It's nearly midnight on Christmas eve and I'm alone in the tranquility with my thoughts. Though I'm cosied up with my jogging pants, twinkle lights and the teensiest bit of wine, I think I'll resist my urge to wax eloquent this night.

Instead I'll take a bit of time in this space for a serving of gratitude; it's been too long.

I'm grateful for this year which has been so rich and full of the unexpected. I'm grateful that we've been able to come to Kentucky twice this year-short though the trips may have been. I'm more grateful than words can say for my family-the blood kind and the ones who have made their way indelibly into the rivers of my heart. I'm grateful for the fact I'm safe and free and have a bed in which to sleep tonight. I'm grateful for mercy, for forgiveness, for new beginnings. I'm grateful for the adventure of being married to the Jono and all that our life looks like together. I'm grateful for my aunt who cooks us piles of homemade food when we are in town and for the stories of my childhood that unfold in long tales while she works.

I'm grateful for so much and tonight especially I'll be grateful for my sister, my forever crazy partner in crime, in long talks, in dinner parties and counsel. She is my other half, my twin and life is richer when we get to do life together.

Tonight we stayed up a teensy bit late and rearranged half of the decorations my dad's living room...we are not entirely sure it will amuse him as much as the process did us. But hey-tomorrow is Christmas. We can blame Santa.

So ho, ho, ho and MERRY CHRISTMAS loves.