It truly is the most wonderful time of the year...

Christmas morning... presents have been opened, the house is quiet (except for the intermittent power flickers), and I'm baking a few more batches of cookies. It was an odd morning- we finally got the 30+ inches of snow that we've desperately needed, so the mountain had a delayed opening, and the patrollers were hard at work shooting the avalanche canons. That enabled a slow, lazy, wake-up-and-lay-in-bed morning, which I am not usually privy to. (You can't really go back to sleep when they are shooting canons!) Now, up at at 'em, I'm trying to crank out these last few batches of cookies and just hoping the power stays on long enough! The wind is blowing pretty good out there, and snow is still coming down. I'll be gearing up for some skiing in a few minutes, but while I had some time, and in the quiet, I wanted to take a minute to share the fullness of my heart.

Last week, our Bible study group got together to bake cookies, make peppermint bark and chocolate covered pretzel sticks, along with a few other goodies to give to all the departments at the resort. Several nights I was up until 2 or 3 in the morning (with work at 9 or so the next day), but I wasn't at it alone. Each night there was at least one person over here helping to make this Christmas special for someone else. The first night, Tara and I made close to 12 dozen sugar cookies... The second night, Emily and Tyler joined us and we made pretzels with rollo's and m&m's (thanks Pinterest), 8-10 dozen cookies, and a bunch of chocolate covered pretzel sticks. The last night before delivery, we had a few more join us: Mike and Erin, Kathy and her granddaughter. We were a well oiled machine at that point, and I felt like I was living in a gingerbread house with cookies, chocolate, peanut butter, peppermint candy canes, and sprinkles everywhere! (And, for the record, my apartment is not that big.) Everyone headed out by 9, but Emily came back. We cleaned for a few hours and then she all but baked another 6 (or so) dozen cookies while I worked on the Christmas cards and sorting. Through this, we were able to share the good news: The angel said, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." We delivered the goodies last week.

Christmas evening... Today, Tara and I passed out about 100 gift bags to mountain-side employees. After that, I worked at the ticket office for a few hours... After work, and back at home, I've just finished a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of cranberry juice. Again, the house is quiet, and (thankfully) there is no more baking to do. :) I'm trying to find the words to share with you about what this Christmas has meant to me, and really, truth be told, I am coming up short.

I was able to celebrate Christmas early with my mama, at the end of November while she was here. That was when Christmas really started for me. Then, the baking marathon began. The laughter, the love, the selflessness shared by all who gave up their time to bless others is overwhelming. I kept trying to come up with a Facebook post or a tweet for Twitter... and never could come up with the words to capture the magic of what was happening. Day after day last week, as people showed up to help make sure others had a special Christmas... it has truly been overwhelming in the best of ways.

This couldn't happen without all of you, who, in your selflessness, have contributed to this ministry in one way or another. Some have given financially, some have mailed boxes full of chapstick and hand warmers, and many more have offered their prayers and support. For this, all of this, I am grateful. This Christmas, we were able to show the employees at Alyeska that they matter, to us and to God. And for that, I am overwhelmed, thankful, and blessed... for the opportunity to be here.