Post of Christmas Past #4

The year that my cousin Samuel got a Red Rider B.B. gun was a big, big year. Around seven or eight at the time, Sam was a skinny and shrimpy little rascal with hair that resembled a red fox. His pale complexion was speckled with teensy brown freckles and his eyes shone blue through his pale, red lashes. Desperately trying to be like my grandfather in every way, shape, and form... anything that was manly was something that Sam was into. Though my grandfather isn't a hunting man, he has a gun and has let Sam shoot it a couple of times. So, opening up a box and revealing his very own B.B. gun must have been something incredibly special. After the excitement had dwindled away and he was in the mindset for a safety lecture and some target practice, we all took it outside to try it out. 

(It turns out that I have really great aim)

Post of Christmas Past #3

In the picture above, my family went to the Christmas tree farm and snagged a giant tree. Jon was in a wonderful mood and we tromped around trees and talked about them. He had never seen so many Christmas trees before. Two huge dogs were running around and practically knocked us off of our feet. Usually, Jon isn't very fond of dogs but he played with these and was laughing one of those laughs that come out when you're being tickled. The ones that are unavoidable and reflexive. The ones you can't control.

There is nothing like Jon Christian getting excited for the holidays. This year, my mom contemplated not putting up one of our trees (we usually have four). Since Andy and I are never there and Jon isn't really capable of helping assemble our artificial one, she wasn't going to put it up this year. When Jon heard that, he sort of had a melt down. He values tradition just as much as the rest of us and knows that Christmas isn't Christmas without ALL of the trimmings. 

I can't wait to start counting down the days till Christmas with my main man. 

Post of Christmas Past #2

Three years of picking the perfect tree at the Christmas tree farm. Jack's breakfast before we left, trivia on the way there, Sufjan Christmas songs and eventually classic mom Christmas music, pictures with a scary Santa, apple cider and knickknacks everywhere. These days were always packed with things to do, but they were still endlessly enjoyable. I was able to spend time with some wonderful people, walk in and out of tree after tree after tree, and sip cider while the warm steam thawed my lips and cheeks. 

Post of Christmas Past #1

Sophomore year of college... a year of strange ailments, emotional roller coasters, waffles, and parties galore. This Christmas memory was especially nice. My roommates and I had our friends over and made breakfast for dinner. The boys cooked it and we devoured it within a few minutes  While they were cooking, anyone who wasn't cooking was making pomanders. The kitchen smelled like bacon, sweet oranges, and warm cloves. (It sounds unappealing, but trust me.. it wasn't)

There was music and a small amount of dancing. 

I was serenaded by Daniel and as always, didn't know how to react. It was a wonderful evening.

Then, weeks later a girl ate the cloves out of our pomanders at a Christmas party. 

I mean.. really? Why? What? Just.. why?

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In just a few days I will be home for the holidays. Until then, I'm at home in Tuscaloosa and making plans. I was going to wait until the new year to carry them out, but why? Why wait? So, I will act now.

This is the start of a new chapter. I'm going to grow again. I'm going to let go of things I've held on to. I'm going to build up from where I am now and I'm going to do what is best for me. 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy unchanging love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help I've come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that grace now, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy unchanging love

"We celebrate our sense of each other. We have a lot to give one another."

"Since it's Christmas, let's be glad even if the year's been bad.
There are presents to be had. A promotion for your dad. Don't be angry. Don't be mad"