Merry Christmas!!

It's Christmas time in the city of Portland and at the Little House on Brush Prairie! Sadly, we won't be spending this holiday with our families so JSM and I decided to spend a few nights downtown to enjoy some Christmas fun and get away. We also had shopped for all of our family, but had forgotten to shop for each other so we had some holiday gifts to buy and I had some serious reading to do by a roaring fire. The Hotel Monaco in Portland was the perfect base camp for 2-nights in the "big" city.

We caught a beautiful sunset on the way into town....the clouds were on fire!

I love a Kimpton hotel.....comfortable and always beautiful in ways I would never imagine.

Like this green mirror, for example. I wouldn't have put it all together, but it works!

Always enamored with animal prints ;) I am, too, that's why we're perfect for each other!

The lobby was beautifully decorated for Christmas.

The window story at Tiffany & Co. How charming!

No shopping trip is complete without a stop at Powell's Books.

But, of course there was shopping! It isn't often that we get into Portland these days. In fact, we hadn't been since we'd been back from South Africa and the funniest thing happened. The day before we left for SA, JSM and I went to a famous designer's boutique (known for her handbags and shoes) at Pioneer Place. Immediately, JSM was offered a beer, by the most engaging salesman I've ever met, which he drank while I looked at flip flops. He bought me 2 pair. Fast forward 6 weeks and JSM and I are out Christmas shopping and decide to stop in just see what they've got. The moment we entered, Pablo looked up and said, "So, how was your trip?" Best. sales. tactic. ever. Not to mention great customer service!

After shopping I had to relax. And there was a fantastic spot on a chaise next to the Christmas tree in the lobby of the hotel. Perfect! I'd brought along a Christmas title I've had on my shelves for years and have been meaning to read since 2008. I'm sorry I waited.....the introduction said it perfectly:

"Hope can bring disappointment. Love can be painful. Families fracture and recombine. And the powerful emotions of the holidays are not always easy to manage. Yet the liturgy and literature teaches us that Christmas encompasses the miraculous and the tragic, the profound and the ridiculous, and always represents the connection to something larger than ourselves. If we are open to the gifts of understanding, hope, and faith in others and in God, the spirit of Christmas can make real the way we want to live our lives."
                                                                                                              -Introduction, A Family Christmas

How beautiful. And true. 

On Christmas Eve, JSM and I were invited to a potluck by a wonderful member of our church who, every year, hosts all of those who don't have families in the area. What a blessing. Even when you have a wonderful Christmas, if you are far from family, it can still bring sadness. It was such a great time! Afterwards, we headed to Vancouver Congregational to give our selected readings at the candlelight service. 

JSM delivering the words of Desmond Tutu.

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family, near and far! We love you.

XOXO