Christmas makes my heart _____ ______.

Life may not be, but Christmas is good.

So once upon a time there was a teenage girl who was (by her view) incredibly ill prepared to have a child. She was traveling in dangerous times, not really married 'right' and extremely vulnerable being a foreign 'poorer' girl. Then she went into labor at one of the worst times in one of the worst places. No friends or family to help, comfort, share; not even a pleasant stranger or a clean comfortable place to stay. When ill preparation turned to frantic fumbling to make due, this confused young girl gave birth to the Son of GOD!

Think on how the parents must have felt.

(my thoughts are).....
Crippling doubt at whether things were right or ready, and so much Joy at such a special life.
So much like our lives with that special life.

I have had the great honor of having one of the most anticipated Christmas's of my life through this present season. With......
-my living away from home
-my family in far off lands
- my friends spread back home and all around
This coming home has been beyond belief.


I want to thank every or anyone that has prayed for or contributed to myself or the youth centre and this incredible season. We made the such a celebration of the season, fueled by the anticipation of so many kids craving their Christmas's back in their home communities, we decked the place out for weeks, ran a 'nativity' movie night, made up personalized gift bags for the 'regs' and then the season came to a climax with the 40 or so kids that came and went through our Xmas party night. Your prayers were defiantly answered in our final load of little blessing we pass on to the kids through the gift bags and cards. The dozens of donation no's I got from business owners on cold campaigning days was hardly discouraging when compared with the worth we saw in every ones interactions when gave out the bags. It was too cool to see how special everyone felt making and recieving these Christmas contributions. So cool too to see kids wearing proud the cross's that came with the personalized cards, and knowing the hearts behind the statement.

If you want to see more pictures of the drop in/our Christmas party some are posted on Facebook so hit that up if you'd care too.

I was blessed beyond belief this last week when two dear friends shared with me one of the greatest joys of life. Friends visiting friends far from home. I wish I could share with you all my anticipation as I dashed down the street towards their car; ginger bread house in hand. Our time was more than meaningful as then encouraged and contributed to my life and work in Thunder Bay with words and laughter and all around good times. As a prelude to the my main event returning home, we rocked the Christmas spirit hard with random public Christmas card contributions, Candy Bannock, Sufjan Xmas dance shenanigans, a Christmas tea puking and 'Egging' Dryden on our way home. Tyler Funk and James Pfleger.... I take of my Christmas hat off to the both of you.

So in a huge, gushy and most over emotionalize climax to this Christmas sentament; I'll quote our dear Charels Dickens....

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.