[insert your life here]

Merry Christmas eve!!

I find I much more enjoy the 24th than the 25th because that is the day my immediate family and I spend all evening together going to two Christmas eve services (at Snoho and the old doughnut church, Bear Creek Community) and relaxing together in the living room, opening gifts, eating, talking. Then Christmas day my Dad, sisters, and I would run off to Grandma's house unfortunately leaving my mom behind, tethered to her pager and patients in the Seattle area. But now, our family Christmas celebrations have expanded to two days! Christmas Eve is much the same but now Christmas day has become a December Thanksgiving of sorts since Sarah and I are gone for the November Thanksgiving. Mom prepares a big meal and we eat and lounge about the house then roll out the door to go see The latest Lord of the Rings release! I guess... maybe this year will be the end of that last tradition.

No worries, we're still heading out to Port Orchard this weekend to spend some quality time with 4 of my dad's six brothers (My Uncle Russ and cousins came up from California!! My Uncle Randy stayed in CA, and my Uncle Ray is in Iraq), aunts, cousins, and of course my Grandparents! I am so excited for this because I absolutely adore my cousins from california! It will be great spending time with them.

oh yeah... the whole reason I was blogging... the Raw has been updated.

peace out, and Happy Christmas!

Life keeps on and I will too as long as there is something to learn or relearn. I am convinced of two things:

1) I never want to start another post with "I" and,
2) Life is only worth living because we are constantly striving

Lack of completion... I have never reached a goal or completed anything truly worthwhile in this life. and for this I am so thankful! Minor accomplishments are little encouragements along the way that keep me pressing on towards achieving the major accomplishment that is Christ. Living in Him; walking with Him; trusting Him alone.

.:.::...

Something I relearned tonight:

first and foremost, my love is Your's

It's from a poem I swear I wrote in one of my little books but can't see to find right now. Maybe it's been the subtle song singing in my heart over the past month; the prayer on my breath whenever the bell tolls. Wherever it is, it's something James reminded me of this evening and Catherine made the truth dance later on.

While I find much Love in one relationship, God reminded me today that He is in all of the wonderful walking blessings around me. There is so much Love to be dished and lavished and it isn't contained in one person. Love is in the smirk of my little sister, the intrigue of my father, the conversation with my older sister, the provision of my mother, the laughter, embraces, and written words of my friends, the corporate and individual prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ. So much Love!

.:.::...

So much Love to share this Christmas... give it and receive it.

only 12 more days...