Merry Christmas!!

May the peace that is Christmas make its way to your heart

Christmas is Coming!!

I keep calling it Jesus' birthday. If nothing else to remind us the reason. It is so easy to get caught up in the everything else this time of year. There seems to be a certain amount of chatizement for that too. Getting caught up in the presents, cards, cookies and doings. Almost a guilt trip that you are forgetting one BIG thing and you need to add it to your list. Otherwise you are REALLY naughty.

And it is important. Really important. BUT.....and this is the place my brain splits up here.

1. I read an article today getting all over Old Navy for saying "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. What is wrong with Happy Holidays coming from a public place? There ARE a variety of holidays this month. I happen to celebrate just one of them...and IMO it is a biggy....but it doesn't mean the others aren't also important. Some celebrate St. Nicks day Dec 6th. Mary's holiday Dec 8th. Christmas of course. Hanakuah. Kwanza. So, instead of guessing what to say to someone....what is wrong with Happy Holidays? Why do people get so bent out of shape about it? Why does it have to be a competition. My Holiday is more important then yours so say ____________ (fill in the blank) or I'm going to blast nasty letters all over about you. Cause sure, you betcha, THATS what the holidays are all about. I just don't get that. What do you think Jesus would say if HE worked at Old Navy???

2. WHAT is wrong with getting caught up in the "everything"? I LIKE, dare I say LOVE to shop for my kids at Christmas. We do not buy them a lot of "fun" things at any other time of the year other then their birthdays. I have a great deal of fun doing this. I tell my kids that Jesus loves us so much that he wants US to have the presents on his birthday. That giving and sharing is what it is about. I like getting caught up. Eating to many cookies (really if we didnt gain weight in December what would we do with ourselves in January?) And cards. I love getting all that happy mail! LOVE IT!!!! I think we need to get caught up. In the fun, the joy, the wonder. If you are working to hard at it then quit and make it fun. But don't quit the holidays, our spirits need them. If nothing else, it is a change of pace. We need that too.

I can't WAIT For Christmas morning. I'm going to do my best to enjoy every minute of my Childrens joy. I'm going to celebrate my Kings special birthday. Even though I know that there are people hurting in this world. And that they will be hurting on Christmas morning. I know that some will not want to celebrate. I will not do it to spite them, but try to do it almost for them if that makes any sense. I will think of all the hurting people in Africa. In the middle East. In North Korea. Of all the people hurting in this world and pray that at least one day this month they find a way to celebrate just a little. I personally pray that they are celebrating the way God wants them too. However, some might not be ready for that and I think that that is OK. Just celebrate. Its a step. A step towards joy. And letting joy in no matter how small is a step to finding your way out of the pain. A step towards finding real peace. He's out there. I promise.

Sweeties

I spend my day with two sweeties.

Like this AM I left the room and then came back in, G blew me a kiss. How sweet is that? All I had to do was walk back into the room

Yesterday we went to SuperWalmart where S was rewarded with a cup of popcorn chicken which she just loves. So happy was she. We got back home and I put G in her chair at the table so I could unload everything with out worrying about G being underfoot. When I came back in, S was carefully breaking several of her popcorn chickens into small pieces to share with G. My heart swelled several sizes in that instance!!!

I love to watch my children care for each other. Nothing can bring tears to my eyes faster then that.

Happy Birthday Little One

My baby is one today. I've thought long and hard trying to come up with something profound. I'm not good with profound is what I've discoverd!

SO....here it goes.....

Dear G,

I just love you like crazy. If I think about it longer then 3 seconds....like I'm doing right now I get tears in my eyes. Which incidently makes typing a bit trickier. I am so excited to be able to watch you grow and change and at the same time sad for what you are not anymore. You are running (literally) towards toddlerhood and so busy busy exploring your world these days. Your road to us is a story I will tell you one day. It is different then many....unique like you. There are tears and heart ache in that story, but God's promise to make good come from pain does come true even though there are scars. Watching you grow is a blessing to me. And I thank God for the opportunity I was given.

You are part of my heart little one.
Love Mommy