This is Christmas

I had a really, really, great week recently.  One of those weeks where you look back and see God's hands all over each day.  The three biggest highlights....

1.  I heard the testimony of some new friends' marriage, how God met them, redeemed them and turned their lives around.  It was amazing!

2.  I watched a sweet little friend ring the bell at Texas Children's Hospital, a symbol of the end of her cancer treatments.  She is officially "no evidence of disease"!!

3.  I celebrated with friends who finalized the adoption of their precious baby daughter.

I share these joys with you for good reason.  For in celebrating in these ways with these families, you can not overlook the struggle it took to get them there.  These people--all so dear and precious--have fought, and fought mightily.  They have fought temptation and pride.  Illness and disease.  Doubt and unrest.  Their roads have been long and bumpy and dark.  And yet.....

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.  On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."  Isaiah 9:2

Advent is a season to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of Christ.  It's a season to embrace traditions and have (the best we can muster!) a bright and merry spirit.  But it is also a time to understand what Christ's coming means.  To look around on the roads we're traveling.  To see the bumps and the deep darkness and to feel those struggles AND YET! ....to know a light is coming.  To know the hope of Christ.  

Because Christ does come to us.  From the manger to the cross, and from the grave to life again, Christ comes again and again and again to us, with hope, with salvation, with victory.  This is Christmas, friends.  This is hope.  This is Jesus.  May we know it in the deepest way.

XOXO....Kelly

The Long Family Christmas Letter 2017

Ah, the holidays!  The season for making things pretty and bright and shiny and lovely.  Especially the Christmas cards.  As you might recall from last year, I took a stab at writing something no less touching but slightly more authentic to update family and friends on happenings in the Long family.  In the continued spirit of authenticity--and because you're not fooling anyone anyway--I give you The Long Family Christmas Letter, 2017 Edition...
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Dearest Family and Friends....

What an incredible year it has been for our family.  The Lord has indeed blessed us in so many ways!  Kevin still has his beard.  It disappeared briefly for a few days, but the kids kept telling him he looked weird without it so he grew it back.  Whew!  Kevin's managed to stay just this side of skinny jeans on the hipster scale.  He looks mature and rugged, yet just the right touch of relevant.  We feel very blessed.

Michael is in 5th grade this year and wants a phone.  I tried to explain how cell phones are actually the work of the devil himself.  Is it any coincidence that both the fall of man in Genesis and the leader in personal technology involves an apple??  I think not.  There was much eye-rolling about this and he has not been deterred.  Michael also enjoys soccer, swimming and playing the piano.  We feel very blessed.

Blake is in 4th grade and if you ask him what's new he'll tell you he shot his first deer!  I thought it was gross, but he was so pleased so I didn't tell him how gross I thought it was.  I'm working on an apology for his future wife because I think there are going to be a lot of hides and heads and deer guts in her future.  I want her to know he is a wonderful young man even though he is so gross.  He loves being outdoors and playing football and swimming.  We feel very blessed.

Zachary just turned 8 and is never wrong.  Never.  I don't know what else to say about that.  We feel very blessed.

Parker is in kindergarten this year and, despite all odds, is managing just fine without his mother in "all day, everyday school".  His teacher taught him how to count to 100 so now he counts everything, including the minutes until he can see his mom again.  He loves to buy his lunch from the cafeteria (everything comes wrapped in its own plastic bag) and marvels at the other students that fall out of their chairs and forget to raise their hands when talking.  He played a bit of YMCA team soccer this fall when he was in the mood to.  Did you know you don't have to run during soccer?  Really...you can just sort of walk up and down the field and look at the ball from a distance.  This was the strategy for many members of the team.  We did not win a game.  Still, we feel very blessed.  

I continue to do as much online grocery shopping as I can and am thinking about learning the guitar and Spanish.  Thinking about it.  I am current on all of the episodes of British Baking Show on Netflix and sometimes exercise.  I'm still the president of our elementary school PTO.  I feel very convicted about volunteering and being a part of our community.  This also allows me to see the kids during the middle of the day.  Do you know what teachers LOVE? When you pop into their classrooms and give your kids a hug in the middle of instruction.  To be a part of my kids' day at school.....I feel very blessed.  

Most of all, we have God who loves us despite ourselves!  We're looking forward to celebrating this season of His coming and we pray daily for the grace that will allow us to get through it!  May His love fill your hearts and homes this season....and all seasons!

With love....the Long Family 

Front Row, Pictured from Left to Right:  

Zachary Long (counting the minutes until he can take his "church shirt" off)

Kelly & Kevin Long (still recovering from the previous day's argument over sandwich condiments)

Parker Long (about to be pinched by his big brother)

Back Row, Pictured from Right to Left:

Michael Long (about to be grounded for pinching his little brother)

Blake Long (just farted)