Happy Holidays

Hello Blog Buddies!
Sorry I've been out for a few weeks. Work got crazy and then I went on vacation for Thanksgiving. Speaking of.... I hope all of you had a fantastic Holiday. I was able to share mine with some close family members. That's right I packed up the jeep and headed to a little piece of paradise known as "Rockin' Chair Farm" aka my grandparent's house.

Yes, yes... Mom and Papi (my grandparents) are doing well. I am blessed to have them in my life and enjoy every moment I get to spend with them. Along with the great time I had with them my sacrificed the warm waters of Charleston to brave the cold tundra above the Mason Dixon line! Thanks Mom! Additionally my uncle/godfather flew in from NYC. Getting to spend a few days with them was really fantastic. Here's quick play by play:

Day 1- Arrive to the farm-get greeted by the fastest tongue in the north east (Hiedi our german short-haired pointer)
Day 2- Horseback riding and vino
Day 3- Horseback riding (this time in the snow) Italian Dinner (done the right way by my uncle and I)... and more vino
Day 4- TURKEY AND PAPI'S FAMOUS STUFFING.... and the best Vino I've ever had in my life (Howell at the Moon Cab. Sav.)
Day 5- Everyone says emotional good byes and heads home... This is when I actually needed some vino.

Not to be disappointed my mom grabbed some sweet shots of the horse and me... He doesn't seem so small when your standing next to him....

Roots & Wings

Who says you can't talk about Politics with those you love?  Well, it doesn't matter who said it, it's wrong.  This past week I found myself shooting emails back and forth between my mom, grandfather and uncle about some recent political propaganda we were watching/reading.  And these weren't cute, fun, heterogeneous, emails about our overwhelming support for the same candidate.  

With my uncle as a fairly liberal democrat; my grandfather as an experienced retired military republican; my mom as a consistent republican with democratic overtones, and myself as a registered independent who usually falls into the democratic party over issues, but the republican party over theory... suffice it to say that there were all sorts of perspectives!  WHICH WAS THE BEST PART!!!  It is one of the things that as I have grown I have come to absolutely love about my family.  

We encourage open communication about our perspectives... We argue, we bring to the table evidence, and there's always personal life experiences... But we respect each other, listen to each other, and let our opinions grow throughout.  As a 25 year old, I find this type of interaction invaluable!  It is a time when I can come to the proverbial family dinner table as a fully respected member of the family to feast.  I am never made to feel like I should be at the kids table, or that my ideas are foolish.  I am embraced as well as challenged; given roots and wings.  I see that people can completely disagree and still Love each other fully.  This, in and of itself, is an amazing sight... and you know what?  This is where I see it. This is where I see the true answers for making our world a better place, and for restoring God's kingdom.  Right there when I notice the other-centered love that my family can display in the most secret of ways.  This is when I know I am love and so I can love.  My family is only a tiny, broken, mirror of the Love that God has shown us through his Son.  This is where my hope lies, and there is my treasure too.  

Wanna know something funny?  For the longest time, I avoided any  ideologic conflict with my family.  This meant that politics, religion, ideas about right and wrong, were off the table.  How I longed for such discussion.  I was scared that I might lose my family's love if I disagreed with them.  I'll never forget the day my Uncle asked me my opinion about a political matter.  I was shocked by his inquiry into my thinking, my ideas, my understanding.  I felt as if I mattered, I felt valid, I felt like a person.  Don't be afraid to talk to those around you; just make sure you're ready to listen.  All we need is Roots & Wings... Roots to give us support and Wings to let us fly!