Into the Daily: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2017!

Our second Christmas spent in San Diego, and our first in our new home, is a wrap! Having a four year old little boy during this season has got to be the most fun thing ever. Philip and I have been living in a state of constant nostalgia this month. All of the special holiday moments from decorating the Christmas tree, making sugar cookies, to watching his sweet brown eyes lighting up as he opened his gifts, and reading the Christmas story to him as he is all snuggled next to me in his new cozy pajamas (that we made him open as his Christmas Eve present...the worst tradition for kids ever. But he was actually really excited so I'm pretty sure he's not my kid after all....)

All of the happy holiday vibes aside...has this not been a crazy year? I feel like we've all felt some sort of pain in 2016! Individually and collectively. Yes, there was lots of good. Personally we've had some of our sweetest and precious moments happen this year. So many pivotal transitions, beautiful memories, fun trips, great friends. We've also experienced some of our most stressful and low times. It has definitely been a year to remember and it has really set the stage for this next one.

Collectively we've seen so much crazy stuff going on in the world this past year, thanks in part to the power of social media, we've seen so much good and a bit more bad. I think I'm safe to say on behalf of many of us that we're ready to jump into 2017 fully expectant of a year very different than the last. Full of personal and collective overcoming, of being part of a much bigger picture as we are all important pieces to a beautiful puzzle. A year of embodying and perpetuating grace and mercy which propels us to progress.

Here's what I am praying for - that 2017 will be a year filled with peace that we have never known before. That breakthrough after breakthrough would happen in this new year. Not only in our family, but in your family. Because when one of us has breakthrough it has a trickle effect. One person effects so many others. When Philip and I succeed - so do so many others because our lives touch others. And vice versa.

I pray that this new year would bring the relief of suffering for so many across our world. That the brightest minds would rise up with creative solutions to our country and world's issues. That we would all focus on what we have in common with each other and not our differences. That "loving our neighbor" isn't just a sign we hang in our homes but a truth that becomes etched on our hearts as we go about every single day of this new year. That we would regain at least a sliver of our child like faith and wonder and love. That's my prayer for myself and our city, nation and world.

Here are a few of my favorite images from this past month.