Wow!  How crazy that we’re at the front side of a brand new year.  2010

A friend was trying to think up sayings for 2010…you know, the corny ones like “lose some weight in 2008″  So far none of the ones I’ve heard have hit a chord for me.  The only one I could think of is “pick up a pen in 2010″ to try to bring back the art of letter writing.  I love receiving handwritten notes or letters and RARELY does that happen anymore as we’ve moved beyond snail mail, to email, to the crazy world of tweets, texts, IM, FB, etc.

Rob and I were trying to think through the year ahead and for the first time in a long time I’m not extremely curious about “what will happen?”  2009 brought so many surprises and excitements that I’m still recovering – in a good way.    I think it’s okay and actually better for me (God says so!) to just take things one day at a time.  As we entered 2009 I had no idea Robbin would get engaged to Jake, Bethany would start a relationship with Dwight, or all the girls would move out by the fall and a few odd assorted happenings in between.  But, I am living proof that no matter the highs or lows, God is faithful.  God sustains you.  God protects you.  God comforts you.  God LOVES you unconditionally.  Wow did I see that played out in our lives this past year!  It gives me great courage to live day by day for 2010.

and a brief update from the holiday festivities…

• Dec. 23rd – Whiskey Shrimp Dinner.  A great family tradition. Yum!  An old recipe my mom discovered on her 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to Iguasu Falls in South America.  We almost lit my cupboards and my face on fire when we lit the whiskey to burn off the alcohol.  Oh well, what’s a couple of eyebrows.
• Dec. 24th – Christmas Eve services…3:30, 5:30 and 11:oo (Candlelight) Beautiful time to remember Christ’s birth and the peace that can only be found through Jesus as he lived and died and rose so we could live, eternally.
• Dec. 24th – One batch of cinnamon rolls didn’t rise, batch number two finally did, worked on it ’til the wee hours of the morning!  I only make them once a year and I was bound and determined to have them this year.  First batch literally was a lump of mushy dough.
• Dec. 25th – CHRISTMAS MORNING  my favorite!  Kelly tradition is to wake everyone up with this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfnXZGBqxFc Took playing the song 3 times this year to wake up everyone.  Then it was on to the stockings, then presents, then brunch with more family and friends, then off to the movies for a double feature AVATAR in 3D and Up in the Air.
• Dec. 29th – a great fun day with my friend Debbie Bresina – we started the day in Golden for breakfast, then ended painting plates at a place in Arvada. 9 1/2 hours of good conversation and laughter!
• Dec. 30th – had dinner with the Browns, not my daughter and son-in-law, but our other good friends, Kim and Tim.  We literally froze at Wahoo’s Fish Tacos downtown – I guess they don’t believe in heating their restaurant, but we moved on to Starbucks and closed it down, sitting by the fireplace reminiscing and catching up.
• …and many days of hanging out with the best husband in the whole world!  His bright idea for being productive was to clean the kitchen.  Note, when Rob is a part of the project, be ready!  Clean the kitchen meant to remove everything, I MEAN EVERYTHING from every drawer, cupboard, pantry, etc. Clean the kitchen, sort and rearrange all items.  The trash man hated us this week I’m sure!
• It was a great two weeks!

a few pictures of the festivities…

I love music.

I have over 6800 songs on my iPod.  I think in songs.  Often times someone says something, anything, and it triggers a song in my brain.  I can’t imagine a world without music.  When I’m not listening to my iPod (which is on at work, at home, sometimes to fall asleep) I sing, hum, play the piano, listen to the radio, music stations on Comcast.  Other things are important in my life, if you know me at all, you hopefully know this – God first and foremost, my family, friendship, laughter, etc…but as I think about music, the quote that “Music is oxygen for the soul” (author unknown) really sums it up for me.

I love putting together playlists.  Workout lists, chill lists, worship lists (my favorite), nostalgia/back-in-the-day/I-so remember-moments-from-these-songs-lists.  I  probably would drive many people crazy with the different lists I compile that randomly play music that doesn’t seem to go tother, oh, but it all does.  I just may be the only one who knows why!

I share music often.  Either making a CD for someone going through a hard time to encourage them, or recommending new artists.  I am always searching for new music, but find a ton of comfort in old music, much like catching up with an old friend, I’ll often listen to old CDs or albums and am reminded of great memories in my life.  Songs Rob and I loved when we were dating.  Songs my brothers used to sing when we were together.  Songs my brothers would send me to Bolivia so that I could keep up with popular music. (Rob doesn’t know how Barry Manilow crept into my music world, but if I remember correctly my brother Mark introduced me to him – funny story about how our car got broken into once and the only thing that the thief didn’t take was my Barry Manilow CD…)

I often share music with my mom.  She likes it, but often says she just prefers quite.  My dad was the music lover.  Must have got my music loving-ness from him. 

