Merry Christmas!

Well, Christmas is just about over... and I have had a wonderful day!

It started last night. My family exchanges gifts between siblings on Christmas Eve, so we headed over to my parents house to get and give presents. We had a "unique" Christmas gift idea for my family. We bought everyone in my family nerf guns! Our present was opened last. An intense battle between two teams followed. There were several rules of engagement. For example, 3 shots and you are dead (and you have to actually act like you're dying... theatrics are encouraged), no face shots, & when you get shot you have to go back to "home base"... etc etc.

It.

was.

so.

much.

fun.

Everyone got way into it. I don't know if I have ever "played" with my family the way I did last night and today. It was a shared experience. It was something I won't ever forget. It was everything that Christmas should be. I love that I have a family that can be so free and fun and silly together. I love my family.

and I love Joshua. He got me so many lovely, thoughtful presents. Presents that tell me that he knows me. Like, really knows me... and my heart.

(Example: I always lose my chapstick. Which wouldn't be a big deal, except that I always always always want chapstick. I now have 12 sticks of various flavors/brands/sizes/colored chapstick as of today. I am in chapstick heaven AND I've had super moisturized lips all day!)

and that's the beauty of gift giving, I think. It's when someone gives you something that says, "I know you" and you give someone something that says the same.

It is a beautiful thing to be known and to be loved in this life. I cherish it. I don't take it for granted.

I sincerely hope that your Christmas left you feeling the same.

(Oh and I'm hoping to post some pictures of our family battle soon!)