A little teapot

I wanted a teapot for Christmas. I like tea and a pot for brewing it was definitely on my list of luxuries that I wanted to have. It's the only thing that I told my roommate that I wanted, so I was fairly certain that she would get me one. On Wednesday we had a "holiday" party at work that included a "secret Santa" gift exchange. I received a teapot and some tea from one of my co-workers. Nicole and I were going to give each other our gifts on Thursday since she left today to go home for Christmas. Because I thought there was a great chance that I would get a teapot from her I concealed the gift I got at work. I was right, she got me a teapot. So now I have two white teapots of slightly different size and shape and one with an infusing basket for loose leaf teas. Tea helps me to relax, so I did not wait long to use one of the pots. This evening I had a pot of tea with dinner, and I think it was therapeutic. It was mint flavored green tea, and I really only like green tea if it is brewed right - briefly and not too strong. It is better in its full leaf form and the mint gave it interesting flavor. I will deal with the effects of caffeine on my body for the evening and trust that I have not had enough caffeine lately for it to be much of a problem.

I house sit again this weekend and imagine that I will spend most of my time tonight and tomorrow by myself. I will stop by tonight to pick up what I need to get into the house tomorrow and will spend tomorrow doing laundry over there. I will stay there until sometime on Christmas, since the family is coming home on Sunday afternoon and I am going to spend Christmas Eve with them. My friend and I have already decided that we will have a crying party that night. We're both dealing with difficult situations right now, so when we have a night together we will make the most of it and commiserate. I am glad that God catches our tears in a bottle. He will be there with us to comfort us.

Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas

Christmas is in just a few days, but I do not feel much like Christmas. Yeah, we've got some decorations up, but there's no family for me. Even for my family back home it doesn't feel like Christmas. They'll be together, but there is so much junk they have to deal with that it makes it hard to get into the spirit. What I want most for Christmas is intangible, and I don't see much hope for getting it right now. Nebulous, yes, and something that I have now mentioned twice, but not something that I care to talk about. Overall it has been a rather rough year for me and looks like that will carry into next year as well. I know God is faithful to us, but sometimes I wonder what He's up to.

I have been pondering the negative effects of broken fellowship among believers of late.

"How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore." (Psalm 133)

"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." (Matthew 5:23, 24)

God's blessing is where unity is, and strife among believers can hinder our relationship with God. It hurts everyone involved. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Father knows his daughter

I received a package in the mail from my parents yesterday. It contained 11 cans of Stagg chili in several different varieties and three bags of dried California apricots. Dried apricots from California are different from the Mediterranean variety in both texture and flavor. I think they are richer and just taste better, but the stores here only carry the Mediterranean ones. Stagg chili is, in my opinion, the absolute best canned chili available. It's just good stuff! And it's also not available for purchase out here, so it is, like the California apricots, a taste of home. It also proves that my dad knows me and knows what I like. I knew when I opened it exactly whose idea it was to send it, no question about it. Thank you, Daddy!

It served as a good and timely reminder to me that my heavenly Father knows me and gives me what I need. His gifts are special and suit me perfectly. Right now, when the one thing I would really like to get for Christmas is something intangible, that reminder brings me great comfort.

Saying Thanks

My sister sent me this link. It is a site to allow you to send a printed postcard to a random American serviceman or servicewoman. All of the postcard designs are drawn by kids around the country.
http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Jane Austen action figure

I have taken the Jane Austen action figure to work and will have to take a picture of it at some point, since it seems to be a popular item among my guests. In the meantime, you can see it online here. ;)

If only in my dreams

I'll be home for Christmas,
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree.
Christmas Eve will find me,
Where the love light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas,
If only in my dreams.

I heard that song no less than five times yesterday. It seems both appropriate and taunting at the same time. I think about what the song says and so much of it is true. I will be home for Christmas in my heart. I think the day will be hard for me, even with good friends to adopt me for the day. Nothing is like home and there is no holiday like Christmas. I LOVE Christmas because it means that there will be one day when my family will all be together (whether that one day happens to be on December 25 or another day close to it is rather insignificant to us). This year that won't happen, and I will be the one missing. I will much more likely see snow and mistletoe here than I would back home (please have sun and open toe shoes?). Christmas Eve will find me at work for most of the day. I did get enough time off of work to go to church for the 8:30 service and then come in to work as soon as the service ends. I'll end up working from around 10:00-5:00, then go to the evening service at church and stay with my friends for the night and spend Christmas with them as well. It's still not home, however. I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.

Christmas came in the mail today

I received an unexpected package in the mail today. One of my dear friends from college sent me a Christmas present. I was giddy as I tore it open to reveal what was inside. I was a good girl and read the enclosed card first. ;) Inside were two wrapped packages. I did not wait until Christmas. There was no way! The gifts were amazingly perfect for me. The first was a Jane Austen action figure. Yes, you read that right, a Jane Austen action figure. That is going on my desk tomorrow (I have a desk now at work as of this evening), for sure! The other item was "A Classic Chocolate Novel" - a box of truffles shaped like an old book. Very yummy, too, as I have just discovered. The gift showed knowledge of me and what I like, and that made something simple into something extremely meaningful. It really made my day!

Party dresses

We stopped by work after we left the party and had our picture taken by one of my friends there. Nicole also purchased her very first little black dress and wore it to the party. :)