Life with the P-Ds

Katie at the Pioneer early service with her friend, Erin

We’ve had a wonderful day celebrating the birth of the Christ child… Katie slept until 7:30ish (it helps that she was up until 12:30a!).  Her joy was absolutely contagious and we enjoyed opening gifts, eating muffins, going for a walk, taking a nap! and getting ready to leave for California tomorrow. 

So far we are 0-2 in the “white Christmas” efforts.  Ah well, 70 and sunny in So Cal sures sounds like fun!  In-n-Out Burger here we come!

From Southern California, home for 28 years… 

To Atlanta, home for 16 years…

 To CLEVELAND, home for a year now…

And we ask ourselves…

Why do people live in a city where it looks like THIS today when the Browns are playing football?!?!? 

Of course, while there is a blizzard going on outside, it IS very pretty…

So far we’ve gotten about 6 inches of snow today.  It’s blowing pretty hard outside.  We had to postpone the youth group Christmas party that was going to be at our place tonight.  So we’re settling in for the night in front of the fireplace with our hot cocoa and espresso.

Our friends here laugh at us and tell us that the novelty will wear off, but for now we actually like the snow and are having a lot of fun with it.  Of course we’ll see if we have to dig ourselves out in the morning!

• wonderful church leaders who seek ways to be faithful with the many decisions that come before them… and love to laugh!
• a sunny day
• a first-grader who loves to read – I often discover a pile of books next to her bed that she has read after we’ve tucked her in for the night. 
• a short commute!  I’m not kidding – I absolutely love that (although I don’t listen to near enough NPR anymore!)
• friends… here… there…
• opportunities to travel

Tonight Katie and I sat on the couch and listened to “Grateful” while flipping the pages.  I couldn’t help but get a bit teary as I watched and listened to my daughter sing:

I’ve got a roof over my head
I’ve got a warm place to sleep
Some nights I lie awake counting gifts
Instead of counting sheepI’ve got a heart that can hold love
I’ve got a mind that can think
There may be times when I lose the light
And let my spirits sink
But I can’t stay depressed
When I remember how I’m blessed
Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly gratefulIn a city of strangers
I got a family of friends
No matter what rocks and brambles fill the way
I know that they will stay until the endI feel a hand holding my hand
It’s not a hand you can see
But on the road to the promised land
This hand will shepherd me
Through delight and despair
Holding tight and always there

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

It’s not that I don’t want a lot
Or hope for more, or dream of more
But giving thanks for what I’ve got
Makes me happier than keeping score

In a world that can bring pain
I will still take each chance
For I believe that whatever the terrain
Our feet can learn to dance
Whatever stone life may sling
We can moan or we can sing

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

Truly blessed
And duly grateful.

~John Bucchino