Some people like just certain types of music.  I have friends that prefer just jazz, or just classical, or just…not me, I like it all.  There is a time for classical, jazz, rapp (although not much time for this), rock (all kinds – classic, soft, hard, etc.), country, alternative…and more.  I LOVE good worship music.  The kind that grabs my soul and grips my heart, the kind where I sing along at the top of my lungs to God, expressing my praise to him.

I am VERY blessed to be able to be one of the Worship Leaders at our church.  This has been a great opportunity to learn many worship songs.  And to play worship songs with fantastic musicians and to sing with fantastic vocalists.  I so understand when pastors and teachers help others understand that often the area you should serve in is one you already have a passion for.  For me, loving music and being able to serve in this ministry is a perfect match.

Some of my favorite times to listen to music:

• when it’s snowing and I’m home alone.  Time to brew some coffee, grab a book, put on the tunes for background and I’m swept off into the adventures of my imagination.
• during really hard times in my life.  I can remember when my Dad was dying finding a quiet time in my day to sit alone, and put on songs that helped me pour out my soul to God, thanking him for the time I had with my Dad and for the ways that God fulfills His promise to us to sustain us in those dark hours.
• when I’m cleaning my house.  Time to plug the iPod in to the big living room speakers and let it swell throughout the house.  Or, if others are home and feel like there’s something better to do than listen to loud music swelling through the house, I’ll put on my iPod and listen through earphones.  This is dangerous though, I sometimes have to sing along and forget that no one else can hear the music.  It’s entertaining for the rest of the family, I guess!
• CHRISTMAS MORNING!  (yes, I had to turn this post into something about Christmas!)  I wake up everyone with Rich Mullins’ “Gotta Get Up” song.  I wait as long as I possibly can (usually I’m up by at least 6:30 am) and then I crank up the song.  I have fond memories of little girls’ feet pattering down the stairs with squeels of glee to get their Christmas stockings first and then start opening presents.

I love music.  It completes me…ha, ha, ha!

I have enjoyed spending time reading my Inspirational Study Bible with inspiring notes from Max Lucado over the years.  Today I read his insight on hospitality and thought it worth sharing:

Here’s a suggestion:  We should all wear antennas to work, to church, to school – antennas that pick up on people who seem out of place, whose loneliness shows.  Why not be the one to approach these folks and extend friendship to them?  Maybe you think the last thing you need is another friend.  But friendliness – hospitality – is a virtue that brings as much joy to the giver as to the receiver.

When you extend hospitality to others, you’re not trying to impress people, you’re trying to refelect God to them.  You don’t have to be rich to be hospitable.  A wise friend once told me, “If you won’t give people hot dogs when you’re poor, you won’t give them steaks when you’re rich.”  We shouldn’t let our pride get in the way of being hospitable.

We are here on earth to be God’s people.  We are here to show others the same God who came to be a friend to the earth – that’s our task.  maybe today you will meet someone who really needs a friend – and you can fill that need.  Maybe you can make an eternal difference in that  person’s life, just because you choose to be friendly today.

FATHER, as we set about the task of trying to be your people, we pray that you’ll help us.  May we glorify your name, may we be open-minded, may we be sincere, may we be willing to change and grow.  We thank you, LORD, for the privilege of being your people.

And to dig in a little deeper…here are some great verses on hospitality.

Romans 11:13 (The Message)

 ^11-13Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

1 Peter 7:9 (The Message)

 ^7-11Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

3 John 1:5-8 (The Message)

Model the Good

 ^5-8Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

I had a GREAT example modeled to me by my mom of how to be hospitable.  But sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own life and my own little world that I completely forget how important it is to put on my antennas.  This time of year especially it is important to be aware of those around you.  Not everyone has the blessing of being a part of a warm family celebration.  Many people are all alone or through circumstances out of their control have no way of getting home to their families.  It’s a perfect time to reach out and extend a warm invitation to your family’s celebrations.  I can tell you from experience that your kids will learn so much from doing this.  Over my childhood years we often had other guests (many tourists passing through town, or other “foreigners” that we’d meet who found themselves without anyone to celebrate Christmas with) join us in our family gatherings.  Great conversations, great life lessons, great moments that I will always treasure. 

So, will you take the challenge?  It requires intentionality and a willingness to go beyond your comfort zone! Will you reach for those antennas with me and start wearing them?  If we all did this – imagine the impact we could have on those who are most often overlooked!!