Christmas

Postcard from CA - while enjoying a sun hug

I've only lived out of California for four months, but that short time has given me a new appreciation for the sun. Not just sunshine, sun hugs. Actually feeling the warmth provided by the bright light in the sky. During my trip home for Christmas, I was blessed with non stop blue skies. It was lovely.  In fact, the whole week was lovely.  And not just because of the sun. 

This was the first year of having an additional member join our five-some for family festivities. Maybe it's because he’s been in the picture a while (so we're used to him) or maybe all first Christmases are just this smooth, but having my brother in law Matt around was really fun.  At least for me.  (I hope he felt the same :))  While it did change the family dynamic a little, it was a good change.  The male ratio is improving. 

Family traditions remained the same this year; Christmas Eve at my parents house, Christmas day dinner at my aunts, and Bajarin (my mom’s side) family ladies tea.  I love the togetherness that abounds during the holidays.  I also love spending time at our family cabin in the mountains which we were able to squeeze in to the few days all of us were home.  Sleeping in, eating delicious food, hiking, reading, watching movies and great conversation filled up just about every hour of the trip.  Oh, we also put together a family puzzle.  It was a 3D puzzle of the Capital building.  So patriotic, I know.  Not a usual Pund family activity and despite my small contribution to the building project, it was exciting to celebrate the finished product. 

I’m back in Seattle now and celebrating the conclusion of an action packed year.  It was the canvas on which God painted new friendships, exciting adventures, an additional family member, heart-ache, laughter, sweet endings and new beginnings.  I know I’ve said it before, but I am blessed beyond measure.  So before the brand new canvas of twenty-twelve even makes an appearance, I choose to surrender each eventful brush-stroke of the coming year to the Master artist.  In His hands it always turns into a more beautiful picture than I could have imagined.  

Church

I grew up going to a (relatively) small community church around the corner from my house.  And I mean literally around the corner - less than five minutes door to door.  Still somehow despite the church’s close proximity to our house, we would always drive.  I haven’t put much thought into the reason behind our not-so-“green” habit, but my guess is two fold.  One because my dad liked to go to the first service at 8:30 AM and (for me) every minute of sleep is valuable, and two, because that way when one of us inevitably forgot something at home, the trip to retrieve it was much quicker.  Regardless, I’m used to my church community being apart of my living community.  So when I moved away from San Jose (for college and after) and made the choice to continue being apart of a body of believers, finding one close to “home” was near the top of my wish list.  And being the provider that He is, the Lord has given me my wish at every stop.  Seattle is no exception.

Before relocating up north a few people recommended I visit Bethany Community Church.  So when my first Sunday in town rolled around and a Google maps search of “Christian community churches” said BCC was (the closest at) .4 miles away, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.  I’d like to admit that whether for old time sake or out of habit or because I was lazy (or maybe all of the above), I drove the .4 miles that first Sunday.  However, I’m happy to report it’s only happened once since then and that was due to torrential downpour :)  Anyway, one visit is all it took.  I signed up for community group Bible study that day and decided Bethany was going to be my Seattle church.  (Not a common occurrence for someone as indecisive as I am).  The senior pastor, Richard Dahlstrom is an incredibly intellectual, somewhat eccentric, faithful leader, who has experienced enough life to connect with generations older than myself while still being culturally relevant in relating to college students.  His messages are filled with meaty, applicable truth that provoke thought and create conversation. 

We just finished a series called Genesis & Science.  Initially I thought it was going to be a study on creation theories, which was a topic I really enjoyed in college.  However I quickly learned his approach was a more macro perspective, not looking at how the world came to be but why.  Asking questions like what is the function of creation?  Where do we as human beings fit into it?  How do material things play a roll in our purpose or function on earth?  I highly recommend checking out the week we studied how creation is Gloriously Functional.  Or you can start from week one.  We’ve since moved on to an advent series, but Pastor Richard’s unique approach to Genesis 1:1 was a fresh take on the oldest story in The Book and has provided substantive, thought provoking perspectives as well as opportunity for daily application that begins on the short walk home.

Three Months

Seeing as how there are only 30 days in November, December 1^st marked three months since I moved to Seattle.  I can’t help but celebrate the new friendships, sister time, enjoyable work, great church community, and continued adventure.  Abundantly blessed doesn’t quite cover how I feel.  Since the last quarter of the year has been one big highlight, attempting to pick just one is relatively futile.  However, something I haven’t talked much about is fall.  The season of fall is simply splendid in Seattle.  I've had the pleasure of seeing leaves change color all over the county during these months in the past, but there is something different about Washington leaves.  After some thought I’ve decided the vibrantly bright yellows, oranges, and reds must stand out more here because of the distinct contrast against an abundance of other greenery.  There have been numerous times when I literally stopped to admire and soak in views, moments, or scenes covered in the Lord’s fingerprints.  Even if it was something as simple as the swirling of colorful leaves on the neighborhood street as a car drives by.  Seriously, I can’t get enough.  What I can get enough of is the cold.  It’s really cold here.  A damp freezer like chill is the best way to describe it.  And even when the sun does decide to make an appearance for a brief couple hours, the warmth barely cuts through the layers I’ve bundled up in to keep from freezing.  Some of you from more frigid parts of the country might be laughing right about now.  That’s fine, laugh away.  But when you’re done laughing, feel free to send me recommendations of how to stay warm :)  Despite the cold, it has been fun to experience a real fall season.  It’s taught me two things: one, don’t complain about the random 80 degree fall days in California, and two, cameras fall short of capturing the dynamic artistry of heavenly postcards.