Merry Christmas!!

Hello lovely blog readers! You are probably thinking, "that looks like a lot of text, where are all of the photos?!" Well, I feel compelled to be a little more personal than usual today! First off, MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope you are not reading this on Christmas Day, but are instead enjoying the company of loved ones, gifts, good food, the glow of tree lights, and warm beverages! Man, I LOVE all of those things about Christmas!! This year, Christmas is a little different for me than the past 29 I've enjoyed. For the first time, I am not with my family on Christmas day. Instead, I am around 10,000 miles (or about 16,000 Kilometers since they use the metric system here) from them, and probably most of you! It has caused me to really reflect on why this day is so special, since for me it has been stripped of all of the comfort of tradition and warmth of home and family. However, those things that I treasure about this season are not what this day is ultimately about for me as a Christian. I know that many who read this will not share the same beliefs as I do, but I hope you will allow me to share my heart with you on this very special occasion.

My life is different because of what happened on Christmas. I am 10,000 miles away from home because of what happened on Christmas. So what happened on Christmas? "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 2:10-11. A baby was born. A baby who is a Savior. My Savior. I am in a place that largely rejects the gift of the Savior. They celebrate Christmas, but do not know the "good news of great joy". Is that not why I am here? To help spread good news of great joy that is for all people? Where is my joy then? Is it in all of my ideas of a lovely Christmas at home with my family? Or is it in the wonderful fact that because God loved me (and you) so much, that He sent His own son to earth so that He could redeem us by paying the debt of our sin which keeps us from God. A Savior born to die, so that we may truly live and have a relationship with God for His glory and our good. Forever. (John 3:16).

I believe in my Savior and what He has done. My life is not perfect, nor am I perfect, but He is perfect, and His love and grace are unending. In my own life I have seen Him work miracles and answer prayer upon prayer. I am thankful for the many blessings of family and friends that I am currently missing on this Christmas morning. But I am so glad to be where I am on this day. I have truly enjoyed this Christmas in all of its newness and revelation. I am glad to share my Christmas dinner with brothers and sisters in Christ that don't even speak my language. To open gifts with friends whose lives are poured out so that others may come to know God. Friends who spend every Christmas away from their family because they treasure the good news of the gospel, and wish for all those here to know their joy.

I pray that each of you will have a Christmas filled with love and peace and wonder. If you are with family, hold them tight and treasure your time together. If you are with friends, be merry and enjoy the company! However you celebrate, I pray you will know great joy this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Again, I do apologize for hijacking my own photography blog with such a personal post. Thank you for not running off! I promise to return to normal, photo-filled posts next time! (And you won't have to wait long!) Oh, and on a business note, I am not out of the country for good! I will be home in 2013, and am looking forward to all of my spring weddings!!!! Woooo!


PS.. If you'd like to follow my instagram feed while I am away.. check out instagram.com/asubecca! :-)