Merry Christmas!

Personally, I love every part of the advent season. I love the growing anticipation for Christmas. I love the weekly lighting of the advent candles at church. I love that people, in general, seem more joyful and generous. I love that God chose to send us a savior as a tiny little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

In church, the advent season is one of expectant waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. We focus on hope, love, joy, and peace as we reflect on all the history, stories, and prophecies leading up to the birth of Jesus. We prepare our hearts and homes for festivities because we know he's coming. And when Christmas does finally come, we celebrate. We celebrate the birth of a little baby that came over 2000 years ago to a young couple who weren't yet married and no doubt had judgemental eyes all around them. A little baby who came during a very inconvenient time and place for Mary and Joseph, yet was a perfect part of God's grand plan to save the world. We think about Mary caring for little baby Jesus with no way of knowing the ways this baby would heal and transform lives all around the world for thousands of years to come. We reflect on Joseph's role and how he accepted this child that isn't his blood and raised him as his own.

This year, being in the middle of our own season of waiting and preparation gives new meaning to the advent season for me. Garrett and I are excitedly preparing, expecting, and making space for a child that we know nothing about now, but who will change our lives forever. Advent reminds us that there is a purpose to the waiting and that this season won't last forever. And as much as I wish we could skip over all the not so fun waiting to get to the fun celebratory part, I know in my heart that there is so much we are still learning and cherishing about this time.

For the past few months we have held steady at number 29 on the waiting list. We recognize that we have come such a long way and we are doing our best to wait as patiently as we can for whatever comes next. Even when we feel like we are standing still, we know God is working in the background and his timing is perfect. Please continue to pray for us. As much as we want to skip ahead, help us remember that this season won't last forever and that there is still much learning and preparing for us to do while we wait for that perfect time that our lives join with the life of a stranger through the birth of a baby.

And the good news today is that Christmas is here and we have so much to celebrate. Today we remember that the wait is worth it.

Merry Christmas, friends!