christmas 2.0... and then some.

before I go further, the first present I got from my husband this year was terribly cool and extremely useful for a girl like me, who likes to carry her camera around in her bag at all times:



this bendy baby tripod, the Gorillapod, is a GREAT gift... for example, it was perfect for taking this studio pic last Tuesday:



and this one of husband and I giving ourselves facials that night:




*snicker.*


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and now, CHRISTMAS 2.0!

we hit Sagemont for their candlelight service Wednesday evening, and then headed over to the Bell's for holiday goodtimes. we had so much fun - here are some of our favorite pics (you can copy them from here, LB, but I'll email 'em to you, too!):







Judging from this pic, one might think I was in need of the loo. nope, just showing off my new footwear, courtesy of Husby (who completely blew my mind this holiday):





at some point during the morning, I opened another gift from M, which turned out to be this amazing little beauty:



I did NOT anticipate getting a new camera, but I'm so thankful for it! most people who know me are aware that I generally always have my camera with me, and my Canon SD400 Digital Elph has definitely been around the block. now, the old Elph has moved into the position of Honorable Backup Snapper while this baby and I are getting to know each other. I'm so glad Husby chose to stay with the Canon... I bought my first Elph about 6 or 7 years ago, I think, and in my opinion their point-and-clicks are just awesome, user-friendly, high-quality cameras. anyhoo, here are more pics shot w/ the new guy:











M making out with his new Hello Saferide LP:



M's brother's face slays me in this pic... hey M, why so sad?!



this was my Christmas dinner that day, and it was flipping awesome! I was in love with everything on my plate:



to recap, First Married Christmas at the Bell's was wonderful. here's to my new family:








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since then, we've been setting up, putting away, and playing with our new things. in the reconfiguration of our media stuffs to accommodate new and fun toys, I got M to hook up my PS2 and had a little round of DDR, which he so obligingly snapped:



yes, I'm wearing reindeer antlers. what, like you don't have a pair?!


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and then I got sort of sick. coughing and whatnot. grrrr. when I don't feel good, I generally just want to stay in bed and sleep a lot. M took me out for my favorite chicken and veg soup at The Black Lab:



I really do love their soup.

M also used our Soup Bible we bought the other day at Marshall's to make me a chickpea/bacon/onion soup tonight that was sooo tasty. what did I do when I didn't have a husband to take care of me when I got sick?? oh yeah, Progresso and cable. ;) which is still good, don't get me wrong. I'm just sayin.

m.y.

other people's ideas...

I was surfing last night and was really provoked by the latest two entries at Godgrown... The Stock Market’s Recession; the Economy of God’s Advance and Advent Conspiracy. A few weeks ago, we discussed the Acts 2 text in bible class, and this part in particular makes me uncomfortable (beginning w/ verse 44): "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

I struggle with the bolded section, because I don't know what that's supposed to look like. and how it relates to other teachings... like Luke Ch 12 for instance. and what do you do with 1 Thes. 3:10-11: "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." ... this rears it's head in judgement so often in my head toward others, and it definitely affects the graciousness of my giving and ties it to the actions/choices I perceive others making. the truth is, I want us to keep making money, to save it to buy a house, to be able to use it to give and travel, to plan for the education of any kids we may have, to hope to have the funds to make wise decisions for retirement so my family isn't burdened and my husband and I are cared for. are we intended to really try to let go of material ties and learn those sorts of lessons and reliance, or just not be ruled or motivated by the desire/need/worry about such things? though I don't believe in socialism as a way for a government to govern - government being an unreliable and fickle steward, IMO - the concept of sharing wealth and goods and being a giver is all over the Bible. but how does that look? the passage is confrontational to me. my husband knows why... as we sit down to do our budget each month, I am challenged in the area of giving. years of self-employment with no reliance on credit and a deep conviction to support and take responsibility for my adult self has made 'keeping enough back to feel safe' my default button. what 'enough' means is very discretionary. ;)

anyway, I was glad to read Godgrown's posts. again, I don't know them and I sincerely hope they wouldn't be freaked out by my lurkings. if you have a chance, check out the entries. the Christmas post is convicting as well... a few years ago, I realized that one of the enjoyments of giving great gifts at holidays was how it reflected on ME... if I could buy these awesome things, didn't that mean I was doing well??! I've really tried to move away from that sort of thing and operate from a different place... M and I have been putting back funds every month for Christmas spending, too, so that will determine how much we're allowing ourselves to spend. who knows, maybe we won't even spend all of it.

here is today's Daily Reflection, which I thought was appropriate:

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE is not about political ideology, or about condemnation, or about trumping someone else’s experience. It is about Jesus, about being his disciple, about falling in love with God, and about having the courage to let that kind of devotion actually change your life.

- Derek Maul
Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men

From p. 15 of Get Real by Derek Maul. Copyright © 2007 by the author. Published by Upper Room Books. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.


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I am a tad annoyed by work today, actually. I need to turn my frown upside down, I think. one of the great things about what I do is that as frustrating as something can be, it's usually over very soon.