I really enjoy the advent season. This year there were so many sweet moments in the month leading up to Christmas. Although this season can also be a hard time for so many people, myself included, observing the little blessings in the present moment, and looking back at the month as a whole, has been a joyful and worshipful experience for me. So, I’ve very casually listed some of those highlights here:
Watching advent candles get progressively lit as the weeks go by.
Watching the days from our big advent calendar in the coffeehouse gallery get “x”ed off with bold black electrical tape.
Baking a new Hungarian dessert with a friend.
Walking through Christmas markets that are draped in twinkle lights.
Seeing snow on the pavement and rooftops.
Exciting planning meetings for Christmas parties with cherished coworkers.
Being insisted to sing Christmas carols with people I just met.
Getting help from musically-talented coworkers to play piano at a Christmas party.
Receiving baked goods just because…it’s December.
Hearing about different holiday traditions and unconventional ways of spending the holidays.
Watching “Charlie Brown Christmas” in a room full of families, with sprinkles, popcorn and craft supplies all over the floor. A favorite moment.
Seeing Santa biking on mikulás nap.
Playing the classic, white elephant gift exchange game in a bilingual setting.
Getting to say, “see you soon” to my friends in America and Hungary.
Hearing about my roommate’s absurd amount of recently attended Christmas parties.
Making a conscious effort of walking up to the big wreath by my apartment to smell the potent pine tree branches.
Being stopped by a sweet old man that works at my grocery store to enthusiastically teach me how to say, “Merry Christmas” and ”Happy New Year” in Hungarian.
Hiking Normafa, enjoying the view with hot chocolate and good company.
Hearing about the diverse interpretations of the potential meaning behind the Christmas decorations I made for the gallery.
Becoming a member of my church in a meeting with all three of my pastors in the gallery at our coffeehouse.
Taking communion in light of Christmas.
Lots of cookie decorating and more than one trip to IKEA for gingerbread cookies.
Drinking green Grinch punch with sweet people from church and new faces.
Praying for the final exams of friends and sweeping them away from their studying every once in a while.
There is still one more week before Christmas! I hope it finds you with a bit of joy and some warm memories.
Merry Christmas!