I haven’t always spent my Christmas season in the tropics, with the air con cranked high,
a hodge podge of Christmas decor and traditions a part of my holiday celebrations.
I’ll always think there’s a little something extra special about spending Christmas in a place that
actually has a winter, there’s just a bit more romance, magic, and “rightness” to it all, in my opinion.
I remember the year I fell in love with Mark, right during my most magical first Christmas in Denver.
The snow illuminates all the city lights and it’s just… breathtaking. I loved Christmas time in Denver.
a hodge podge of Christmas decor and traditions a part of my holiday celebrations.
I’ll always think there’s a little something extra special about spending Christmas in a place that
actually has a winter, there’s just a bit more romance, magic, and “rightness” to it all, in my opinion.
I remember the year I fell in love with Mark, right during my most magical first Christmas in Denver.
The snow illuminates all the city lights and it’s just… breathtaking. I loved Christmas time in Denver.
I don’t have many memories of Mark and I planning for or chatting about children.
(Back in our first years of marriage I was desperate to get overseas, and probably every
“serious” conversation we had was about my burning passions and our 5 year goal of how we’d
end up where...so almost nothing has changed except that I’m able to have this conversation way
less frequently now….like once a month instead of once a week ;))
(Back in our first years of marriage I was desperate to get overseas, and probably every
“serious” conversation we had was about my burning passions and our 5 year goal of how we’d
end up where...so almost nothing has changed except that I’m able to have this conversation way
less frequently now….like once a month instead of once a week ;))
But one of our last Christmas’ in Denver I had a “moment”. Our church, which Mark was the
Music person (pastor? Director?) for on top of his teaching job, put on a musical using Andrew
Peterson’s “Behold the Lamb” album (fantastic, btw). I remember one night sitting in the church- for a
service or a rehearsal or some such thing. It was cold and dark outside, and dark inside too, but
the twinkling Christmas lights and friendly faces made it warm and inviting. I was sitting next to
a friend who was expecting, bursting (like I am) with life coming at any moment. The band started
singing “Labor of Love”- a song about Mary as she gives birth to Jesus. And I can remember being
so swept up in that moment- in the magic of Christmas, the strength of Mary, the whole Christmas
story. And I guess at that time I knew children were a bit far off for us, but I remember wishing that
if the time ever came for us to have a child, that I could have a child right around Christmas time,
because of the magic and beauty and power of this season.
Music person (pastor? Director?) for on top of his teaching job, put on a musical using Andrew
Peterson’s “Behold the Lamb” album (fantastic, btw). I remember one night sitting in the church- for a
service or a rehearsal or some such thing. It was cold and dark outside, and dark inside too, but
the twinkling Christmas lights and friendly faces made it warm and inviting. I was sitting next to
a friend who was expecting, bursting (like I am) with life coming at any moment. The band started
singing “Labor of Love”- a song about Mary as she gives birth to Jesus. And I can remember being
so swept up in that moment- in the magic of Christmas, the strength of Mary, the whole Christmas
story. And I guess at that time I knew children were a bit far off for us, but I remember wishing that
if the time ever came for us to have a child, that I could have a child right around Christmas time,
because of the magic and beauty and power of this season.
In insignificant ways I sometimes think God remembers me. This is hard for me to think- hard for me
to say- harder still to believe and impossible not to believe. I have prayed and hoped for so many
much more significant things, and yet in this small insignificant way, I think perhaps I was heard.
Mysterious and maddening.
to say- harder still to believe and impossible not to believe. I have prayed and hoped for so many
much more significant things, and yet in this small insignificant way, I think perhaps I was heard.
Mysterious and maddening.
I read an essay about Advent by Sarah Bessey, whom I really enjoy reading when I have the time.
She says “advent is for the ones who know longing”.
She says “advent is for the ones who know longing”.
I think of our daughter and why we named her Jubilee. Because we long for restoration and
we hope to be apart of bringing His kingdom here.
we hope to be apart of bringing His kingdom here.
I think of our son, and the name we have chosen for him, because again, still, we long.
This Advent I am longing, and very soon I will hold a new little baby in my arms. I imagine we will
sit under the blasting air con, with the twinkly lights and Oh Holy Night and all the best Christmas
songs playing many times in the next few weeks. And I pray that this Christmas season is especially
sweet as I think of Mary while holding my son.
sit under the blasting air con, with the twinkly lights and Oh Holy Night and all the best Christmas
songs playing many times in the next few weeks. And I pray that this Christmas season is especially
sweet as I think of Mary while holding my son.
