On the sixth day of Christmas – “Six geese a-laying.”

#1: She’s not a goose, she’s a labradoodle. But Scout qualifies because she is the first of six pictures I’m sharing for today’s, “On the Sixth Day of Christmas” entry.

Naomi captured the image (above) at the park Saturday. Today Scout is at the dog-sitter’s house and I really miss her. Talk about a gift! She was so good with the grandchildren over Christmas, and she’s such an encourager; a positive, loving presence all the time.

It’s a cliche, yes, but I really do aspire to be the kind of man my dog believes I am.

Picture #2: This has to be (and these are in no particular order) our daughter, Naomi, and her beautiful family.

This was our first Christmas together in six years and it was just about the best visit possible; lots of love and nothing but good memories.

We may have moved 680 miles closer to the Campbells, but we’re still 600 miles from Connecticut. That’s about a gazillion in grandparent miles.

PICTURES 3 & 4: – These are David and Rebekah. Naomi captured the shot of David in our back garden. As I wrote the other day, he is “so two….” But to watch him grow, to watch him learn. I pray every day that he will enjoy this life as much as I do. What a gift!

Then, sitting in church yesterday, Rebekah – “Beks” – sat on my lap and seemed to be taking it all in. Again, my prayer for her is that her experience of the community of faith will be as positive and as encouraging as mine.

Yes, I was a goofy grandfather, showing her off. But can you blame me?

Pictures # 5 & 6: This church, Wake Forest Presbyterian, is the reason we’re here, and the church has been such a blessing this Christmas.

The Spirit at WFPC is so vibrant, so ready to move forward, so full with belief. I can’t wait to see what the new year brings.

Rebekah has finally finished – almost – the remodel of her office. A contractor in the church gifted her with the remarkable built-in bookshelves you can see in these last two photos. I believe the fresh paint and the new construction are representative of the Spirit here, this sense of “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Hard work, maybe; but good work all the same.

The Sixth Day of Christmas. I’m still unpacking what all these gifts mean, and what God is calling me to do with such generosity.

But I do know this with certainty: I am moving into 2014 with a profound sense of gratitude, and of unbounded hope – DEREK