lights and bedecked in tinsel. Its our flip flops patterned with plaid and lined with shearling. Its how we roll this time of year.

Yet can I say for the record, that I only enjoy Christmas at home and in church? Its true. December in this town stinks. Nasty creatures emerge from under rocks this time of year, to get behind the wheel of their cars in the hopes of running over their fellow man with vulgar shouts and curses all for the sake of a 10% discount at some crummy bargain store. Yuck. I went on a "quick run" to the grocery store a few nights ago. I almost died three times in the process. I was flipped off more times than I can count for things like letting an elderly woman cross the parking lot in front of my car. Pretty gruesome. I must say that while I love the Season, I am not a fan of the location or the majority of people that live in it.

But Christmas at home with the family is lovely. Sure it may be hot outside, with the occasional freakish cold weather day bottoming out at 50 degrees, but inside our home its Christmas. Drippy Advent candles, mangers packed with cattle lowing and plastic dinosaurs attacking, fleece footie pajamas, and thankful hearts for the birth of our Savior.

I hope the Season brings you joy wherever you are, whether surrounded by palm or pine, sun or snow. Merry Christmas.