The Rabbit Room

Merry Christmas Pete & Andrew…

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thanks for my wonderful gifts, Warnemuendes!

See more on my blog.

While I technically didn’t participate in this gift exchange, I still have thanks to give to the Rabbit Room community. My thanks to all for welcoming me in and pointing my feet in the paths they’ve walked this year.
http://maidcarolyn.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-center-point.html

Micah, we’re so thrilled you enjoy the gifts!

…And good idea putting up a blog post. Here’s my very special gift from and story about Rabbit Roomer, Suzanne Tietjen: http://lorenwarn.blogspot.com/2012/12/treasures-for-senses-and-soul.html

Thank you, Suzanne!

I’m planning to mail a personal thank you to my “unknown” gift giver in Virginia, but I would like to publicly say that I love the hand-painted card and the beautiful and beautifully-framed Lewis quotation. I’m quite sure this is the first time I’ve been moved to tears over a note from an “unknown!” The Rabbit Room has been such a gift all year long. “Gift” is such an inadequate word for this community, but I can’t think of a better one. I’m grateful beyond words for the Rabbit Room.

This advent I’ve been thinking of John and how at the end of his gospel he says the world could not hold all of the stories if they were written down. I used to think that he was exaggerating. I don’t think that anymore!

As I sit with my family here in North Texas (we live north of Dallas and south of the Red River), I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness. We’ve been in a pretty bad drought here, and it’s been unseasonably warm. The ground has been crying out for moisture and 70 degrees isn’t so nice when everything around you looks dead. But last night I awoke to the sound of grace and mercy in the form of very loud thunder and pouring rain, and it continued through the night and all morning. And if that wasn’t enough, we opened our gifts, feasting on the fruits of extravagant giving and gracious receiving. I felt the day was so full that it couldn’t possibly get better. And then it did. The rain changed to snow and we’ve had blizzard-like conditions for hours now. The Sovereign Lord has seen fit to give us rain and snow on today of all days, in Texas of all places! It’s a Merry Christmas, indeed!

I want to thank my secret Santa for the gift of new music — “Bringing in the Darlings,” by Josh Ritter. I’d only heard *of* Josh, but now I’ve heard him, and I am really enjoying the CD. Thanks again to my anonymous rabbit friend!

Many thanks to my secret santa for the (1) Book of Common Prayer and (2) Book of Common Prayer pocket edition. Looks like it’s going to be a very liturgical 2013! =)

I want to say thank you for the YUMMY chocolates, the beautiful card with Lewis and Tolkien quotes, and _The Company They Keep_, which I can’t wait to start reading. Thank you so much, Secret Santa.

I also want to say that although my sister and I have a box put together for OUR recipient, we had a snowstorm the weekend before Christmas and didn’t get to the Post Office to send it. So if perhaps you haven’t recieved a box yet, we might be the guilty party.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thanks once again to my Secret Santa. Another gift came in the mail today — a new game called Carcassonne. It looks so fun. My family and I will love playing it!

Thank you to my Secret Santa and fellow Minnesotan, Jaime. I love the coasters crocheted with silk wrapped cotton – the colors are perfect! I just learned to crochet this fall, so this is a very inspiring gift. I’ve been wanting to read The Supper of the Lamb since being introduced to it here – how did you know?! And I loved how it was all wrapped in a beautiful tea towel. Thanks again!

Thanks to my giver for Light for the Lost Boy deluxe and Molehill 1! I have been savoring them both. I was (am) giddy over getting the package in the mail, and enjoyed the gifting process thoroughly.

Thanks to Jenny, my secret Santa, whose gift supports a fantastic-looking organization in Nashville that helps women transition out of prostitution and addiction. I opened the package to find a travel case of various lotions and other nice smelling things, which are handmade by the women at the organization. I love purple, lavender (which was the scent of everything), and traveling. How did she know? Let’s please make this exchange an annual tradition!

Thanks to Micah for the books. I immediately re-read an old story I had not read in probably 30 years — Flowers for Algernon — and it became the focus of one of my Christmas blogs (http://brucehennigan.com/2012/12/21/more-flowers-for-algernon/). The two books really made my Christmas a happy one!

Thank you so much, Laura P for the delightful package. I’m loving the CD, Birds of Relocation by Eric Peters, especially love the song, Voices. The little tree made from tongue and groove repurposed wood is so cute. If I was a little more tech savvy I would post a pic. Well, I’ll email it to Rabbit Room. maybe someone can post it. Thanks again, Laura, for the Rabbity Christmas greeting.
Susan

Anissa: Thistle Farms! I love what they do.

Many thanks again to Cynda Pierce for the lovely journal for writing poems (my current one is almost full. and it has cherry blossoms! so beautiful I’m scared to write it in. ), tasty treats from a local candy shop, and wonderful tin of tea, all packed in a super cute rabbit stocking. Finding that package on my desk when I went back to work after the long Christmas weekend made my day.

Dear recipient of my package: I dropped it in the mail today. Sorry I’m super late. Huzzah for extending Christmas?

I want to openly thank Jordan for the beautiful burlap print, and for the fond memories it brings back of my late grandfather, who left his family burlap-making business for the Navy, for NASA, and for the love of his life who he married with 5 children, plus my mother who made 6. Pictures to come on my WordPress.

I feel the Rabbit Room is even more interwoven now in my heart, and so thankful that Jesus brought me here!

Thank you again so much to everyone who was involved in the administration and the gift-giving/receiving. I can’t wait to do this again next year! Then, my gift will be on time

Dear Anonymous Gift Giver from Montgomery Alabama: I simply adore the bird painting. It’s in a place of honor on our mantle and looks lovely. Thank you, whoever you may be!

Finally got back to Michigan today and got my Secret Santa package from Amanda and Dave Herring–thank you, thank you! Handmade Christmas is the best kind.

My lovely secret pal, Cheryl Smith, sent me a wonderful mug, some cocoa, a couple of cake pops and a “Son” catcher (her description, not mine; I love it!) I hope you can see the photo. http://t.co/cOjhTkss

My Secret Santa has struck again with a book by Mary Oliver, Winter Hours. I haven’t had the chance to start reading it, and I’m not actually familiar with Mary Oliver, but I Googled her and read a few of her quotes, and I can tell this book will resonate with me. So thank you again, my anonymous friend.

Many thanks to my “Santa” for the lovely copy of The Narnian. A Christmas present about C.S. Lewis….What could be better?