hooplah

in all the hubbub of this week’s to do’s, last weekend went unapplauded-at least in blogland.  and, as we all know, if it ain’t applauded in blogland, it might as well not have happened...okay, not really.  but it deserves a round of applause here anyway.  and it shall receive it’s just desserts.  and if it’s not spelled desserts, it should be.  

two of my dearest and truest friends visited me last weekend and we had ourselves a time only to be cherished in the realm of true friendships.  it was a magical concoction-the perfect recipe of friendship:  you add 3 ½ cups of laughter

¾ cups memory lane wandering

¾ cups of lollygagging and general doing nothingness (in pajamas if possible)

1 tsp of tears, 1 tsp game of M&M toss in the mouth of friend across room, 1 stick of a party full of old friends (this includes dancing, good conversations, singalongs to cheesy Christmas tunes, leaf throwing photo shoots)

cutest elf this side of the north pole

a dash of good meals coupled with long talks

finally, a few bag fulls of love

really, as much love as you can pour

stir with a wooden spoon while donning a fabulously Christmasish apron. bake at 350 for 1 weekend and share with all.  this recipe guaranteed to fill you with warmth, cheer, and much gratitude to the Beloved Lord for being so generous as to give the gift of true friendship to you.  the kind that makes that Michael W. Smith song completely true to you: “friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them”.  that is the gift of these friendships.  though we went from a mere 10 step jaunt to make it to each other’s apartments at UD, to the every blue moon rendezvous that color our post-college life with flashes of rainbow brilliance; i take tremendous comfort in being united to these dear friends through the Eucharist.  through the Body of Christ, we are always united.  perhaps not in the way we desire.  but that will always be true until we are truly and completely one in Christ in Eternity.  but, until then, we have the next best thing.  Love Himself is the foundation that our friendships are built upon, and thus i can say that they will never end.  they will carry on through from this life to the next.  and for a girl who has had a lot of dealings with the whole life and death and in betweens moments lately, this is a beautiful and profound truth that gives me hope and comfort.  just like my two dear friends, katie and trishey, did for me this weekend.  God sent them special delivery and we danced through the weekend and wove back and forth between the joys and sorrows of life almost effortlessly. always with the help of Grace.  

all is gift.  

thank you for holding your applause to the end. feel free to let it all out.

St. Nicholas day plus Christina’s birthday=explosion of love and generosity.  

the Eve of St. Nicholas day found Sean, Christina, and myself crafting and studying.  i hot glued the dickens out of project Advent wreath.  it was touch and go, but it turned out better than i expected.  China beribboned the dickens out of the Christmas light frame in our living room and it so rocks.  and ribbon is so absurdly expensive.  but it looks great.  and the ribbon should last us the next 50 years.  or else. 

 and bubba was studying the dickens out of law things. then the knock of a murderer in a hurry or an escaped convict looking for refuge in the nearest civilian residence quickly ceased all wreath, ribbon, study attempts.  bubba finally deduced that it was a St. Nicholas drop and run. he was correct. and it was awesome.  we had a bag full of the goodest kind of goodies and a note from St. Nicholas himself. 

it cheered and inspired generosity in our hearts and added more flame to the fire of true friendship gratitude currently warming the cockles of my interior embers .  i guess that’s what saints do for us.  and we all went to bed with visions of treat-filled shoes dancing in our heads.  and, as they are not always wont to do, these dreams became reality. 

it was a little prelude to Christmas joy, and i felt some of the magic of childhood resurface. and, in true elisa as a child fashion, i still haven’t emptied out my slippers completely.  just like i do on Christmas--i always leave things in my stocking and in their boxes for a couple of days at least. it keeps the magic of Christmas fresher longer.  trust me on this.  

China’s birthday fell in step with St. Nicholas day and we had a little shindig at the ol’ dehan condo to celebrate.  and yes, before you ask, China did print out some fun facts about St. Nicholas day and the origin of Santa Claus.  and yes, she read it to her guests. 

 it was lovely and so completely China.  she was showered with roses on her birthday and i took full advantage of it with a birthday girl rose photo shoot.  

28 years old never looked better.  

it is the weekend again and i am relieved.  recharging the batteries is the name of the game this weekend.  and wearing pink is also the name of the game.  Gaudete is upon us. i can’t believe it’s almost the 3rd Sunday of Advent.  i’ll say it because i am feeling pretty old these days-where the heck does the time go?

i pray God’s unrelenting blessings be yours as we prepare our hearts as best we can for the coming of our Savior.   

peace of Christ be yours. (and don’t forget) and with your spirit