Merry Christmas!

Though my camera's SD card is mostly empty, my heart is full with memories from our two week trip north.  Refreshed, encouraged, full....those are words I'd use to describe what two weeks with family and dear friends does for my soul.  Full is also the word I'd use to describe our van.  It's sitting in the driveway waiting to be carefully unpacked.  We were blessed with lots of goodies for our family and I'm eager to get everything unpacked and start enjoying them!

My oldest two and Andy are still sleeping.   Judah and I are up enjoying a quiet morning after a long (but SMOOTH!) drive home.  It feels good to be home but I loved all the gifts God gave us these past two weeks....

SNOW!!  Winter weather in general is a treat to us flamingos.  We enjoyed snowy walks on the carriage trail, brisk cold in my face making me feel alive.  A change in weather and scenery always re-awakens my soul to the wonders of God's creation.

FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY.  I told Andy that my love tank was on empty and our families, especially our parents, filled it to overflowing.   We had so many fun moments, conversations, laughs.  I'm reminded once again how blessed I am to be a part of two loving families.

FRIENDS!!   (Well they are like family too!!)   In a week's time we got to see four couples (and their eleven children!)  who are dearest to us on this earth. The Deans, Greenes, Kvernens, and Lynches.  We hadn't seen the Deans since China and our time with the others in the past few years only amounts to a few short visits. Spending time with them was simply wonderful.

A six hour conversation with Andy on our trip home...what he and I have always done best...TALK!   So glad I married that man!  (This also represents the fact that our travels were safe and smooth.  Audio books and kids who are now old enough to enjoy them has been a game changer for us in traveling.)

HOME COOKED FOOD.  Enough said.

Ok, I want to say more....Broccoli Casserole.  Cabbage Casserole.  Chicken Casserole.  Pretty much anything you can think of goes in casserole in my family.  My heart and my belly were full!!!

Reflections on redemption that have encouraged me greatly.  This Christmas more than ever before God has made me aware of his precious plan to redeem both my soul and and my body.  I think it's because this year I am acutely feeling the affects of living in a fallen world on the physical body.  Along with almost losing my sister, we and some of the people we love most are staring things like cancer, stroke, and mental illness straight in the face.  Our bodies are broken. But....we have such a great hope for both our spiritual and physical redemption!  Our savior came to redeem our souls, YES YES YES, and along with them our bodies and every fiber of this broken creation.  The miracle of Christmas begins a journey for our Savior that takes him all the way to the cross.  He willingly took on a broken body only to lay it down in death....all to give us a new heart, a new life and along with that, A NEW BODY which will be completely healed, perfect, and will never again fail us.  This is reason to celebrate!!!!

As I wade through this broken world, I am thankful for all the gifts God gives me that thrill my heart...like friends and snow and broccoli casserole.  And most of all, I am thankful for the redemption God has worked for us and the hope of our  full redemption to come....A redemption that will give us hearts that beat perfectly with our Father's, minds that will think rightly, and bodies that will never fail.

MERRY CHRISTMAS INDEED!!!