Eager Anticipation....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...or at least that's what they say.  To tell you the truth, I haven't felt super Christmasy until the last couple of days.  It seems like the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are so jam-packed with parties and events and obligations that it's hard to actually stop and enjoy the season.

On the Christian calendar, these four weeks are known as the season of Advent.  Advent actually means to anticipate the start or coming of something, often eagerly.  It's sometimes so hard to sit still and reflect on what it means to wait for the second coming of Christ, much less what it must have meant to have waited in silence for 400 years for His birth.  As I celebrate Christmas this year, I really want to spend time reflecting on the Cross and considering how different life would look if I lived in this conscious expectation all year long.  After all, without Christmas there would be no Easter, when my redemption became reality.

Last week DYP celebrated Christmas with a fun party at the Bragg's house.  There were lots of fun people to hang out with and Dirty Santa was a hit as usual!  The gifts ranged from a very lovely Sacagawea doll (I'll let you imagine that) to various gift cards....

DYP Christmas Party

Then on Friday night we went to a Tacky Christmas benefit party.  I saw lots of fun Auburn friends and people that live in Birmingham that I don't see very often.  It was great to pull out all my tacky sweaters and such and go out with friends.

Before Tacky Christmas

Laura, me, and Megan

And of course there was Candlelight at Dawson.  Sadly, no pictures, but it was fun to get dressed up and go out to dinner afterward.  Candlelight is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  Although the service never changes, I think it's the consistency that makes it so special.

Tonight is Christmas Vacation at the Alabama Theater.  I've already watched it four times since Thanksgiving, but there's just something about watching it at the Alabama preceded by carols and the Wurlitzer that complete the Birmingham Christmas experience!

While all these events and time spent with friends are fun, it's the Christ child in the manager that is the single most important thing to celebrate at Christmastime.  When we loose sight of that, the rest of it just becomes pointless junk.

"Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the Earth thou art.

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart."