St. Lucia's Day!

Jubilee was excited that Paul and I
finally showed up --
time to start the gift exchange!

Growing up, my only exposure to St. Lucia's Day was from this book (hurray for American Girl!); it wasn't a part of my family's Christmas traditions.  There was one year when I, inspired by Kirsten, dressed up in a white dress, wore a wreath on my head with battery-operated candles, and delivered cinnamon rolls to the rest of my family, but I don't think that was actually even on St. Lucia's Day; it probably was on Christmas morning.  I think I was 8 at the time.

my gift from Jube -- cute socks!

It wasn't until I moved to Texas and started celebrating holidays with my Texas family* that St. Lucia's Day actually became significant to me.  My "cousin" Everly does a fantastic job of describing her family's St. Lucia's Day traditions here. Yesterday was my third St. Lucia's Day at Eyrie Park, and I think it was my favorite yet.  It was so nice to have a whole day dedicated to spending time with family and just enjoying each others' company, [mostly] without the time constraints of "normal" activities (though Paul, unfortunately, had to go to school and take an exam after the festivities wound down).  It's also nice to have a good portion of my Christmas gifts completed and given now, since my Texas family does their sibling gift exchange on St. Lucia's Day (so with their 8 kids, one in-law, and my brother, I have successfully made and given out 10 gifts thus far)!

Thoroughly amused (or in some cases, creeped out)
by one of Willin's gifts

the adorable newlyweds, Sabrina and Donovan

Samuel, practicing his Heisman pose

love these people!

Donovan and Willin

*Long story short, I met my "Texas family" in Haiti at the end of 2004 at the orphanage from which both of our families were working on adopting kids.  I lived there with them for several months in 2005, and we pretty much adopted each other as family.  Additionally, their oldest adopted daughter is the biological cousin of one of my adopted sisters.  So we're family, see?  And they're pretty much why both Paul and I moved to Texas in 2009.

such a good week

181. Lots of fun opportunities recently to hang out with friends from church.

182. An afternoon spent driving around with a friend, finishing up Christmas errands.

183. New rubber boots!

184. Unexpectedly meeting up with my dear friends whilst Christmas shopping and getting to spend several hours together.

185. Reading this new book (or rather, the first of these two) by a crackling fire.

186. Going to the midnight showing of True Grit.

187. Taking my 12-year-old cousin to play bingo at an assisted living home in town with friends from church.

188. A wonderful new coat, just in time for cold weather (which finally showed up, after we hit the 80s last week).

189. A low-key Christmas, spent with my brother and my "Texas family". Don't think I've ever gotten to sleep in on Christmas before; 'twas lovely!

190. The crazy, amazing, gloriously awesome way that God has worked throughout all history to bring about redemption. (Check out this and this!)

'Twas the Monday before Christmas...

171. Utterly random text messages from a friend.

172. Super cute new earrings, made by a friend for me for Christmas.

173. Lots and lots of sleep, to [hopefully] finally get me over this icky sickness!

174. Paul made it home safely from Haiti!

175. Christmas break, which means a nearly empty town and thus a few weeks of calmer days at work.

176. Organized closets. Call me strange, but this just makes me so happy.

177. Just finished this book, which I've wanted to read since I was a child. Entirely different from the movie, but I absolutely love both.

178. Getting to go shopping for Heartline's new teen mom home with other ladies from my church. Such a blessing to get to be a part of something so beautiful!

179. The reminder that God's ways are so much higher and better than any plans I could attempt to come up with; His providence is amazing.

180. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Just think about that; what incomprehensibly beautiful, incredible, wonderful, breathtaking news!

of gratitude and mostly Christmasy sorts of things

161. Homemade Christmas cards (though I'm questioning my sanity in deciding to do this...I am so not crafty but am very much a perfectionist. Dangerous combination.)

162. Lunch with a friend from my Bible study.

163. A day of [forced] rest... Though it would have been preferable to have not been sick, I clearly needed a day of doing nothing but drinking tea, laying on the couch, and watching Pride and Prejudice.

164. So excited about Heartline's new teen mom home; also super excited to get together with other women from my church to shop for one the rooms in this new home!

165. This Christmas album, which has quickly become one of my favorites and which I've had on repeat for the past several days.

166. An afternoon outing to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader with my Texas family.

167. An evening at the theatre watching a local production of White Christmas with friends from church.

168. My second year of celebrating Saint Lucia's Day with my Texas family.

169. The comfort (and thrill) of knowing that God places certain people and situations in my life for a purpose, even though it often doesn't make sense to me. It's neat to look back and see how this has been true in the past while realizing that it certainly must be true in the present as well.

170. Christmas lights.