It's Christmastime. A time when joy, peace, love and hope should be in full abundance. For some of us, it's just another Christmas and the same as always--whether joyful or not. I'm the type of person who loves Christmastime and this is my favorite time of year because I love the warmth, peace, happiness, love, hope...the seemingly joyful reign. I love wandering through the neighborhoods to see how families have decorated their houses, the brilliant soft glow of Christmas lights and warm scents such as cinnamon and fresh baked cookies. I love getting a Christmas tree with my dad and the way the house is fragrant with pine for at least a month. I love decorating (though my mom is the best at this--our home is awesome every year thanks to both she and dad's knack for interior/exterior design), surrounding myself with reds, greens and blues and snuggling up with my warmest blanket and snowflake slippers. Normally I start listening to old Christmas/holiday music back in September because there's something about Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra that melt my heart. I love the joy of giving, of seeing happy people and how Starbucks seems sort of like home. I love seeing children happy without a care in the world and full of so much unconditional love. I love the candlelight service on Christmas Eve at my church each year...though Lyme has kept me from enjoying that in person. I love Christmas carols, both Christian and contemporary. I love the spirit of the season and the very point of this season.

This year, however, I'm having trouble feeling all of the "things" that matter to me. That's in part my fault and in part due to my chronic condition. Only God can truly heal Lyme disease, but I myself could stand to make more effort in some areas. I've needed some inspiration and got it this afternoon. It was one of those "Cool, I hear you, God...and thank you for not giving up on me" moments. I truly felt His love and care for me and while I did cry, I felt a spark of joy return.

As mentioned somewhere in a prior blog, I've been following Living Stones Church (Kona, Hawaii). While I'm a few weeks behind, they've just started a new sermon series called "Awaken the Wonder". This morning I watched the sermon titled "God Wants to Give You Joy". I can't begin to express how perfect this particular sermon is...I think it has the ability to touch the lives of many and that's why I'm sharing it here. My hope is that it will resonate with others just as much as it has with me.

I was thinking about some rather random stuff this morning. Not sure if the randomness is a "me" thing or a "product of Lyme disease" thing. Either way, just going to roll with it. :-) I heard a song on Pandora the other day that reminded me of my grandparents--my grandma in particular. As the only girl in a family full of boys, grandma was athletically inclined. A tomboy in a skirt, basically. I'm not certain when dancing became her sport of choice, just that it was a favorite pastime. She was a graceful, beautiful dancer, performing both for fun and competition. In fact, she won awards for the Jitterbug and I believe for moves like the ones in the featured video. The most precious, priceless of awards being my grandpa's heart. Grandpa was a shy enlisted man and they met just before he was called to go overseas (WWII). I believe he fell in love with her the first time they met. When he returned from the war, they got married immediately. It was supposed to be just the two of them and the minister, however, everyone in town wanted to see that wedding and hundreds packed into that church to see them tie the knot. He was injured in the war and had to hobble along...a gesture that I imagine touched the hearts of most there that day. Of all the couples I've known, I believe they are the #1 example of romantic love and friendship, one that is pure and true. Soul mates who are currently both laughing and having a great time in Heaven. 

(I realize that's just a snippet about my grandparents--and actually I have three other grandparents that deserve some cred one day, as well--but this is all for now as I'm just a mere blogger and their complete story is as epic as all Star Wars movies combined.)

This song is dedicated to them. It's called "Booty Swing" (Parov Stelar). I'm not sure if this is Parov Stelar's actual music video or a fan remix, either way, it's well choreographed and is invigorating. Sweet.