the beauty of hope.

Hope is a beautiful thing; but like most beautiful things (flowers, mountains, the ocean, friendships)  I don't know much about it, I just experience it and appreciate it.  Hope is active.  Hope is not something that we have for a desired object, but something we place in something or someone.  This season I am learning to place my hope in Christ.  It's not always easy, it definitely doesn't feel beautiful most days, but it's a process and if I am placing my hope in Him then it will be a beautiful journey, one much better than I could ever hope for.  Tonight as we sat around the tree (instead of in front of a computer on Skype) and sang and prayed and shared about our wrestlings with hope I chuckled a little inside...last year in 3 different time zones, on 3 different computers, in 3 different cities hope felt a little different but we wouldn't have even dreamed that this year would bring such a gift as being in one city, one time zone, and sharing our love of this season; so even the things I hope for are so tiny compared to the gifts that He lavishes on me and for that I'm grateful.

merry christmas!

Christmas time is here again.  My tree is trimmed, my advent candles are ready to be lit, the stocking has been hung, and Christmas music is the station Pandora is set to.  I love this time of year.  It's such a great season filled with such hope, peace, joy, love and Christ.  What are you most excited about this Christmas season?

Falling in Love with Fall...

I'm really thankful for new seasons of life.  Since the last time I blogged many things have happened.  I am horrible at staying on top of this blog; but have had exciting things happen.

If you want to catch up you should come visit me in my new apartment in Houston and we can share life together ...

oops!

i haven't blogged since nov. oops! sorry, guess i've been busy; here's a few things that have happened.

my baby sister got married (that makes half the kids in my family = married...wow!)

she was a beautiful bride and i had lots of fun sharing her day with her.

I was at home for 13 days for Christmas and then got to road trip down to Houston with the one and only Megan Breed! Then I got to spend great time with dear friends. My body loves being in warmer weather (I even enjoyed a birthday party in a park with a skirt and flip flops in Jan!) but my heart really LOVES the warmth of being with dear friends.

When I returned to DC I had a visitor in town...who enjoyed going to Good Stuff for a shake. (sadly I have no photographic proof of this...but it's true, thanks Hanley Bear for coming by for a shake).

Then I went to Oakland and got to play with this little beauty after doing some training for work and enjoy life at her house and spending quality time with her awesome Mom. Lisa, her mom, is who I owe my thanks and gratitude for bringing Sarah King into my life. She's a great woman and a fun lady to spend your days with. I need to get back to Oakland for some more quality time with this lovely family.

When I got back I had another visitor...

that's right. The one and only Mr. Wong came to say hi to Barack and Michelle and hung out with me for a bit too. It was really fun to get to spend time with him in the city after hosting our first group of the year.

Since then I've been busy with these guys...

my spring staff. They are awesome and it's nice to have people to share my office with again after being the only one around since my awesome co-worker left CSM for a new adventure. So now my life consists of welcoming groups, checking in on them, and getting work done in the in-between times...and one more thing.

I turned 30 this week! So here's to hoping I"m a better blogger in my 30's than in my 20's.

Mad Props on Monday

slightly late this week...oops!This week the mad prop goes to DC for all the fun free things to do AND the fabulous unseasonably warm fall weather to enjoy some of those things that are outside! You may have heard about the free amazing National Zoo in DC. You may think that the giant pandas are the attraction to see...they seem to get lots of hype. But let me tell you a secret. The coolest thing in the zoo is the lions. My first zoo trip they were walking around roaring and strutting. This past Sunday on my walk they were basking in the sun and posing for photos. They are really fun to watch and you feel like you are getting to hang out with them.

advent.

In case you don't know me. I am a creature of habit and tradition. I don't love change. It's probably one of the reasons I love Christmas so much. There are traditions. I won't tell you right now about all of them, of course that would take too long, but among my favorite is creating a space for devotion and prayer and singing with these amazing girls in Houston (sorry Megan...1) your face is covered by the candle 2) you + me in my heart always = Houston). It's one tradition I hope doesn't fade away any time soon. I'm so excited that we are skyping in a few hours to kick off the season!

Let us begin Advent, waiting.

Getting up and joining the adventure,

Even when we don’t know where it will take us.

Shifting the impatient waiting to expectant living.

Boldly claiming the Good News that we know will come.

Waiting with joy as we reach out with the grace of God that is so much more than amazing.

Let us begin Advent.

I loved the benediction to this online guide to advent.

Mad Props on Monday...

So this week the mad prop goes out to....

Taylor! This was the first place Kristen took me out to eat in DC. Her fav and no one questions why. It's a regular lunch spot for us (sometimes more regular than others) and their sandwiches are oh so yummy. I recommend the Island Ave. It will not disappoint.