Tis the Season

Something about the Christmas season is magical.  I don't know what it is, but I like it.  It has been pretty warm the past couple weeks, so it hasn't really felt like it's Christmas time.  But somehow there's still some Christmas magic in the air.  This year, Miranda and I are determined to do something Christmas-y every day.  You just can't be too festive! 

Here are a few of the festivities that have made the list (and have been checked off) so far:

Choose a beautiful Christmas tree.

Decorate and name our Christmas tree  - This year, she is named Belle and is as beautiful as she sounds.

Make swags out of extra tree branches 

Put up lights on Chez MK (the affectionate nickname for our house)  Aside:  We actually get some of our wonderful friends to help out with this one.

Bake gingerbread cookies

Decorate at our offices

Line a fireplace with stockings for our friends

Attend the annual Lynchburg Christmas Parade

...and there are still 19 days till Christmas!

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Thankful

There's so much for which to say thank you this Thanksgiving season.  There are a few things that I have been appreciating more and more lately.  And by things, mostly I mean people.  I am so blessed with so many people in my life who love and care about me.  Some of them I know a lot; some I know only a little, but all are special to me.  These are some of the people (or rather groups of people) who make me so, so thankful this year.  

(Note:  the list that follows is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of imagination.  There are many more than could be named here!)

My family - this is often the standard answer to the "What are you thankful for?" question, but  they earn the standard response position for a reason.  Though they are miles and miles away (and it's during times like this that I wish Virginia and Florida weren't so far away from each other), my family is pretty much the best ever.  We Finches have some interesting quirks and oddities, but I wouldn't trade our crazy crew for another any day of the week.  Being a Finch is one of the highlights of my life!

My far away friends - in addition to my family being miles and miles away, I have several dear friends who don't live anywhere close to where I live.  They're all over - Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, North Dakota, Utah....you get the picture.  Even though we don't see each other ever day, week, month, or even sometimes year, each of my far away friends holds a special place in my heart.

My up close friends - some days I forget that not everyone is blessed with a group of people with whom to "do life."  One the days that I remember that, I am even more thankful for "The Group," those people who are in my house every week, who invite me to their house every week, who I see on the weekends (when I'm not out of town visiting a far away friend), who will catch a late movie with me, who will help us decorate for Christmas, who will watch football with me, who will make a Starbucks run with me. You know? Just doing life together.  That's what we do, and I dig it.  

My church family - I feel like I have a couple of these since I've moved from place to place and have had the opportunity to get involved in multiple great churches.  Either way, I love the people who worship with me on a weekly basis, and I'm learning to appreciate them more and more. 

So there are a few highlights from my "Thankful For" list.  What tops your list this year?

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Here we go, Steelers!

So, I like football.  I didn't grow up watching (or understanding) it, so my affection for the sport is recently acquired.  Though I have three brothers, we weren't really a sports family.  Tennis was our most frequently watched and played sport.  We're more of a mental exercise family. We play board game and card games and correct each others' grammar and know way too many random facts.  Give us a word game, and we'll give you a run for your money.  Challenge us in a team sport, and you'll [probably] win (probably) every time.  

So, being the only girl (well, one of the two, if you count my mom) in a family of six, you'd think me liking football would be pretty expected.  However, I'm the anomaly in the family BECAUSE I like football.  Seriously.  My dad teases me about it. 

My team is the Steelers.  This is important for you to know.  I love me some black and gold.  

I went to my first pro football game earlier this year - the AFC Championship in Heinz Field.  Pittsburgh beat the Jets.  Yay!  It was 6 degrees.  Literally.  Great experience, but very cold.

Last month, I went to my second NFL game. Also in Heinz Field.  Also won by Pittsburgh.  It was significantly warmer.  Here's a little glimpse of my fun in Pennsylvania:

Heinz Field in the lovely Pittsburgh, PA

The teams getting ready for their next play.  Please note how close the Steelers are to the end zone.

The lovely view of downtown Pittsburgh from our seats.  So good.

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What's in a name?

Your name says a lot about you.  I know you don't get to pick your name, but somewhere along the line, it becomes part of who you are, and you become part of it.  So, I've been thinking about my name and different nicknames I have accumulated over the years.  Here are my thoughts on a few...

Kristi:  the name most people I know call me.  In fact, some people don't even know my for-real name is Kristina.  I like my name.  Cute.  Short.  Happy-sounding.

My mom calls me Kristi Beth sometimes.  First name shortened. middle name shortened.  I love it.  I feel like a little girl again just hanging out with mommy when she uses it. 

To some people I'm known as Miss Kristi.  This is one of my favorite nicknames, probably because of the people who use this term:  kids at my church when I'm teaching a class or just hanging out with them and kids I babysit.  Something about a sweet child being so excited to see me and calling out "Miss Kristi!!" just makes my heart smile.

Kristina:  I have mixed emotions about being called Kristina because two types of people call me that.  1)  People who don't know me worth beans and have only seen my email signature or the name plate on my desk.  (Me no likey.)  2)  People who know me well, know that I usually go by Kristi, but call me Kristina anyway knowing that not many people do.  (Me likey.)

Finch, Finchy, Finchworthy (or any other variation of my last name):  I also like these nicknames.  I think what I like about these is just that when they are used, people want to call me something other than my first name but don't want to get too crazy.  I see this as them using a term of endearment.  I like that.  

Another not-so-expected nick name I have is Pookie.  That's right, Pookie (or the ever-popular variation, Pooks).  A couple of my close friends share this nickname.  Just typing it out makes it sound silly and funny, but in real life, it feels totally normal, and I probably use this just as much as (if not more than) my friend's real name.

I love nicknames because what someone calls me is a bit telling about my relationship with them.  If you have a special name for me, then I feel like I am special to you.  Not in a ushy-gushy-lovey-dovey way, but in a I'm-glad-you're-my-friend way.  There's something fun about having a name that just for you or that just used by one special person in your life.  In fact, I fully intend to name my future children in such a way that is conducive to having a great nickname.  

Do you have any special nicknames in your life?  What's your favorite?  Why do you like it?  

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Ready or Not, Here Fall Comes!

The arrival of fall is imminent.  Before I know it, I'll be sure not to leave the house without a jacket and will reinstate hot tea as my breakfast staple after its hiatus for the summer.  There's something special and magical about fall.  I can't put my finger on what is it exactly, but I think that's part of what makes it so great.  Something involving the cooler (but not too cold just yet) weather, the crisper air, the leaves changing colors, trips to an apple orchard, enjoying warm drinks on the front porch, pumpkin flavored everything....there's just something about fall.

One of the things that makes fall so refreshing might be that things seem to slow down a little.  I know the schedule is still full, but somehow, things just seem a little slower.  My summer was a bit busy, to say the least.  I was traveling more weekends than I spent at home, and those times I was at home, there were often out of town guests to entertain or other exciting activities happening.  Either way.  Busy.  There are a few fall trips planned but not as many, and they seem fewer and farther between (ok - now that I look at the calendar, they really aren't fewer or farther between, but somehow it seems that way).  

All that to say, now that I'm on the doorsteps of fall (and having spent a few hours of alone time driving to and from Pennsylvania this past weekend), I've really been thinking about all that happened in my life over the summer.  I don't know about you, but this summer has been one of learning and growing and stretching and challenging.  Through several different situations and opportunities, the Lord has really been teaching me to have a different perspective and different priorities in my life.  

I plan to share more about these challenges and how they have prompted some changes in future posts.  BUT  I really want to hear if there's any ways you have been challenged this summer.  Now that summer is coming to an end, what do you see when you look back?

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