Christmas 2015

2015 has been a hard year with so many emotional changes and transitions and getting back on our feet. I usually get the "Christmas blues" at this time and this year definitely topped the cake. I love the holiday and traditions but I don't love the commercial take-over it can become. It takes so much more searching to find that hope that Jesus came to bring so long ago. I had become weary from treading water and constantly looking for it in a time in the United States that is just ugly. Hopelessness invades us as we watch the news and become overwhelmed with all that is going wrong. This season seemed to overflow with hatred, anxiety and fear. Horrific things happened. Too many deaths within my 6 degrees of separation happened. My mom is sick. I'm not where I think I should be or want to be in life, and I begin to compare to others  which is never ever good. It was all wrapped up under my imaginary tree this year. For weeks I have thought about how Christmas comes in Winter (see my post about Seasons here). In my mind, it is most fitting that way. In the middle of the "blues" and darkness and tragedy and bitterness, hope comes as the most vulnerable in the darkest times. A baby. A poor baby. A baby with a questionable story to others. What King is born under those circumstances? How could anyone have known the greatness from this smallness? That was it - I was reminded that hope and love most often come in small packages, not grand ones. It comes in the vulnerable, the weak, and the least expected. I was reminded with each of the 400,000 cards arrived to Safyre (I lost count after that), refugees were placed in homes and able to just sit and relax, when the Anonymous Santa paid off items on lay-a-way for people, and the list goes on. All of the small tokens of kindness and love become brighter. A little brightness lights up a dark room and when we all bring more of it, the darkness retreats and is no more. The pastor at the church we have been attending even touched on this after I have been stewing on it for weeks so it hit home a little more as a confirmation. I have to hang on to that thought for 2016 and remember "what a difference a year makes" and "the best is yet to come!" 

Luba and I just got back from being in Mississippi for the holidays. We left Wednesday evening, spent the night in Winona (MS), and drove the remainder of the journey on Christmas Eve morning. We only had 1 mishap going...I punched in the address to the hotel without adding the zip code and we passed our hotel. Oops! From where we were (our GPS final destination in a field rather than Comfort Inn), we could see a Holiday Inn with a huge cross next to it. We have seen this before as we passed by and we drove along the road to look at it. To my surprise, the road that leads to it was "Bro. Johnny Walker Road."

Bro. Johnny Walker was the pastor of my childhood church and the father of one of my best friends as a child. He was such an integral part of my early faith and foundation. I thought of my friend/his daughter, Candace, and wondered if I could find her online. I have searched for her and wondered about her for years but never found her. I looked her up on Facebook and there she was, finally a fruitful search, so I sent a friend request. Once we were checked in and settled into our hotel, I got a message from her and we were able to reconnect. My heart was full at the moment - no additional gifts needed. I needed that down to my soul and core. If you are from Lucedale, you know the Walker family was a gift to the community and First Baptist Church. They are truly special people and few come close to the warmth, hospitality and integrity of this family. Having that online connection with her woke something up in my soul. It just brought back so many memories.

Luba and I spent the entire time home between Mom's, Daddy's, and my brother Cary's homes. We laughed, ate, watched TV, and played Cards Against Humanity. There was a lot of porch swinging and listening to the rain. You can see that here (after you take your Dramamine):

It was just great to be home and focused solely on family. I am truly grateful that we live closer.

We made the drive back Sunday, stopping over in Winona again for LUNCH WITH THE WALKER FAMILY! We had casually mentioned meeting up but most of the time those things never work out so I didn't get my hopes up. We left Lucedale and headed out. Only 1 mishap happened on the way back - missing our interstate connection. Oops again! We backtracked a lot and wound up having to take back roads and country highways so we had this view for a looooong time:

We arrived a bit late but arrived. I can't even express how awesome to pull in to their drive and see my long lost friend waiting outside! THIS is how Facebook excels - reunions! We had the best time catching up but it was not nearly enough time for the years missed. When you reunite with childhood friends and their families, it truly feels that no time has passed.

Luba and I both wanted to stay longer but had to head out for the remaining 6 hours drive. We definitely plan to go back down and visit again, for a longer amount of time. Mrs. Dolores and Candice of course sent us on our way with travel mugs of sweet tea, a mason jar filled with extra tea, cheese & crackers, sandwiches, oranges, dessert, and water for the road. 

It was a great holiday - but as I say every year, next year will be less busy, more decorative, less commercial, and more intentional. And, I'll start much earlier.....

Remember: the best is yet to come! 

Happy New Year!
Danielle