Christmas.Present.[Part2]

Originally, I was going to post these entries back to back to back. BUT...a sweet sweet surprise visit from Walker found me spending last night cuddled on the couch watching Toy Story 3 with him. [I loved it by the way! Rex was my favorite, there is something so laughable & sweet about his ongoing enthusiasm.] Thank you wBm, for your willingness to always sacrifice for our relationship. You are too good to me, and I adore you.



A little blurry:::but surprise! He's here!

 As for my thoughts on Christmas Present, I would like to draw attention to the song that half-way inspired my idea for this 3-part blog. [See video at the bottom of the post!] The song is written & sung by...who else, Dave Barnes. It's on his new Christmas CD that has been on repeat in my car all month...I can't get enough! The simplicity in the song is wonderful, yet in its quietness it speaks loudly of the things I hold so dear during this Christmas season:

family.tradition.love.

I love the phrase "subtle signs of growing up" that Dave uses. That is definitely something I am experiencing this Christmas. My "baby" cousins are now 11, and own cell phones and text me. There is no "Kids Table" anymore. Letters and cards are written in grown up cursive...which is SO much more difficult to read than print. Opening presents before the meal due to over-eagerness is no longer seen as cute, it's just greedy & not allowed. The little things. They're changing, as I always knew they would, yet I seldom recognize these "subtle signs" until they've already passed.

I am thankful right now, in this moment, in my Christmas Present...not only for the little changes, but that I'm able to see these little changes. That I'm able to remember them. I am thankful that no matter what changes occur, subtle or not, my family will remain. And this year....I am blessed with a new family, the Browns! I could not ask for better future in-laws. [And I'm not just saying that because my father-in-law has mentioned he follows my blog!] I really mean it! I am so thrilled to join their family and begin making new memories with them at Christmas time, and all year round!

This Christmas brings change for me, in big and small ways. May I embrace these changes. May I always remember the strength found in family, and the joy found in Christmas' shared with them. Because of my family, I can say "I don't know where I'm going, but I do know who I'll be."

Christmas.Past.[Part1]

I apologize for my lack of blogging over the past few days, at first I was busy doing...well, everything--as the week of finals was truly a grueling one for me. And then I was busy doing absolutely nothing! I have so so so enjoyed my Christmas Break thus far. It feels so wonderful to be home in this precious little town. I don't know what it is about Apex, but I do know this: you can't find a sweeter town! And you definitely couldn't ask for a better place to grow up.

Being home got me thinking. This town is full of sights, smells, sounds, landmarks...that instantly take me back to a memory. Christmas always brings me home, and home always brings me into a comforting period of nostalgia. That being said, I got the idea a few weeks back to do a 3 part blog series that is sort-of-kind-of based on Charles Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol...and now, I finally have the time to do it! I am no Scrooge, mind you! I just think it would be wonderful to take the next 3 evenings to:::remember what I've gleaned from Christmas Past, reflect on what is Christmas Present, and voice my hopes for Christmas Future. The following are thoughts about, and lessons learned in Christmas Past:

Magical.

That is the perfect word to describe each and every Christmas of my childhood. While no family is perfect, and mine certainly wasn't close, Christmas WAS perfect. We had a real tree. Homemade ornaments. Cookies baking. Christmas music always on the stereo. My heart has literally warmed inside my body as I type this. As a child, I was able to experience so much joy through my family at Christmas time. I learned what it meant to really give. I felt gentle love and tenderness in gifts received. I developed an appreciation for tradition. I found joy in the simpleness of just spending time with my family.

My parents did a really great job of balancing the religious meaning of Christmas, and letting my sister & I experience some of the "packaged" merriment our culture has invented. I proudly believed in Santa Claus until I was in 4th grade, and I was heartbroken as my Dad sat me on our front porch to break the news I had so reluctantly seen coming. However, as much as I delighted in Santa and his gifts, I can honestly say I found Christ, and the story of His birth, so much more appealing.

I look back on Christmas Past with nothing but fond memories. Memories that have kept my family glued together through the years. Memories that force me to hold tight to this "Spirit of Christmas" that people are always talking about; the kindness, love, and comfort that are trademarks of this wonderful time of year. I am so grateful for my family, and the memories we have made together year after year. I am thankful we have the health and wealth necessary to celebrate, and I pray that we would continue to be blessed. May I never forget the values gained & the memories made in my magical Christmas Past.

                                          My view as I blog tonight:::Pure.Christmas.

Making.Room.

