Jingle Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, First Noel, Santa Baby - all of the sounds of Christmas that I love so much. I think my fav new album of the Season is by Pink Martini - Joy to the World. Like much of the rest of my life it is the season of chaos that I anticipate greatly and that wears me out. Target parking lot alone, when i am simply going for dog food and diapers is now the most dreaded errand and I drive in singing Christmas cheer and leave with some very choice words to the fellow shoppers.

but day four into this advent season, i feel hope. i feel anticipation. i feel need. I sense the wonder. and i'm in the mood to dive in this year. both, into my heart and into the fullness of activity and craze. i've even gone so far as actually paying $27 for the pic above. so i thought i must share right away, and actually for that price for what pic, you should all share it with someone else. and someone else. and i should be planning what i will do with the years of pics with santa, except oh wait, we won't get to that. especially since i still can't figure out how to make santa and Jesus relate. I am trying to focus Hannah a little more on the nativity scene than santa but i need to find his angle. Is he God's delivery guy? And God share's his bday gifts with all of us? does that work? While I am THRILLED to shop this year, i want that to be less of Hannah's memory, and actually stephen and mine's.

this is the shiny season, amazing how the glitter and glistening creates a sense of warmth and want. i find myself feel happier every time i pass Christmas lights or drink a warm vanilla latte and at the same time gulping in want when i see the jacket I REALLY want or even more, the twinge when i see the 3 kids on santa's lap. Wonder how much of that makes God smile that in this season its harder to ignore the loud wanters of our heart and head and its also hard to ignore the simple beauty. huh, God is creative. Because while the wanters are brimming.. we are also anticipating the celebration of His birth, we reconsider what His place in our life means. What DOES your birth into this world mean to my lil ol life? Remind me this season.