Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends and Family,
Liz has fun with Christmas. She has a lot of fun with it, enjoys giving gifts, and sending out Christmas Cards. We have had an exciting year, and we'd love to share with you what has been going on. However, this year, in particular, there seems to be something missing. So, before we continue with the usual news, we would like to share part of the story surrounding the birth of our Savior, through the gospel of Luke:
Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
"In those days Ceaser Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who he was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
"Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth to men on whom his favor rests.'
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'
"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told."

Well, the tree is up the temperature has fallen and Liz’s favorite music is on. All we need now is some of that white stuff and we would be in business. They are forecasting some SNOW for Thursday and Saturday, so we will wait and see.
This year has had some ups and downs. Liz and I visited my mom in South Dakota on her birthday, and spent Thanksgiving in California with my dads’ side of the family. While we were there we visited with my Godparents and with some friends of Liz’s dad. We went to the beach with my siblings and enjoyed the warm California sun. We also took in the Reagan library while we were out there and found out tons of people in California have no idea how to drive when a few drops of water fall from the sky.
Liz and I were asked to read scripture at Liz’s friend, Mistys’ wedding. I was asked to introduce the couple and read a Psalm. As we were sitting in the pew I was trying to focus on who to introduce and who to introduce the scripture. As I looked across the church I saw another friend of ours named Brad and I went back to rehearsing what I wanted to say. However I started to mix Brads’ name into my introduction. So it went from Nathan and Misty to Brad and Misty, then to Brad and Nathan, than back to what it was suppose to be Nathan and Misty. However, when I got up to introduce the scripture I said “Nathan….” and looking at Misty went totally blank. I forgot her name for a brief second, it seemed like it was longer than that. I played it off and said “Misty if this is the only mistake that happens today you are in good shape.” She let out a long sigh of relief and I read the scripture.

We also celebrated our first wedding anniversey in May. It’s been fun, interesting and at times challenging. Liz is still with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and enjoys it very much. I left my job as a store manager on a convenient store as the stress was just getting to be too much. When I was at home I was still mentally at work and just never had a time where I wasn’t worrying about the store. The good thing that came out of me leaving was that I received a job offer today from Citibank as an auto loan processor. God has provided far more than we could ever have hoped imagined.

The hardest part of this year was Liz’s grandfather died over the Memorial Day weekend. It has been very hard on everyone. This will be the first Christmas without him. Last year he was unable to read the story of Jesus’ birth, which Liz shared on the first page. It will be somewhat sad but we all know he is in Heaven with his savior Jesus celebrating the birth of Jesus. He is up there singing “Holy! Holy! Holy! is the Lord God almighty! Who was and is and is to come!” We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and pray that God blesses you in the New Year.

Love,
Liz and Josh

Our Christmas letter and our tree

Last Christmas, Josh and I did the usual newly married thing by sending out Christmas cards with our wedding picture. But, since we don't have children, we (meaning, I) did not see the need to get our picture taken. Plus, we didn't have time, and Josh was out of permanent work for a while.

This year, I had all of Josh's family presents bought so we could bring them with to California. Cheap shipping, that. And, in fact, I got everyone small gifts, so I would not have to bring the *mother of all suit cases* with for a five day trip. Anyway, the decision was that I could worry about California before California, and worry about my family and the Christmas letter after we returned.

Well, we are back from California. Our computer is back from Jeremy's. Our printer is re-installed, and will have new black ink in it tonight. And I have almost finished with my Christmas shopping. So, I started writing our Christmas letter.

It was my idea to re-establish the Christ part of Christmas in the holiday season. So, my big and great idea was to send out a letter with some great Messianic prophesies from Isaiah. Josh was not too keen on this. It is not that he did not like the idea; he just wanted to talk about all of the great things that have happened this year. And so, we compromised because it is just not right to fight over a Christmas letter. I included the Christmas Story according to Luke, and Josh wrote about all of the great and wonderful things that happened this year. I will post the Christmas letter on Christmas Eve. Some of you may get it in the real, USPS, mail. There's just something about getting a Christmas letter on Snazzy Christmas Paper that cannot be duplicated by e-mail or reading a post.

