And surprise, surprise, I'm the only one up.
Every morning that we've been here, I've slipped out of bed and found a comfy place on the couch to plant myself on and make a dent into the good, easy read I picked up at the library. Usually it's another hour or so before someone makes their way from the back bedrooms or from the upstairs loft and half tiredly - half crankily join the world of the living.
This quiet time I relish. And on this particular morning that we're celebrating our Christmas here before hopping in the car later this afternoon, it has a particularly refreshing quality that I don't want to take for granted.
Reflection is so lovely and essential. It's a wonder I make it from day to day when I don't stop to think about cause and effect, beauty in difficulty, lessons in life and the like. I think that's what time like this is most useful for, because I find in reflection that it is easier to talk to God. To simply pray. And to find that I am grateful for so much more than I remember to thank Him for on a regular basis.
In this season, I am most of all thankful for the gift of a new and abundant life through Jesus. And that we have every reason to expect and to hope in Him. And that Christmas is so much more about giving than receiving and that I guess, with age, that's finally starting to make sense and become a reality to me. Though receiving is half the beauty of giving, don't you think?
Anyways, I'm rambling.
But we've had a great time here... walking around a memorial and the mall in Norfolk... taking in beautiful views at lunch and on a boardwalk stroll down at the beach... and best of all, watching movies, playing games, sharing meals, and snuggling with the cats here at home. I'm sad to be leaving in a couple of hours but grateful that our time with family isn't over just yet...
We'll be in our way to Maryland to visit with dad and the rest of the family up there, starting with Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house tonight!
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