Christmas

A bit before Thanksgiving, my boss and I were talking about how aggravating the holiday spirit can be: dour clerks, congested traffic, airports, freeways and fights over parking spots at your local Bed, Bath and Beyond laced with obscenities galore. Merry Christmas, anyone?

She made a good point, however, that all of this (with the exception of the dour clerks) is happening because people are busy to celebrate. We're on our way to, in the process of, and currently - celebrating. Its beautiful when you think that at the core of it, we're aiming to please someone, aiming to be with friends and family, hoping to be in one place to rejoice over something.

On that note, my good friend Nate and I drove up from LA. The most exciting part - besides yapping about celebrity gossip, music, popular culture and relationships with him - was driving through practically zero visibility fog for what seemed like eternity. I admit that ever since my 2003 accident, I'm a bit skittish. And through fog, I'm no less jumpy. I pretended for a second that maybe we were actually in Heaven, caught in this white mist. However, the utter nervousness led me to believe otherwise. Here's Nate at this year's tree decorating party.



Speaking of parties, Chris and I enjoyed my company holiday party at the beautiful Bel Air Beach Club. Here we are. Its like prom, but we're about 10+ years late.



More than any year, I've been able to reflect upon the beauty of Jesus' birth unto this world. What a miraculous, life giving event! Everytime I think about it, I've been moved to tears that God would send his Son down to this messy quagmire of a world to give us another chance. And though I cannot really provide anyone with redemption, salvation, joy beyond circumstances, holiness, and all that Christ can - a few gifts are a good start. Some gifts for my roommates. But how to distinguish what belongs to whom? Easy. Time to knit mini sweaters!





I made my boss a reading blanket that she can cozy up to. This is a Lion Brand pattern.



And as for what she gave me? Well, let me first say that God answers prayers. Sometime mid October, I said, "you know, God, I really want an iPod. I've held out for a long time!" I entered the KCRW sweepstakes with high hopes. Didn't happen. A month later, I mentioned that I wanted an iPod to my brother Derek. He is so generous, and within a week, he bought me the (RED) iPod, soon to be in m grasp. And if that wasn't cool enough, the whole "ask and you shall receive thing" seems to really ring true when I unwrapped a Shuffle from my boss. Can you believe how small this puppy is?! Yes, that's the contraption itself, clipped to my sweater. I love Apple! Go Cupertino!



I'm listening to some stereolicious Postal Service right now as we speak. To imagination that the 30 CDs (no joke) that are in my car can be fit into these small little jewels ... ah, well it just makes my heart flutter.

Merry Christmas, everyone! I pray that you enjoy all the blessings around you. But most importantly, let's not forget to give thanks from the Blesser :).