Also, on December 4th, I put up our Christmas Tree. This particular tree is the special artificial tree that I grew up celebrating Christmas around. My mom wanted a new tree and so, gave me this tree when I moved out. As a side note, parents do things like this. If they want new chairs or lamps, they give you the old ones as an excuse to buy new ones. Anyway, usually, according to my family tradition, the Christmas Tree goes up the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Then, it comes down after Hermionygonzo's birthday. Josh and I were not home the Saturday following Thanksgiving. This is why I put up the tree on December 4th.

Our lights were all burnt out, so I went to Target to get more lights. And then, I spent time decorating the tree. Proud of my job, I asked Josh to put the last ornament on, an ornament representing a former Cardinal's first baseman, and I asked him what he thought. He said something particularly insulting to my tree. "It looks sickly." I stood back and said, "It does need something else." So, I brainstorm about what could be missing. And suddenly, it came to me, Beanie Babies are missing. So, I got a chair so I could reach the Beanies, but Josh had to actually get them down, because, even with the chair, I am too short. So, I have Beanie Babies on my tree. A lot of them. And they are cute. And the tree no longer looks sickly.
Of course, Josh thinks that I am silly for having Beanies on the tree; well, and also a Beanie Baby nativity scene. Yes, I have a Beanie Baby Nativity Scene. I have the Army Guy Beanie as Joseph, the Bride Beanie as Mary, and I have a Teenie Beanie bear as Baby Jesus. And also, to be scripturally correct, Mary is a white bear, Joseph is a brown bear, and Jesus is a white bear. As, Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus, Jesus looks like Mary.

Am I silly? Perhaps. I consider myself festive.

More Christmas tales later!

I love Christmas time

I love Christmas. There's just something special in the air and people tend to be cheerful. There are also a lot of really cute movies out, and I enjoy cute movies. My aunts, cousin, and I went to see "The Polar Express" this weekend. It was a lot of fun! After I returned, I gave Josh the run down of the evening. Then, he asked the all important question, "So, do YOU believe in Santa?" That is a loaded question. I don't believe there is anything wrong with believing in Santa. I also think a hearty dose of fantasy is good for the soul. But, honestly, I do not believe that Santa is going to come and give me presents. I do, however, plan on encouraging that belief in my children, when we have them.

I believe in mysteries, though. And I believe in things unseen and that are too wonderful to comprehend in this world. This is why I love both Christmas and the Lenten Season. I believe in God, and that Jesus came into this world to suffer and die for my sins, so that I may live in Heaven. I also believe that the Bible is without error. This does not mean that I understand everything or have supporting information regarding all of the finer points in scripture. It means that I have faith that it is all true.

Faith is a wonderful thing. It is a mystical thing. Usually people have faith in a better tomorrow or something along those lines. People do not have faith any longer in a wonderful past. This is especially true when it comes to Christianity and aspects of Judaism. And I wish that these Bah-Hum-Buggers would just shut their mouths at Christmas time.

In the next couple of weeks, take a few minutes to, with the wide eyed innocence and belief as a child, contemplate the wonders of Christmas! Contemplate how wonderful it is that the barren Elizabeth conceived a son who was filled with the Holy Spirit even in the womb! Contemplate how wonderful it was that God choose Mary to give birth to His Son! How wonderful it is that Mary accepted and had a humble attitude! How wonderful it is that she obeyed God and considered God to be someone to quietly and softly serve! How wonderful and mysterious it was that the virgin conceived! How wonderful it is that the angels announced the birth of the Savior! How wonderful it was that the shepherds believed! How wonderful that the men from the east followed an astronomical phenomenon to see the King of the World!

What a beautiful time of the year, this Christmas!