Merry Christmas

Today, I had an unexpectedly thrilling and love-filled time with a new side of my family. I got to meet my step-dad's son, wife, and two kids, along with a huge slew of other randomly assorted family members of theirs. It was unexpected because usually my brothers and I are at the lake house with my dad and grandparents on Christmas Eve, but there was a change of plans.
I have to admit, I was somewhat nervous to meet these new family members, and here's why:
Just a mere three years ago, Ron (my step-dad), lost his wife. She died suddenly in her sleep and she was only in her early 50's. It was very unexpected to say the least. Kevin is their son and he is married with two kids (one of which is the same age as my brother, Jake (14)). I don't know about you, but if my mom died and my dad was with someone else a year and a half later, I would say my wounds haven't quite healed enough yet to deal with that kind of change. I would probably be really judgmental of them and unexcepting. Ha. I actually hope I wouldn't really be that way, but in my mind that is how I expected them to be. Thankfully, I was VERY wrong.
I had a blast. Kevin, for one, is HI-LAR-IOUS. He was constantly being funny and making sure that I was having a good time. We all played dirty Santa, and no one was afraid to get dirty (haha! as most of us know, sometimes that can be an issue). After that, we played poker with a $25 buy-in. Therefore, the pot was $275 bucks. CHEYA! We had to split into two tables because there were too many of us to fit at one. We drew out of hats to see who would sit where. I ended up having to sit with everyone that I did not know, besides my grandma. But she's old.. so she doesn't count. The rest of my family was at the other table. I REALLY wanted to play with them because I knew I could be weird, crazy, funny, and *comfortable* with them. (Sigh, don't you just love being in your comfort zone?) But, God kinda through me for a loop, like He always does ;) Needless to say, I laughed a lot, learned a lot more about poker, and got to meet other souls of this planet that God created with a happy heart, just as much as He created me. It. Was. Awesome. (Side note: I ended up making it into the final 3 of the poker tournament. Ron came back and dominated though.)
To end this post, I just wanted to state how awesome God is. I was expecting to be a burden today. But instead He showed me--through His people--love, kindness, and acceptance. I know that Kevin, Sheryl, and the rest of their family won't know how much they showed the love of Christ to me today, but they did. And God knows that they did.

Grandma, I am excited to go to the lake tomorrow and see you and Papa for Christmas. You guys mean more to me than you will ever, ever, ever know.

Merry Christmas & remember the reason for the season: JESUS. God's gift to the world, because He loved us SO MUCH that He sacrificed His blameless, sinless, son in the HOPE that we would love Him, and glorify Him, and allow Him to be one with us. I can never be grateful enough.