joy to the world.

If I'm honest, I haven't felt much like giving thanks lately. The circumstances surrounding this attitude of [in]gratitude are many and varied, but, still, the unfortunate fact stands: I've been throwing a teeny, tiny pity party.

This season of personal negativity has coincided with the season of Advent, when Christians celebrate the coming of the Savior. This intermingling - despair with hope, flesh with spirit, darkness with flooding, freeing light - has brought about a period of introspection. One thing that I've learned, and am learning, is that worship of and gratitude toward God serve to quickly re-align my thoughts - and my heart - to his.

Too often, I forget the simplicity in his grace. I begin, again, to believe that what I'm called to in following Jesus will be beyond my ability, that I'm better off on my own. I place my trust in the empty promises of independence and self-actualization. And, naturally, I end up in the same pitiful circumstance: temporarily blinded to truth and refusing to take the hand of my omniscient Guide.

Today, on Christmas, I'm hoping for a re-alignment of sorts. I'm praising God for his grace and saying, with the apostle Paul, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

0051. the perfect latte

0052. Pandora station - Glee Cast

0053. a beautiful new Bible

0054. Texas

0055. rocking a sweet baby to sleep

0056. curly fries

0057. crooked teeth

0058. decaf earl gray with a touch of Braum's milk

0059. fiesty kitties

0060. finding my Passport

0061. a pink, purple, orange sunset stretched wide over Texas skies

0062. relationships restored

0063. chatting - in person! - with my grandparents

0064. old movies

0065. flexibility

0066. warm quilts

0067. that God is personal and relational

0068. road-trip harmonies

0069. imperfection

0070. so so many opportunities for generosity and love