Today my brother and I put up the Christmas tree in our parents home in Missouri!  Last time we decorated for Christmas together  was 14yrs. ago on the island of Penang in Malaysia.  Josh and I spent a handful of years as missionary kids in Malaysia, and after high school we both relocated back to America. Just recently, my parents have returned to our homeland of Missouri after almost two decades of living and working in SE Asia… and today we enjoyed the simplicity of being together on a special occasion, something so many people take for granted sometimes.  It’s invigorating to think… just what will our futures look like?  Together?  For real?  After almost two decades?  Now… this is different, but good. Very good. 

Thanks, mom, for the brown-rice pancakes with agave nectar syrup while we decorated!  It’s a season of making new traditions!  So… I challenge you today, to value the ones that make life “your life” and what the heck… make a new tradition.  Life is short!

Enjoy the textured photograph I made of my brother… after he conked out on the couch from decorating so hard… ha!