Happy Heart = Happy Dance

Sooo much Christmas cheer the past couple of weeks! And our office holiday party is tonight! And I just checked into my flight home to Texas in the morning! Aaand I'm already packed!

(Holy exclamation points, Batman...)

All this to say: I'm so giddy inside, I might just burst out into a spontaneous happy dance... or perhaps I just did in LJ's office... and perhaps it happened twice... and perhaps it looked a liiittle something like this (Oh, do be sure your speakers are on. Trust me.):

A special thanks to Liz for this little otter's stellar moves. There was really no better way to convey just how happy my heart is at this very moment... Wee!

Now. Go ahead and watch it again. You know you want to.

Every time a bell rings...

George: Now, will you do something for me?
Zuzu: What?
George: Will you try and get some sleep?
Zuzu: I'm not sleepy. I want to look at my flower.
George: I know, I know, but you just go to sleep. And then you can dream about it, and it'll be a whole garden.
Zuzu: It will?
George: Uh-huh.

Thanks for the reminder on this cold Thursday night, George Bailey. It really is a Wonderful Life.

The Gospel is Personal

“An historical gospel that is not personal and powerful is merely antiquarian; a theological gospel that is not received by faith and found to be transforming is merely abstract. In reality, the gospel is personal.”

-D.A. Carson, The Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-9)

via Of First Importance

I pray that the gospel is especially alive and personal for each of you during this Advent Season, as we wait in anticipation for Jesus' coming.

And if you'd like to hear some inspiring and thought-provoking words on the Season, check out Apostles Church (or the podcast!) for Pastor JR's current series Promised One: Advent 2009.

I wish I could plan a day like this...

Walter: Listen Buddy, I want to talk to you.

Buddy the Elf: Good. I wanted to talk to you too. I have our whole day planned. 

[Buddy looks at his list on his Etch-a-Sketch]

Buddy: First, we'll make snow angels for two hours. Then we'll go ice skating. Then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can... And then... we'll snuggle.

Winter Song

Winter has slowly been settling into the city for a few weeks now - Christmas trees are lining the sidewalks, ready to overtake tiny apartments. Buildings from 5th Ave. to the West Village are covered in twinkle lights. The first snowflakes came down in perfect little flurries (on my birthday, no less!). And the second I stepped outside into the wind chill of 16 degrees this morning, all snuggled up in my puffer jacket, I knew winter was here to stay.

And thanks to Jamie, I have the perfect winter song for you, NYC:

Sara Bareilles - New Music - More Music Videos

Happy wintry Friday! I hope your weekends are filled with hot cocoa and cuddling. :)

I Spy... CHRISTMAS!

Goodness gracious, I can't believe it's almost December! When did that happen?? My cab driver took me home down 5th Avenue the other night, and I had to pinch myself to make sure I hadn't dozed off when I looked up to see so many of the stores were already covered in lights and Christmas cheer!

Then I found this delightful and helpful Time Out NY list of when all of the NYC window displays will be up for the holiday season. Something tells me that this Thanksgiving weekend might be perfect for a cup of hot chocolate and a little stroll up to Central Park to see the windows that are already up... Yes, I think that would be the perfect way to welcome the holidays to Manhattan. Who loves Christmastime in the city?? THIS girl sure does! Yay!