Are you counting down the days? I love this time of year. As a kid, we had a million advent calendars around the house so that everyone had a turn each day to be a part of the countdown. Now, I just want to hold onto each day and make it last a little longer. A month is not long enough for me to get my fill of Christmas music in the car, sparkling lights outside, and yummy Christmas-y food. But what I love most of all is the reason we celebrate.
We had a big nativity exhibition at our church last weekend, and as I walked around looking at the displays, I was struck again by how beautiful the Nativity story is. I love that there is a place for everyone at the manger, and that every individual in the story offers
us a gift--teaching us the kind of people we can be.
Mary believes in seemingly impossible things and understands in a very personal way that she matters to her Heavenly Father. And she takes time to ponder the miracles in her life.
Joseph humbly accepts a life that he probably never planned on, but trusts that the Lord has a bigger plan. And he doesn't just go along grudgingly--he gives his whole heart to his family and does all that he can to protect them, teach them, love them.
The
shepherds go about their everyday life and work, and then when something miraculous happens (angels!!), they rush to find the hope they have been waiting for their entire lives. And they don't stop there--once they've seen the Christ child themselves, they go out to share that joy with others.
The
angels declare to all that will hear that joy and hope and peace are real. And when you know that, you can't help but sing!
The
wise men bring their best gifts to the child--not thinking about what will look good to everyone else, or what's the "it" gift to give. They bring gifts to show that they understand who this baby really is and give Him gifts for a king.
In several of the Nativity scenes I saw, the Christ child wasn't lying in the manger, but sitting upright with his arms stretched out. I love that image because it is what Christmas feels like to me--our Savior reminding us that He came for us and that we have a place where He is.
So on Friday in what may or may not be my place of employment with some cool people who may or may not be my co-workers, we became obsessed with personality tests. I don't even know how it started but suddenly we all desperately needed to know which Disney princess we are. I'm a Cinderella apparently (which means I have a "keen intelligent sense of humor" and I "find delight in my tiny animal friends"). I really thought I'd be more of a Belle, but there you have it.
It's Super Cute Tuesday, and I thought I had the perfect outfit. Long dress, chunky earrings, summer scarf, espadrilles. Cute with a capital C. Only the summer scarf idea proved practically life-threatening. I know, I know, any type of scarf on an AUGUST Texas day should be outlawed. But I figured I'd be spending most of my day in the sub-zero A/C of the museum so it would fine. Didn't count on the scarf's ability to cinch around my windpipe and cut off my oxygen supply. I nearly strangled myself no less than three times today--the scarf got stuck in my rolly chair, stuck to velcro while I tried to moved around these big climbing cushions, and then I inadvertently stepped on it and almost jerked my head off. It's not like I'm new to the scarf scene. For the love, I lived in Boston for 6 years! But this scarf was a slippery little devil--literally.
