Perplexing Paradoxes

I seem to accomplish more when I'm busy, perhaps that's because I have more to accomplish.
Blogging, however, seems to fall to the bottom of the "to-do" stack...partially because I feel like I have nothing to write about- even though there has been more going on. Does that make any sense? Not really.

Christmas was different this year. There were lots of reasons for that...no snow, being in a different house, Hospitality House (HH) going through transition, new HH directors and co-workers in the area, did I mention no snow?... For many different reasons, we decided to host a group of singles (and a couple of coworkers and their families) at our house for Christmas. I was a little intimidated to say the least, but Kyle and I both love Christmas...so, we knew that joy had to spill over onto them- even if everything went terribly wrong. Thankfully, there were no holiday disasters and we had a wonderful family Christmas. I say "family Christmas" because that is exactly what it felt like. We sat around in our comfy clothes and had breakfast together at the table, told stories of Christmases past, opened presents (including socks and batteries), laughed a lot- especially during our Nerf war, watched Christmas movies, played games and then ate lots of yummy food! Despite how different Christmas was this year- it really wasn't all that different. :)

It seems this season has been filled with paradoxes for me. Perhaps I will find a way to unscramble a few and clearly articulate them...and then again, maybe not.

Snow Heightens the Imagination

I stopped mid-step, awed by the beauty. Today as I was exploring the walking path near my new apartment, I found myself staring at the scene, examining each part, and wondering what about it captured my heart. It’s not that it was extraordinarily beautiful, or truly much to wonder over, but I couldn’t help but stare. I’m not sure what it is that captures my hearts sometimes, but I wanted to listen- to be drawn into its beauty. Perhaps it had something to teach me, or there was a part of my heart that longed for something it offered. I imagined myself, quietly standing at the base of the tree, enjoying the peaceful scene and my family inside the nearby house running around, laughing and just living life. I imagined how different my life would be with a family to raise and nurture. I’m sure they are all idyllic thoughts, without much foundation, but it sure was a lovely moment with my imagination.