Celebrating Christmas!

I was trying to recall when my family first bought a real Christmas tree. Not the pre-lit, boxed kind that you buy at some superstore. I'm talking about the real kind that has a fragrance that fills your whole house with Christmas.
It must have been when I was in high school because I definitely remember them all throughout college. (My memory's just not what it used to be.) I do remember that my mom and I would go out searching for just the right tree and then we'd call my dad to come pick it up. I remember one year when we decided to get our tree "flocked" with white snow. It was alright, but we only did that one time.
Even after I was married and had a family of my own, our annual holiday tradition was to go out the day after Thanksgiving and pick out a beautiful tree, bring it home and decorate it. Frazier firs, Noble firs... they were my favorite.
Of all the Christmas decorations in the home, the tree is usually the biggest and most important. The centerpiece, so to speak. It sets the standard for all the other decorations in the house. Growing up, my mom and I would always pick out a theme for that Christmas season - usually colors like red and gold or green and white. We had enough ornaments and ribbons and knick-knacks overflowing from boxes in the attic that we would just pick out whatever fit that year's theme.
Well, let's just say... times have definitely changed.
If you've read my blog at all, you know that we had to basically give up all our earthly possessions except what would fit in a couple suitcases. Unfortunately, Christmas decorations didn't make the cut.
We had really given up on the idea that we'd even have a Christmas tree at all this year until after scouring some papers, I found a little discount store with some additional coupons for trees and trimmings.
We found a tree in a box small enough that we could carry on mass transit, yet big enough to fit in the front window of our house so our neighbors could enjoy some Christmas cheer too.
Then, just like always, the day after Thanksgiving we cued up our favorite "Carpenter's Christmas" CD and decorated our tree.
The tree's not as grand as the ones in our old life, but then, what is these days? There's no "theme" to the ornaments or colors. There's just a few strands of lights and the tree doesn't have that great piney, Christmas fragrance.
But looking at our tree, I can't help but think of the manger. What must Mary have been thinking the day she gave birth? There was no hospital. No sterilized equipment and warm, comfortable blankets.
The manger was as far from grand as you can get. Yet it was absolutely the most beautiful scene because of what occurred in that manger that night.
Love was laid in the manger. Love so beautiful that people came from all over the world to see it and be near it. Love that would be given freely to anyone who would accept it. Love that would one day bleed and die just so we could have it in our hearts.
No, love is not found in the Christmas tree no matter how grandiose or how simple the decorations may be. Love is found in the hearts of those who celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!
Here's hoping that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas filled with love. We miss you!

Dad and doll, dancing to
some Christmas music!

Grandma Dolly joined us in the festivities via Skype.

