Merry Christmas ...

You must know something about me. I love writing. I love communicating. I love the process of creativity. My blog is my tie to all of you who read. It is my outlet to write, communicate and be creative. However, I just gotta be honest, I sometimes find myself putting self-induced deadlines on myself and rushing the entries just to get it out there for the week. There. I said it. I am making my confession to you. Whew ... now I feel better.

Just to let you know how I adore the creative process ... I wrote a little something just now I want you to have as a gift! Are you ready?

Merry Christmas everyone! If you Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, I hope you get it. If All You Want for Christmas is Your Two Front Teeth, I hope you get them. If you see Mommy Kissing Santa Clause and it makes you want to run to a Little Town of Bethlehem just Dream of a White Christmas or write a letter to Santa Baby. Let It Snow because there is nothing you can do about it. Santa Clause is Coming to Town and baby Jesus is Away in a Manger - so Wish Someone a Merry Christmas! And think of The First Noel and be positive! Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire will always be waiting for you and Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer knows the way to your house. Just be thankful that Grandma got Ran Over by a Reindeer and didn't see Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

Ok, ok ... I'm killing myself. Can you tell I have some down time this morning?!

Another thing you should know about me is ... I steal. Don't fret. I've never been jailed. My theft isn't fuzzy scarves on sale for only 5 Euro at H & M (hint, hint) but rather material. I love to steal material from other people - material in terms of ideas, thoughts, and written words. For me, why invent the wheel when someone else has one right in front of your eyes!

So, this week I get a letter from my friend, Rose. Rose is wise. Rose is insightful. Rose is inspiring. I steal from Rose. This isn't the first time I've stolen from her and I'm sure it won't be the last. She is bursting with good material!! Here are excepts of her words ...

Each one of you is written in my heart and mind as a living letter, and it is with much affection I send this letter ... it never ceases to amaze me how closely hearts are knitt together through time ... as we are eternal beings, so we are eternal treasures to one another ... (this year) I have learned to embrace victories and defeats the same, one to inspire me, the other to humble me ... to love deeper, judge less, and rest more ...

And then she end the letter this way ...

I thank the Lord for His grace and blessing upon each one of us. In this Christmas season and in the new year, each day, may your joys be full and lasting, may your trials be restful in Him.

Can you see why I steal from Rose? You, too, can steal from her wisdom and insight! I hope her words impact you as they did me.

I've realized this snowy Saturday morning that this is my last opportunity to wish you holiday greetings and words of encouragement. I have no resources to send each one of you a lovely gift. I haven't the time to call, write, or email each one of you to talk for hours about the latest happenings in your life. However, what I do have is ... this morning. This snowy Saturday morning ... in my fleece pj's, new cup of coffee with just the right amount of whipped milk and sugar, Christmas music playing in the background, quiet kids, preoccupied husband, and ... a pocket of time. So, I am letting Roses' words bring action to my life. I, too, am giving the gift of an unrushed greeting by way of this blog entry.

This year, being in a new land, I feel strangely connected to home. Home isn't so much a place, but the conidition of the heart. I know I am home. I am at home in a place I don't know the language, still have trouble navigating about in, and don't understand the culture. I am at home in this place where few, so few, know the true meaning of Christmas or have a reason to celebrate the birth of the Savior I call my Lord. I am at home in a place that I am not known ... and possibly not wanted. I am at home in a place that keeps the familiar of America at bay and my heritage covered up by the European lifestyle. I am at home in an unfeeling and regulated society that rarely sees the human heart. Still, I am home ... because I am with my Chris, my daughters, and exactly where God asked me to be.

I hope this Christmas brings you new gifts: gifts that count, gifts that allow you to dream, gifts that deposit depth into your being, and gifts that cause you to see the enormity of love the God of the Universe has for you ... and displayed to you ... so long ago ... in the form of a baby ... in a cold and dark manger ... a place God called "home" ... a place He allowed His Son, Jesus, to point the way to our true home.

Merry Christmas from all the Elledge's ...