The 2024 Christmas Chronicals

 I don't usually write a Christmas letter anymore. I've been on a "less is more" quest for awhile now. And I think I've come to peace with rarely sending out cards and letters. But I do like the practice of looking back over the past year and recognizing the blessings and the wins. 

So, in the spirit of the "Christmas Letter" here's what the Williams' were up to this past year:

Every year seems to have some themes. If I had to put a theme on this year maybe it would be, Musical Theater. Or Northern California. Or Pizza. Or Being Church. I don't know. 

In the first week of 2024 Dan and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. I know! We. ARE. SO. OLD. But also, we were just babies when we got married. I didn't think so then but I still laugh and how silly and immature we were playing house back then, and how thankful I am we've grown-up together. For this anniversary we traveled to Monterey, California. I had been there twice with my family when I was a teenager and I always hoped I'd go back with my husband someday, so I guess you could say this was a bucket-list trip for me. And Dan fell every bit as in love with this hauntingly beautiful place as I did. We took a bazillion pictures trying to catch waves crashing against dark jagged rocks. We shopped at a farmer's market and a bookstore with a secret garden in the fairy-tale inspired village of Carmel. We ate the best pizza of our lives at La Bicicleta. And we found Nemo at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

Moses jumped into the world of musical theater with both feet. He played the role of Monsieur D'Arque in his schools' production of Aladin. And musical theater at his school is no joke. They sold tickets to five performances in four days, and I don't remember seeing an empty seat. He then tried out for Show Choir and made it, participated in the summer production of School House Rock, and is now practicing for hours nearly every day in preparation for this February's production of Aladin. He will be playing the Suitor who visits Jasmine before Aladin, and all of his friends are finding it funny to watch this "nice guy" act like such an alpha on stage. I should also mention that our family got tickets to see Hamilton this past summer, and it did not disappoint. Then for Christmas, mom (Mimi) bought us all front row tickets to the Christmas Carol at Hale's theater in the round. I've been working on making sure he watches some of the "theater nerd" staples as much as possible.

When he's not singing and dancing on stage, Moses enjoys online gaming with his friends and attending youth group events. This past June was his first trip with the Journey of Grace youth group to Elev8 at Point Loma, and it was a memorable experience for me, Daniel, Moses and all of their church friends. God's blessed him with an incredible circle and he's really thriving through the middle school years, which is nothing short of miraculous. 

This has been the tip-toe into adulthood year for Daniel. Over the summer he worked on getting his driver's license, and has slowly been starting to enjoy the freedom and responsibility whenever possible, as he starts saving for a car. In August he started his senior year and so far, it's been the best one yet, with a lighter schedule, and more classes with friends. His highlight and his friend group has revolved around the guitar class that he's loved and continued through all four years. In October Daniel turned in his first job application and within two days he was washing dishes at a pizza place less than a mile from our house that's been around since I was a kid. Although he has been promoted to the actual making of the pizza at work, he's been on a pizza making kick at home. He also takes care of a lot of the cooking for our congregation, The Table on Sunday nights. I'm not sure how it happened, but I blinked and one day my little boy was a grown man. We are so proud of his strength, and compassion, and diligence. What I hear most from the adults in his life is, "He's a good kid...and he is absolutely hilarious." He's a loyal friend and is always shocking me with his gems of wisdom.

Dan is still working in Nuclear Medicine for Banner. He's been employed with them for 25 years now. He's still enjoying his card collecting and selling. I'd say he's moved up to level Expert on the card trading knowledge ladder. Dan is also an excellent "Pastor's Husband." He doesn't play piano or bake cookies, but he does put on a suit when he has to, help prepare the house for Sunday night services, grill stuff, sit through late night leadership zoom meetings, and provide a safe place to talk about all the things I am overthinking. 

The big personal highlight for my year would have to be my ordination as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene. In some ways, little has changed about the job I was already doing as part of the staff of The Table Nazarene house church. But, I can sign my letters Reverand Christy Williams now! I'm so thankful for all the people God has used to help me recognize my calling, and for a denomination who has been ordaining women for over 100 years. I am passionate about theology (what I and others believe about God) and will talk to you any time about my God story. Please ask.

Both before and after ordination I have been an associate pastor for the Table Nazarene. We are a house church under the umbrella of the Church of the Nazarene. We do everything the typical church does-music, sermon, communion, children's ministry, etc. but in a house. And with a lot of food, discussion, and kids. Going smaller has given us the space to go broader in our impact on the community and God's been doing some exciting things through the connections we've made outside of church walls.

I have also been subbing in Mesa Public Schools. The majority of my time goes to the junior high Moses attends. Some days are absolutely amazing. And some are unbelievably hard. But I have a good sense of humor. And I love that it's never boring. The best and worst moment of the year was when a student told me I "look like a president." I have no idea what that meant, but because we hadn't exactly been "besties" I'm guessing it was not a compliment. Unfortunately, I did not take that as a sign to run for that position this year. Sorry everyone. Maybe in 2028.

Together, our family has made some wonderful memories this year. I don't think I'm the only one of us four who would say that our summer vacation up the California coast to Monterey (yes....again), and then San Francisco topped the charts. We checked off another bucket list item, getting Dan to a Giants game in Oracle Park. We even listened to the Willie Mays biography on the way. 

As we turned the corner into the holiday season, we were reminded of some of the things that have changed, and the people and traditions we miss. Dan's mom's birthday, Dan's parents' anniversary, and my dad's birthday all fall on the week before Christmas. And to intensify that empty feeling, Dan's mom LOVED Christmas like no one I'd ever met, and so many of our traditions were shaped by that. We're missing the glue that held it together. We're also still finding what some things such as advent look like in the smaller, house-church setting. In all these things, we're learning to make our new traditions and new normal. But it's been a journey over the past few years. If you're still reading this, you're probably someone who's been part of helping us along in that journey and we are so thankful for you. Just like George Bailey said in It's a Wonderful Life, "No man is a failure who has friends."