'Tis the Season

I know, where have I been? Well, I'm not going to go into the last 3 weeks with detail. I'll try to 'sum up' as Indigo Montoya would do. (Princess Bride for those of you out of touch!)

After arriving home, it's like we went into warp speed. Starting school up, back into choirs and worship team. Then I got sick and that went around and still is. Our immunes were down I suppose.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Derrick is the king of brining a turkey!! So juicy.

My nephew Jake surprised our folks and flew in.

Derrick's aunt and uncle were here from South Carolina. It was a great time of talking and eating and playing games. Uncle Joe learned 4 Square. He's a good sport!

But I was sick that weekend and it was so hard to decorate like we traditionally do. But we did it.

Then we had 3 INCHES of rain!! As you know, in the desert, it turns into washes. The ground being too hard to soak it up. We have no curbs and lots of washes running through our development.

Add to that a broken water heater to replace and 2 roof leaks. Yippee.

Emma danced at the Veteran's Home, we saw Annie with lots of our friends in it, and then A Christmas Carol. Aah, culture!


Seeing my friend Pam who moved to Tennessee last summer, was a highlight for me. I have missed hanging out together until 2 in the morning. I sure hope she didn't get sick from me as she is touring with her Christmas Concert.

Lifelong friends of our family, the Olsons, my folks and us. (Next year Morelocks!)

Another highlight, which we do every year, is the Northern Arizona University Christmas Dinner/ Concert. We had to go on a Thursday this year but it was so phenomenal. I am always amazed at how they can do as well or better as the previous year. It is a wonderful mixture of sacred, jazzy, classical choral music. To see all those young people memorizing hours of music just blows me away. It's always beautiful way to start the HOLYdays.
The last song they sing is John Rutter's Candlelight Carol and the words are so powerful. But my favorite part is being reminded that GOD became MAN in the form of a tiny, helpless babe.

Find Him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Christ our Redeember asleep in the hay
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
A child and his mother that first Christmas day.

There is peace at the cradle, and peace at the foot of Jesus. Don't stray from that Holy place.

If people insist on saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, gently remind them, yes these are "holy-days". That's where the word came from!
May you make your season HOLY.