christmas is coming

I am so ready for Christmas!! Today was the first day that I really became antsy about it coming. I'm so serious. It may be August, but I can't wait. Favorite day of the whole year. Maybe it will help to start pulling out the holiday music...

144.5 days.

this is krakow

I was only in Krakow for a few hours, but the city stuck itself firmly in my heart and memory. It was a cold, dark, magical winter wonderland. Bustling with life and vitality, but serene and dreamy. And friendly, drawing you in, coaxing you to explore further. I hope someday I will be able to go back. Thought we've only met once, I have the feeling Krakow and I will reunite like old friends.

This is what I saw when I was there.

The architecture.


The Christmas markets on the main square.


It's probably a good thing I was only there at night. It was so dreamlike, the entire city probably disappeared with the morning light.


Not joking. It really might have all disappeared after I left.
Like an enchanted city in a fairytale...

"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed." Psalm 126:1

narnia

Two weeks ago it snowed in my beautiful city. About 6-8 inches, but that's special for Oxford. My neighbor Hannah said it was the most snow she can remember seeing. It was g l o r i o u s.






I feel like a dwarf should have come striding out of this house.


Some unidentified fiend constructed this five-foot diameter ball of snow right in front of our driveway before any of us woke up. Props to him or her for serious early morning action.


I walked through the Parks on my way to college and obviously everyone under the age of 20 had gotten off school:


Everyone in town got into the snowman spirit! I saw two guys in a pickup truck cruising around town with a five- or six-foot snowman in the back of their truck. Somebody else built eight snowmen on the steps of the Martyrs' Memorial. And this chap was in front of Greens Cafe:


My neighbors and I were totally into the snowman building spirit. Until we realized our snowman skillz were weaker than we thought. Our snowman ended up being a snow tower, but it was a victory nonetheless because we got it taller than the boys! :)


Here are Andy and Hannah, who along with Rowena and Andrew, assisted me in this architectural masterpiece:


Oh, and unlike Narnia, this winter did have a Christmas. And I was present for it. I stayed here in Europe instead of going home, so my Christmas day involved lots of cooking, lots of eating, and lots of movies with my sweet friends Karen and Rebekah.

This is the Christmas extravaganza box of joy I got from my family:


And some of the delightful contents:


Domestic goddess whipping up something yummy:


I am absurdly skilled at grating cheese:


Oh golly gosh they are c-ute!


"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'" Job 37:5-6

steep.

It is advent. YES. That glorious glorious season when we have intentional space to stop and steep in the insaneness of the Incarnation. That is, if we stop.
I love it.

And I love you all. I wish you a beautiful advent.

"I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." Leviticus 26:11-12

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Philippians 2:5-7

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." Revelation 21:3

all the things i am not going to blog about today

Soon I shall tell you about my weekend. Some bizarre experiences, which may or may not end up being too trippy to put in a blog, but overall, solid good times.

I also have lots of thoughts about God.

And I've got some great photos of Mel & Corey & I's little Hanging of the Green video adventure.

For now, though, I seriously need to write a paper. So I just feel the need to share just a tiny smattering of my favorite Christmas-time things that just don't exist here in England.

Have a sweet Sunday.

I miss Summer Staff reunions. (And I miss T&D's house.)

I miss ignoring studying for finals in The Box.

I miss CUA dances.

I miss bonfires at Kelley's mama's house.

I miss Christmas in Ely.

I miss the part in every single home video my grandmother has ever filmed where the camera is sitting on her lap for at least five minutes before you hear her exclaim: "Oh, is this on?!"

I miss road trips.

I miss pajama church at Kelley's when it's just too icy to get off the Hill on a Sunday morning.

I miss Fine Time Family Christmas.

I miss running around on the square like hooligans.

I miss having too many people at our house to fit around the table.

I miss the Decorating of the Tree in Eaton.

I miss the Secretary of State's office.
That is a lie. I do not miss it at all.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1