I really shouldn't be blogging right now. I should, obviously, be studying. But this is my final attempt at procrastination. Plus...what I'm about to post has been on my mind all week, and it's going to feel so good get it out of my head and onto my blog:::

I've been attending a lovely college Sunday School class lately--when I'm not visiting Walker in Asheville, and this past week we discussed: making room for Christ in the season of Advent. How do we do it? Why is it often so difficult? And perhaps the most convicting question....do we make room for Christ at all? If we're really honest with ourselves? After some thought, I've realized that even since the day of His birth...this world has had trouble making room for Him.

"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." --Luke 2:7

For me, making room for Christ and His arrival is difficult for many reasons, but one that stands out. I am a very social person [that might actually be a bit of an understatement], and Christmas has become a very social holiday. I love loving people. And laughing with people. And forming friendships & memories with people. This, to my delight, is a season filled with all of those things. This makes it hard for me to spend the time needed to internally celebrate Christmas. I am really good at externally celebrating, if I do say so myself. But to internalize Advent, and what it means...requires a quiet spirit. One that for me, is especially hard to find amongst the hustle + bustle of December.

I want to be intentional this holiday season to celebrate Christmas inside my soul. To make room for Christ by quieting myself in hopes of hearing Him. May I find some way, in all the noise, to quietly & genuinely appreciate Christ and His humble arrival. This will definitely prove to be a challenge, seeing as I am external by nature. But I am confident that by making room for Christ during Advent, I will better experience the true joy that His birth brings. I pray I will be granted a quiet, yielding spirit, and that I will see it's value not just this Christmas, but all year long.

"Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be s t i l l, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present." --Edward Hays.

Welcome.December.

December is so happily welcomed in my life this year.

Normally I'm a bit hesitant of its arrival; as it brings the bitter cold and final exams. But this year as December comes; I am conscious of the fact that this is my last holiday season as a single woman, and I plan on making the best of it! Not the put-on-a-dress-that-should-actually-be-a-shirt-and-go-downtown-to-get-my-dance-on kind of making the best of it, but the being-intentional-about-the-time-I-spend-with-my-family-&-friends kind of making the best of it.  I have a so many wonderful events to look forward to, and the countdown is officially on until I am home in Apex for 3 glorious weeks [14 days to go.] Just two days into December and I'm already in love with this month.

Last night me & a sweet friend made the drive to Raleigh to see one of our favorite musicians live in concert, Dave Barnes! I've seen him once already with Walker to celebrate our 1 year anniversary...and we had a great time, so I couldn't wait to see him again. If you don't know who Dave Barnes is: He is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, TN. [And you can check him out here. You won't regret it!] As far as his genre...it just depends on what song you're listening to! He could be classified as contemporary christian/bluegrass/R&B/rock...he's extremely versatile which I love. But the thing I think that really draws me to him, are his lyrics. In today's music culture, there are so many artists who 1) don't write their own songs, and 2) use lyrics that are either too complicated or too vulgar or too irrelevant for most people to understand. While so many artists are writing songs about concepts the world can't figure out, Dave writes songs about the things we do know. The things we can grasp. Things like love, and grace, and family. His simple lyrics are good for my soul.

The opening band for Dave Barnes was Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors. What a treat! I had heard a bit of their stuff before but never expressed a desire to see them live, but I am so glad I did! Their songs are wonderful and they have a great energy on stage. I want to write about something that happened during their set, and it will probably seem lame & cheesy. So if you aren't interested in things like that, I feel bad for you and you shouldn't keep reading. But the way I see it, everyone has these precious, unexpected, vivid moments in their life that they will never forget. They just, can't. This was one of mine.

Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors were singing one of their songs, Fire and Dynamite. Near the end of the song the lights came up over the crowd, and everyone was singing, and smiling so big, and just glowing with happiness. That theatre was filled to the top with genuine joy. For just these few, random, blissful moments, it was like an entire room of people who had never met, became best friends. Everyone was on the same page. Everyone was in the exact same moment. Everyone was beautifully united. As I said, this may sound cheesy. But when you're lucky enough to have one of those moments in your life, and recognize it...I think you should be wise enough to document it.

The concert left me feeling grateful for a new appreciation for those moments. I am only 22 years old so I pray there will be more to come, and I pray that I would be given discernment to see them. I also left with a deeper understanding of unity, and the important role it will play in my marriage. Unity opens the door to laughter, support, and harmony. All things that I pray are components in my marriage. If December 1st was any indication as to how the month will progress, I say, with a huge smile on my face: Welcome, December. Welcome.