During a fantastic wind storm a few weeks ago, one of our pine trees nearly crushed the kid's playhouse in our backyard, and my unwanted Christmas gift came a few days early, when we hired a well-paid lumberjack to carefully get the tree on the ground without damaging anything in it's wake! Thankfully, it came down perfectly and left us with more firewood than you can shake a stick at!

 Thus, a few days later, the 2nd annual Holiday Gardens (yes, that is actually the name of our subdivision!) Christmas Eve Brunch found us cozied in our kitchen and around our backyard firepit. It wasn't rambunctiously exciting, it wasn't stupendous, but it was warm. Friends invited friends, and we ended up with about 25 people at our house on the morning of the Eve, eating biscuits and gravy, fondue and fruit, french toast casserole, and hot cider.  Although the food was fabulous, the best part for me was the mingling of cultures and traditions. Religiously speaking there was a broad mix of friends new and old; Catholic, Buddhist, Adventist, Agnostic. Culturally speaking, several parts of America were represented, along with Kenya, Jamaica, and Tchad.
The phrase we use often at our home "Everyone has a story" was exemplified perfectly as we all shared memories of Christmas traditions and "home". (Warning, alliteration attempt coming up!) After bonding at the bonfire, fellowshipping over fondue, and sharing stories of the seasons, the soiree came to a perfect end.

It was for me, a true celebration of CHRISTmas. Sharing with others, making new friends, and connecting on a real and personal level.  We're all only people, here on this planet, seeking the warmth and and companionship that a crackling bonfire provided on a crisp Holiday morning. Blessings to you all as the new year rolls in, and may Jesus's everlasting overwhelming LOVE sustain us all.

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