Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve!! I'm excited to steal some time away from the festivities to write about what I've been up to this holiday season. I spent last month doing a pediatric cardiology rotation in Charlottesville, Virginia. I had so much fun being at UVA again, catching up with old friends and being back on grounds. I think that Charlottesville is one of the most amazing places in the entire world. It has so much local charm, so many unique little local favorites and a certain spirit in the air. I definitely had my fair share of Bodos, my favorite bagel shop in town. I can ramble off "smoked turkey, muenster, on an everything bagel, hot, for here" like nobody's business :). I lived with my college roommate's sister and her family. It was great to be in such a lively house for the month, and they truly made me feel like one of the family. I don't think anything could replace the excitement of living with two little kids at Christmas time. We had so much fun eating chocolate out of Advent calendars, making gingerbread men, and watching Christmas movies with big mugs of hot chocolate and marshmallows!

My rotation ended mid-December, giving me three entire weeks of Christmas vacation. I spent the first weekend celebrating Andrea's graduation!! I am so proud of my sister, who is 26 and juggles being a full time mom, full time nurse, and full time student (not to mention that her husband is deployed). She amazes me and is my inspiration.

I spent last week traveling throughout North Carolina and Virginia, visiting friends from college and PA school. The week was filled with Christmas festivities to include holiday charades, Christmas movies, peppermint mochas, church concerts, lots of baking, holiday parties, shopping, wrapping gifts, and listening to endless Christmas songs on the radio.

While these adventures have all been fun, I know that my favorite part will be tonight, when my family goes to the Christmas eve service. I have always savored that magical feeling that comes with hearing the Christmas story and reflecting on the birth of Jesus. The beauty of a church decorated with poinsettias, and the delightment that comes from lighting a candle and singing Silent Night is unparalleled. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas eve, and a very very Merry Christmas!

Luke 2: 10-14
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.