Red Christmas Cups

Part of knowing that Christmas is coming, is when you start noticing people walk around with red Starbuck's cups. It's just one of the special things about this time of year, but this Christmas season is so different from any others, because it's not Christmas I am counting down to, it's December 18th, 2010. I have come to believe that everyone is counting down and getting ready to celebrate, as all over Chicago they have put up white Christmas lights for this occasion. It was so sweet of them to decorate.

But, as I sit in starbucks sipping out of my red Christmas cup, it seems to be a marker of time. My mind flashed back to December of 2007; sitting on the 3rd floor porch of a Starbucks sipping a peppermint mocha out of a ceramic mug, next to Tapei Gate in Chiang Mai. I remember it being such a momentous occasion, here I was 22, single, spending my first Christmas alone on the opposite of the world, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, driving a motorbike. I remember being so surrounded by the Lord's love that holiday season, and not feeling alone, but letting him take care of me -- and that's what he did. Patty came over from Cambodia, Barb made us a Christmas dinner, and Kelly and I opened Christmas presents next to the tree taking pictures of each other. But, never did I think that 3 years later I would be spending Christmas with my new Husband (who was crushing on that Christmas) in Hawaii. I remember praying for a man to share life with, someone to travel the world with, someone to always be with on holidays so I am never alone... and what a gift it is to have a man to share that with.

So, as I sip on my warm drink, nestled inside red Christmas cup, reading the the text of my wedding ceremony in 16 days -- I think, where will I be years from now as I drink one, where will I be next? At least I know who I'll be with...

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