Tis The Season

Hello!

I have been gone.

My apologies.  Don't be mad, bro.

I have been holiday-ing and adult-ing and sleeping.

I went to a friend's holiday party this past weekend and it felt very grown up.  Mostly because her house is huge and beautiful and she's younger than me.  She had fancy things:

I sat at a beautiful rustic table and "talked shop" with a colleague, and we were using language that confused her husband, and after a few moments, I realized we were being very grown up.

I observe what it's like to be an adult quite often.  I was just talking to Karen the other day about being an adult.  We were at my boyfriend's house, (George Washington,) Mt. Vernon for the annual Illuminations event, and this little girl was doing cartwheels instead of walking.  I mentioned that I used to do that.  Karen said, "Remember when you were a little kid, how all the adults used to tell you to enjoy being a kid, but you just wanted to grow up and be an adult?  I miss that."  I disagreed -  Maybe I am over-trusting, but whenever an adult said that to me as a kid, no matter how I actually responded, in my head I always thought, "Okay, I will enjoy being a kid, thanks for the advice."

Had lots of fun at Mt. Vernon and very pleasant weather again.

Meanwhile, did I show you a photo of my neighbor's house last year?  Even if I did, they add something new each year, so feast your eyes upon this year's decor.

I've had the goal this holiday season of watching as many Hallmark Channel Christmas movies as absolutely possible.  I've thrown in some ABC Family Christmas movies here and there, but mainly I've been sticking to Hallmark.  

I do hope that you've given yourself a fair chance to get into the Christmas spirit, with enjoying colors and lights and shiny things and furry things and people being extra-ordinarily nice, despite it still being a rather warm winter.

I feel obliged to take a moment with you and hold your hand and make eye contact and get real. You know how I get.  

As you may or may not know (or care,) while I am not the most devoutly religious person by any means, and I swear like a pirate, and I wasn't raised in a church, I am a Christian.  I am about as non-denominational as they come, but I can see truth in almost every religious practice out there - whether it's Catholicism, Baptist, or even if you worship crystals and hug trees, I can respect it.  

I've taken part in churches where they speak tongues and been a part of Native American drum circles.  I can appreciate so many different kinds of religious practices, and in fact, I relate more to folks who lay on the ground and worship the God of the Forest, and then bow before the ocean and worship the God of the Seas more or the same as people who diligently report to their pews every Sunday morning. 

I have my own ways of nourishing and protecting my spirit, which include attending (non-denominational) church, standing in a silent forest, listening to Yanni, and surrounding myself with the talisman of the Evil Eye: 

Click here to find out more

Those who know me know that I have this with me basically always.  I even have a room in my house painted these colors.  It's everywhere around me.

All that to give weight to my telling you that I was really moved recently by some experiences, and I feel obliged to encourage you to partake in the same experience.  

The Hallmark Channel, along with other Christmas favorites such as "Love, Actually," likes to keep reminding me that Christmas is a time for telling the truth, so here I go. 

I've had an interesting history with this church called Lighthouse.  I've been off-and-on with them for the past ten years or so.  I could talk more about this, but maybe another time. 

Recently I've been going more regularly due to having more free time (I can't justify sitting around watching The Hallmark Channel without also going to church.)  I am here to tell you that I was absolutely moved by a couple recent episodes they are doing surrounding the Christmas story.  

I love history.  I like sitting back and listening to a good, true story.  I have never heard anyone describe the ACTUAL history WITH CONTEXT of what was actually happening, and what each movement meant.  I am in LOVE with this story.

So either listen below, or please download the Lighthouse Church app on your phone, set up your phone before you slide your car into Drive, press play, and then just listen to the story while you are driving home today, and then on your way to work tomorrow.  You will not regret it, whether you care about Jesus or not.  I am in love with the way this church is giving historical context to the stories that you and I are hearing songs about right now.  If you are a believer, listen to all three, in order.  If you are just here to hear what I'm talking about, watch in this order:

Number Two:

Number Three:



And here is the First, in case you are interested:



Trust me.  You will like it.

Okay, please do listen to those, even if you are just at work with nothing better to do.

Have a merry Christmas, my friends.