Some of my favorite moments in life occurred at a post office

When CJ and I were engaged, my favorite day during all the wedding planning was the day we took our wedding invitations to the post office to mail them. We made a special trip on a warm, sunny, summer day down to the main post office in Nashville. Inside at the mail chute, I opened the mail box, placed the pretty envelopes with black calligraphy lettering gently inside and closed the door.
It was one of those moments when everything felt finally "official" - we really were getting married!
We had another one of those "official" moments today.
This journey has been long, yet with each milestone we know we are getting closer and closer to the job we've been called to do.
That's why today, after days and days of processing through a multitude of emails and phone calls cross-country, filling out mounds of paperwork, checking and double-checking every line of every page, we were able to mail off our visa applications for our future country.
Of course, it was pouring down rain today and blistery cold, so we bundled up to face the elements on our way to the FedEx office.
We walked down to the skytrain to discover, for some unknown reason, the skytrain wasn't running. Plan B - head to the bus station. We stood on the street corner in the rain waiting for our bus to arrive. You can't know the excitement it brings to see your bus off in the distance coming up the road towards you. I was so relieved to finally get out of the weather, but as the bus approached, we noticed its flashing sign across the top which read "Bus Full. Sorry."
It splashed water to the curb as it breezed by us.
Um, ok. Now what?
"We can walk or wait," were the two options CJ offered. Neither one seemed like a good choice, but what ya gonna do?
There was a small awning at a business behind our bus stop that offered some shelter from the downpour, so we decided to stick it out there til the next bus came. If the next bus was full, I don't know what we were gonna do, but thankfully within about 10 minutes, I saw another bus on the horizon.
"Please, please, PLEASE let that be our bus," were the words I was lifting higher as my toes tingled nearly frozen. Thankfully my request was answered. I wanted to kiss the bus driver when we finally boarded, I was so thankful to be inside and out of the rain.
Eventually we reached our stop, and the bus dropped us off right across the street from where we needed to go.
After we filled out the appropriate mailing slip and carefully placed all our precious documents into the envelope, we handed it over to a nice man behind the counter who smiled back at us and said, "Thank you. Have a nice day."
His words seemed a little ironic considering the weather we were about to endure again on our way home, but as we stepped outside, for just a brief moment, it seemed as if the sun was trying to peak through the dark, gray clouds.
It was still bone-chilling cold and the rain was coming down even harder, but there was a warmth in my heart at that moment that only comes from knowing that we're doing what Dad wants us to do.
"All of this is worth it," were the words I said aloud, although I don't think anyone heard me.
No amount of ugly weather would take away my smile for the rest of the day, knowing that we have one less obstacle to cross, and we're one step closer to our final destination.
Most of this process has felt very surreal, but today was one of those times when it feels "official" - we're moving to the other side of the world! Really!
At least we believe so, as long as there are no problems with our visas. Would you be remembering this request in your talks with Dad in the days to come... that there are no problems with our paperwork and everyone is approved to go.

On a separate note, did I mention that where we're going.... it's always warm there? No more cold weather! After being out in freezing rain all day today, it sounds like heaven to me!

The hills are alive!

We are taking advantage of every beautiful day in Vancouver by exploring all over this beautiful city.

We spent our weekend biking around Stanley Park and hiking through Lynn Canyon. It was cold for sure, but it's so sunny you just have to be outside.

We started the morning with some
peppermint mocha from Starbucks, yum!

There was an awesome suspension bridge
over an amazing waterfall.

The girls said this would be Granny's
resting spot if she were with us. :)

Canada's so nice, eh?

Some pictures of the beautiful city we're living in these days...

The crying lady

It was just a brief glimpse.
We were riding the skytrain from our house to our school. As we passed station after station, the doors of the train opened and closed in their usual fashion.
I was enjoying watching the scenery out the window. It was almost mesmerizing taking in the beautiful landscape.
But as we came to a train stop and the doors opened, I just happened to glance out the door and notice a woman.
The thing that caught my attention about this lady was that she had very light and long blonde hair. I haven't seen any light-haired people since being in this country, so she stood out.
This blonde lady was professionally dressed. She stood with her back to me, but she looked classy and as if she had it all going for her - just by her outward appearance and demeanor.
Then in a brief flash, the blonde lady turned her head and I saw that she was crying.
I could tell that she was trying to hold it all in and avoid drawing attention to herself, but the tears were streaming down her face. She was wiping the tears from her eyes with her fingertips.
Almost as quick as this sight unfolded before my eyes, the doors of the train closed and we were moving on...

Throughout the day, the image of this crying woman stayed with me. It almost haunted me in a way.
"Why was she crying?"
"Why was she hurting?"
"What was going on in her life to bring her to the point that she was standing alone at a train station pouring tears?"
These were some of the thoughts that kept ringing in my mind.

The truth is, there are a lot of people in this world that are hurting. For some like this crying lady, it's visible. You can see their pain.
For others, it's hidden below the surface and behind a mask of well-being.
Most are just desperate for a shoulder to cry on, to know that someone out there cares, and they seek some relief from the burden they bear.

As children of a great Dad, we carry around in us the hope and love that these hurting people need.
The crying lady was an inspiration to me that Dad wants us to be intentional about sharing His spirit with whomever we meet.
I am reminded of a favorite phrase that encourages us as brothers and sisters, like-minded children of Dad, that when we face difficulties our burdens are diminished because our burdens are shared but likewise when there are blessings our joy is doubled.
May you help to diminish the burdens of others and be doubled over with abundant joy!