I've read all the Harry Potter books. It started out when we were doing youth ministry at Madeira when Steve and I were first married. When the first book was published, there was, if you recall, controversy. Should a "good" Christian read it or not? Well, I happened to be teaching the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in Sunday school, and even the kids in the class were split over it. Some said their parents read the book with them. Others said their parents were mad that their school teachers were reading it to them. To be better informed as their Sunday school teacher, I figured I should read the book myself. So I borrowed it from a friend, and I got hooked!

I'll admit, I don't know the age range I would recommend to start reading the series. After all, there is some crazy stuff that happens in the books that could scare youngsters. But JK Rowling's writing is amazing and I appreciate her skills, finding each novel compelling as an adult reader.

As each book was published, I found a friend who would lend me a copy. (I wasn't sure if I wanted to officially own them and was too cheap to purchase right away!) What's funny though is that when the sixth book came out, I really didn't have anyone close to me from whom I could borrow the book. So I didn't end up reading it until just a few months ago.

I was surprised that I hadn't found out any information on what had happened in the sixth book since it was published two years ago. I guess I wasn't around any hardcore fans who talked about it. Then, 3/4 of the way through the book, Steve was commenting on some T-shirt he saw online that had things printed on it to spoil the endings of movies and books. As I glanced up, I saw the ending to book 6, mere pages from reading about it. I went almost two years hearing nothing, and he spoils it for me that close to the ending?!?!?!? He felt really bad. He didn't realize that the info was a spoiler for that particular book. (Another note: before book 5, I had talked with a teenager at Mason and she hinted at the person who dies in that book. So again, before reading about it, the ending had been spoiled!)

It was kind of nice having just read book 6 because it was fresh in my mind (I'm not so hardcore, and I forget what happens in some of the books), and I was eagerly anticipating the final book. I found a whole new crop of friends at church who are avid Potter fans. And Beth told me she'd lend me the book when she was finished. Hooray!

Sunday night at church, a mere week after it was released, I had it in my hands. (I've been avoiding all reviews, TV shows, web sites, etc. -- even my husband, who cheated and went to Wikipedia the day after it was published to read all the details, even though he's never read the books!!!) I wanted to read it fast and just know what happened. So I sat down Sunday at 10 p.m. and read till 1 a.m. I was a third of the way through.

Monday I had to actually get some work done and also care for my child. But I found a couple of daylight hours to read to the halfway mark. (OK, so I ignored my child a little -- I mean, I made sure she was playing contentedly as I sat in her room and read while she amused herself with toys and books. The girl has to learn that at some point anyway! I'm presenting a good example by reading!) Then at 9:30 p.m. Kaelyn was in bed, work was done, and I was able to focus solely on finishing the book. By 12:30 a.m. I had done it! All 759 pages! I cannot recall ever reading so much in so little time!

It is complete. I am satisfied with my read. Now I'm back to living in the real world today. And I might take a nap.

I've been thinking a lot lately about our trip to Israel. We were there this very time of year two years ago. Sometimes it feels like we were just there.

It's hard to describe, but there is a sense of "home" feeling I have, especially for Jerusalem. Because I know that Jesus walked those streets and experienced that city, I feel a connection to the place. Having seen the country, it really makes the Bible come alive for me.

Heaven is described in the Bible as the "New Jerusalem." I think it was such an important city to the Jews that describing their eternal destination that way gave them a sense of what their final home would be like. I never thought it was helpful for me when I read Revelation because I didn't understand the metaphor. But now I get it.

I miss it. I never expected to feel this way. It's hard to express, but I'm just so glad we went.

I want to catch up on some thoughts I had at Christmastime that I wanted to put in writing.

This Christmas gave me a new perspective on thinking of our Lord and Savior as a baby as I currently have a baby of my own in the house. (You may have heard of her. I post pictures of her here all the time!!) I had so many new thoughts, such as what did Jesus act like as a baby? Did he make faces that Mary and Joseph laughed at? Were his diapers normal or somehow more "holy" in their contents? (You never know!! Maybe they smelled nicer.) What was it like for Mary and Joseph to teach Jesus to walk and talk and spell and count -- they were teaching GOD all these things? How mind-blowing!

God never does things according to human logic. I mean, if you were going to save the world, wouldn't you just snap your fingers and do it? Why wait thousands of years to send Jesus to earth? And why then send Him as a baby instead of as an adult, already at the age where He could teach, make disciples, and be ready to die on the cross?

No, God sent Jesus as a baby. Think of all those years of Jesus growing up. He didn't even know who He was as a kid, a toddler, a baby. What was the point of the time it took to raise Jesus? We don't know anything from his birth until he was 12. What went on? Those years may have seemed a "waste of time" in our impatient minds. But His young life had a purpose too. What was that purpose? What did Mary and Joseph and Jesus' siblings and others all learn from His young life? What was the point of all those years before He could become our Savior?

The other thoughts I had lately was how young Jesus really was. I mean, we all have pictures of Him in our minds and pictures others have painted. Some make Him look very mature. But He began His ministry at age 30. I'm 29 now and Steve's 31. I still think of ourselves as pretty young -- not as young as we used to be, but still young! And not very mature at times! : ) Yet Jesus at 30 had authority and many followers. I can't imagine leading so many people right now in my life. That sounds like a scary prospect. And He died at age 33. When I look at people I know who are 33 (such as Steve's brother, Chris -- shoutout to you!), I realize how young that is. Can you imagine fulfilling not only your life's destiny but fulfilling the world's salvation at age 33?

Perhaps you've thought of these things before. They just struck me anew this season, and I wanted to put them in words before I forget. I like the wonder of these questions, as they remind me that God is definitely far above all my imagination. And I can trust His plans, even though they may be nothing I'd ever expect.