Your King Has Come

I had good intentions. I really did. I wanted to write a lot on this blog during my Christmas break, but I just haven't had the time. Honestly. It's been amazing everything that's happened in just a short week and a half. The day after break, the big "Storm of '05" began which got rid of 3 of the 5 babysitting jobs I had that week (aka: Christmas money), not to mention our power, which was out for two days. (That wasn't that long compared to some of my friends who went for 5 days without electricity.) I wasn't at home at all during those two days. One night was at Grandma's house and the other night was at the Sarratts. [They had a generator, so I got to blow dry my hair AND straighten it :o)]

Monday I had lunch with Kristin then we went looking for a place for her wedding reception; that night I went caroling for the first time in my life then randomly went bowling with my friend Laura (who I never get to see, but she DOES read my blog!), her brother, her friend from high school, and Heath. Tuesday was an early-morning breakfast with Chad and the youth group; I had lunch with Jo on Wednesday and she spent the night after we watched Elf with Julia, Craig, and Joel; Wednesday and Thursday I collected Christmas gifts for Safe Harbor; Friday I spent 7 (yes, SEVEN) hours at the church making chorus books to take on the retreat next week, then went to my annual family Christmas "pre-Eve" party. SO ... that's why I haven't written on my blog in a while. I hope you understand :o)

I'm not complaining, though. I'm really not. I've loved everything I've done this past week (minus the power-outage). I'm always excited when friends come home from college. It's so sweet to talk to them, to spend time with them, to "catch up," and just to hear how the Lord has preserved and kept them throughout the last semester. I think Christmas is more like a Thanksgiving to me then Thanksgiving is. It always marks the ending of a year that has been oh-so-good, even in the hard things. And it's been good because God has been good.

I know that as 2006 begins, He will be good to me in the New Year, too. And He will be good to my friends. He will keep them through another semester, whether they are in Greenville or Clemson or Annapolis or France or Guatemala. He will bring us back together with stories to tell and more times to share.

Merry Christmas to you. Rejoice that Your long-awaited King has come. He's here! We don't have to wait any longer. :o)

"My eyes have seen Your salvation, now joy will never cease. Rejoice, Emmanuel has come to Thee, O Israel!"

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great Light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a Light has dawned. For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:2, 6-7