Slacker Blogger.

Christmas is upon us.  I've slacked on the blog.

I keep wanting to sit down and write - my sadness at Sandy Hook, the hilarity of watching Ellie prepare for Christmas, the joy of having my mom in town - and yet somehow this blog sat untouched for a week and I still have no edited photos, and of course no brilliant words about Connecticut.

Before I share a bit about our Christmas, I'll send you to this post from the amazing Amy Julia Becker.  She offers wise words for out kids in light of tragedy and moving forward.

Winter break started after school on Friday, and up until Friday, various family members were battling illness, visiting doctors, getting antibiotics, and getting healthy in time to host an open house last night.  Each year, and I am amazed and blessed by our community of friends here, the great kids in our neighborhood, the diversity of experiences our friends bring, and the fun we have being together.

My own personal highlights from last night included meeting a new sweet baby, watching kids sneak pretzels (my own especially, and she is not sneaky at all), and Ellie taking a snooze as the party began to wind down with our buddy Jeff.

I'll try to post the photos I have and take some more as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.  In the meantime, enjoy the next few days.  Merry Christmas, enjoy this season of hope!

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”