Our First Christmas

It's been awhile since I have last posted here. It's definitely not for lack of things to write about but more like a little lack of time these last few days. I arrived home to the arms of my loving husband and it's been a flurry of activity since then.

My dad arrived on Saturday. Sunday we headed to church - what better place to celebrate Christmas? Then we headed to Dave and Penny's for Christmas Eve celebrations (where this photo was taken). We had some yummy lasagna, wonderful cheesy bread, and salad. We played "Dutch Blitz" and "10 up 10 down"... fun times had by all! On the way home we stopped at the crazy light display of the Rix place in Glendale. Intense would be one word for it... over 84,000 lights of all kinds. When we got home Dad and Matt made some Russian Tea Cookies (a Tash family favorite) while I wrapped a bunch of gifts. Last minute, I know!

Christmas morning! We celebrate the birth of a Savior... what a wonderful time to reflect on how God chose to save His people... the Word made Flesh... a tiny baby who would grow in stature and the favor of men and change the world forever providing for us reconciliation to our Father through His birth, death, and resurrection. It's an astounding and Jaw-DROPPING event! Our family was together for the day. Dave and Penny (with their dog, Daisy, in tow) came down and we had a fun breakfast and then we opened presents. Way fun! We played with some of the "toys" that we got and then, of course, started working on dinner. We had one of our neighbors over that was not able to go home for Christmas. It was great to share our lives with her a little more. Matt read Luke 2 before our meal and we enjoyed sweet fellowship and fun for the afternoon. We had pork loin, red potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, and cornbread. Yummy! I was thankful that our fridge didn't get as full with leftovers as it did for Thanksgiving! It was a great day... and there were again many moments in which I will cherish in my heart and ponder on them often.

This morning my dad left for home (Dave and Penny left for Denver this morning, too) and Matt headed off to work. I am here working on laundry and other random things and you may be wondering, "Now that Christmas is over what are you going to do now?" Well...

WE ARE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!

Seriously. We leave tomorrow! I have NEVER been and now at the "ripe" (ha ha ha!) age of 27 I finally get to go and I will enjoy and remember it all! Fun, fun! We will be back Saturday some time. I love to travel with Matt and we have many adventures planned for the upcoming year!

Merry CHRISTmas all!

Hanging out in the 505

For those that don't know... the "505" refers to New Mexico. We have one area code and pretty proud of it as it seems to mark us. Which makes it slightly funny that people here are in an uproar about the upcoming addition of new area codes. When that exactly happens, I am not sure, but even I am a little sad about it. But that's what happens with growth... we experience some sort of growing pains.

So, I (Jessica) have returned to my home town of Los Lunas, NM (just south of Albuquerque) for a variety of reasons. One of the girls that I mentored/discipled at the University of New Mexico is graduating. I get to spend some sweet time with her and her family (flying in from West Virginia) this week. I have known Lauren since she was a "wee" little freshman and now she is blossomed into a beautiful woman who continues to live faithfully in the promises and teaching of our Lord Jesus. Another reason to return to L-town is to pick up all of my Christmas decorations that have been held "hostage" in a POD storage unit after my dad began his moving process two years ago (and the year before, after the death of a family member, we decided not to put up all the decorations). To say the least I am pretty stoked to dive into all the fun memories! I also am visiting with many fun friends (home from Iraq and friends who just want to hang out) and will try to get our wedding album processed. Oh for JOY!

In it all I am still a little sad... My sweet husband, Matt, is at home while I am here. We just value him taking time off at Christmas rather than be here on this whirlwind excursion. It's hard being apart after almost 4 months of being married. We laughed because this week reminds us a little of our dating relationship. Long conversations on the phone and missing each other. It's crazy to think that we went from phone conversations to living together everyday as a married couple and the separation now is brutal. I never thought that it would be so hard, but it is. I cried as we said good-bye in front of our home. But sweet joy on Friday when I return and we get to celebrate Advent with our church family that evening. Fun things to look ahead!

More on my adventures and musings later.....

Props to Prescott

On Saturday, Matt and I drove up to Prescott to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. We had intentions to have dinner at the Prescott Brewery. Unfortunately, we left a little later than we had intended so we didn't have time to wait for a table there. So, we ate at St. Michael's Cafe which is also located on the Square. Anyway, after a superfast dinner we met Mom and Dad Caughey as well as Archie and Kathie Wright at the Wright's home. We quickly made hot cocoa, bundled up, and headed back to the center of town, which would be the Square, to partake in the town's courthouse lighting.

What's the big deal, you ask?

How often, these days, do you see public school children lined up on courthouse steps singing Christmas music. Not just music but Christian carols like Silent Night, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, etc. To hear the birth story of Jesus from the book of Luke spoken from those same courthouse steps...It was a time to cherish. Then everyone was invited to sing along. At this time all the lights came on... many of the perimeter trees had been decorated, a special Christmas tree in place, the statehood tree standing proud (Prescott used to be the state capital), decoration on the courthouse itself, and a gazebo all added a warm glow and a touch of "down home" to the chilly weather and a touch of Christmas to the heart.

The birth story of Jesus proclaimed from public steps without a riot or protest... it's unfortunate that it has become a rarity but continues to happen in Prescott, AZ every year on the first Saturday of December. I have heard that the ACLU is trying to get it be stopped at some level... but somehow the city finds a way around all the "legal-ese" - for which I am thankful!

After the lighting we walked to a the Sharlot Museum and experienced some things that we might have seen (and might not have seen) in an 1886 Christmas. Luminarias lit the pathway which was quite nice to stoll through with my sweet husband, family, and friends.

Good times had by all.