Thankful

This past weekend was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever had. So full of friends and family and all things new and exciting. It genuinely felt like a full week, not just four and a half little days. Maybe that's because I squeezed in three turkey dinners, a dozen new friends, a handful of deepening friends, some new family, midnight shopping, a christmas play, a best friend, a lunch date, some movies, church, more lunch and some leftovers. All while getting to know the new boyfriend. (what, you didn't know that? Hmmm. Did you miss this tweet?)

It might not really be the style to post your thankful blog AFTER the holiday, but that doesn't change how very thankful I am for everything in my life right now. For all the people I listed above. For how welcome they all made me feel. For the pure gift they are to me.

As you get back into your routine after this weekend, don't forget to reflect back on all the thankful thanksgiving thoughts the holiday stirred up. Christmas can be hectic. Don't let the coming season of pandemonium joy drown out your acknowledgement and gratitude for the many blessings in your life.

So start here! What came to the forefront of your heart and mind this weekend as you focused on thankfulness?

(Fill the comment section! I love to know who's reading. No accounts needed, just use "anonymous" and sign your name at the end of your comment.)

The house is packed

When love is in the house, the house is packed, so much so we left the back door cracked...  Lyrics by TobyMac where running through my head as friends gathered at my place last week to help me put up my Christmas tree. (Though it was more about cracking windows open than the door.) After writing the post a few weeks ago about HOME I realized I needed to just go for it and have a party. No more stressing over exactly how many people would be comfortable in my space. Just invite and let things happen as they would. And it was great!

Sure, we were stepping on each other now and again, but no one minded. I packed 14 people into a studio basement apartment and it was such a good time, it was midnight before I was alone again.

Everything is more fun with friends. Setting up the three-piece tree, figuring out how to connect all the cords and fixing the star upon the top, when it is REALLY hard to get it to connect to my tree, doesn't feel like a chore when there are lots of hands involved. I enjoyed watching a group of budding civil engineers make sure the covered bridge lined up with the invisible river powering the big water wheel on the mill as we set up my ceramic snow village. Hopefully I've sparked a trend of tree trimming parties!

My actual tree, not clip art. -------->

Which reminds me, how are YOU doing on The Challenge? You still have a little time to pull it off! And if you ask REALLY nice, I'll even give you an extension until the end of the year.

The Challenge: Have people over to your house between now and Thanksgiving. As long as they come in and stay long enough to sit down, it counts. I'll be asking how it went!

Roller Coasters

Back in 2005/2006 I wrote a couple blog posts about faith, anticipation and waiting. Below you will find those posts, only slightly edited. They were written in the time following some major family heartbreak and not long before God would open up a brand new chapter of my life by moving me to DC. The truth God taught me then still resonates within me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Blog 1

I love roller coasters. I don't have any fear because I trust the engineers and inspectors completely. I love the rush, the unexpected, the speed, the adrenalin. Some time ago, God talked to me about roller coasters and spiritual faith

I have complained that the last couple years of my life have been a roller coaster. God told me that if life is a roller coaster, then that makes Him the engineer. If I can trust a human engineer, literally with my life, and ENJOY it, then why couldn't I do the same with Him? Long story short, I should ride this roller coaster of life WITH JOY because I have total faith in my God, the designer, inspector and operator of the ride.

When the bottom seems to be falling out, I should throw up my hands and scream, not in panic, but in excitement. When things are passing me by too fast to control, I can know know that my course is set. Enjoy the ride. I need to follow the directions (hands inside the car, stay seated, ie. the Bible) and the rest is pure joy.

This thought has been an ongoing process over several months and I've struggled with the specifics of walking in this faith. I finally stepped into the coaster and sat down, figuratively speaking, but nothing happened. The ride didn't start. No rush, nothing unexpected, no speed, no adrenalin.  Did I miss something? God did want me to have faith and ride His roller coaster, right? So I waited. As I sat there, anticipation began to build. And kept building.

Deck the Halls!

I am typically very adamant that Christmas not start before Thanksgiving. This year though, I've been feeling like throwing caution to the wind and embracing Christmas early.  I'm actually putting my tree up tomorrow!

This is partially to blame on all the amazing new Christmas music that had been released this year! Of particular interest has been David Crowder*Band, Mathew West and TobyMac.

My favorite right now is Oh For Joy by David Crowder*Band. Very classic Crowder.  Meaning it's amazing. Have you ever heard a banjo on Angels We Have Heard on High?  No? Then you are missing out. (Plus, I love the cover. I want to know what I'd look like as a nutcracker.)

And though it came out back in 2008, Let It Snow Baby, Let It Reindeer by Relient K is one of my favorite Christmas albums of all time and now on rotation on my iPod. Best rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas ever.

If your Christmas music collection is feeling a little stale, a little same ol' same ol', then maybe it's time to spice it up a bit with a few new albums!

Fill me in on your old favorite or new discovery.