Let It Snow!

"Little bits of heaven floating gently by the window." I don't know why I like snow so much. Maybe I would have loved living in the mountains instead of the suburbs of Philly? Truth is, I like the changing seasons. And I am celebrating the fact that it snowed before Christmas. I can't remember the last time we had this much snow before January and I'm loving it. Not sure exactly how much snow we actually got, but they were saying between 12-18 inches. It snowed for 24 hours! So much fun!

We shoveled out our driveway this morning and I was thanking God for this special gift with each shovel full. I get the sense from others that I'm in the minority. To most, the snow is a nuisance and a hassle. I think it's beautiful! Although I am in a good mood because Christmas is only 3 days away, I always love snow. What else can stop the world? Church was cancelled and except for a short drive to the sledding hill, we have just been at home. In this hurried season, when people are rushing around with their last minute Christmas shopping, only snow could slow us down.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

CHRISTmas Is Coming!

The smell of evergreen is in the air. Twinkling lights, stockings hung, presents wrapped, carols playing, and building anticipation for the "big day". Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays! And there is not one particular thing that I like about it. I like everything about it!

With all there is to do, it's difficult to not get caught up in all that needs to be done. The "holiday season" is busy, stressful, and hurried. My "To Do' list is full of things I need to do. The countdown is on!

But in the midst of all the running around, Christmas parties, cookie making, gift getting, and decorating the true reason for Christmas always seems to get overshadowed. It's easy to say it's not about the peripheral things, but we have to get those things done. But where is our heart during this Advent season?

Christmas is first and foremost a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Savior. It is a reminder of the great sacrafice God made for us in sending His Son to the Earth, knowing full well His holy plan meant Jesus would one day die on a cross as an atonement for our sins. Christmas is about love, God's love, for us.

I'm sure you have heard the statement, "Keep Christ in Christmas!". The world is full of things to worship; food, sex, money, alcohol, our jobs, each other, television, ourselves! And we so easily get sucked in and we don't even realize we're doing it! If we're not careful, we can get sucked in to the world's view of Christmas and forget all about what it's really about.

I'm not saying we should not enjoy the season and all the wonderful things that go along with it. But please, don't celebrate the day. Celebrate Christ!

The Christmas Story (from the Bible):
Matthew 1:18 - 2:23
Luke 1:26 - 2:40

Reunion

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, aka "Black Friday", Adam & I attended our 15 Year High School Reunion. The last reunion we attended was about 10 years ago, 5 years after high school. To say that we weren't nervous about going would be an understatement. We almost chickened out 15 minutes before we had to be there. I've gained weight, Adam's lost hair, but more things have changed over the last 15 years then just our physical appearance. As we began justifying why we shouldn't go...we had a babysitter and it would be more fun to just have a date night together...we realized that as much as we have changed inside & out, so had our other classmates. With that, we went to the reunion with an open mind and confidence in who we are today.

The reunion was sometimes awkward, mostly fun, and very interesting catching up with old friends and classmates. We are all older, and hopefully more mature. We have husbands & wives, children, and careers. And I believe that God's plan for Adam & I included going to this high school and being friends with these people. That for 12 years (some more, some less) we were connected. We walked the same halls, had the same teachers, and participated in sports, choir, theater, and other extracurriculars together. Time and life has changed us, but it was sure fun to see that they are still out there, living life, and doing well.

If we seemed different, it was because we are. But life is good, God is faithful, and we'll see you again, God willing, in another 5 years!