A "JOYE"FUL LIFE: "It's Beginning to Look alot like....."

Christmas! Ahhh - it's finally here. I just love this time of year for so many reasons. I have every reason in the world to be completely stressed out this season. I am 35 weeks pregnant, having alot of contractions daily, and my sister is battling a very big and frightening disease. Yet, I have the strangest sense of calm in my spirit this season. Priorities have changed this year. What used to be important, is no longer all that important. The only thing that matters is, "Emmanuel" - "God with us". I am trying to force myself to be still and reflect on this beautiful truth. Everything else can wait. Shopping can wait. Holiday baking can wait. Christmas parties can wait. What cannot wait however, is slowing down long enough to reflect on Christ's coming to us, and the fact that He is with us, Emmanuel - in everything. I sit here thinking tonight of Christ's birth. Maybe it's because I am waiting for my own child to be born, and I know it's going to be a beautiful and messy event. I think about Christ. He entered this world a beautiful baby, yet a bloody mess, as all babies enter this world. He left this world a bloody mess as well. He both entered and left this world a bloody mess so that He could help us fight the bloody battles of life that we all face every day. He did this because He loves us, and He because He is, Emmanuel - God with us. How could we not be joyful this Christmas season, yes, joyful even in the midst of pain, suffering, fear, and exhaustion? We can have this joy because of, Emmanuel. HE IS WITH US, in everything, at all times!

While we have not run ourselves ragged by any means this month (and that really does take a concentrated effort), we have managed to do a few fun things. Decorating our tree was especially fun this year with a very eager and excited 3 year old! He kept looking at the lights saying, "WOW, WOW, WOW"! We let him stay up pretty late helping us, and of course it wouldn't have been complete without Christmas music, a roaring fire, and hot chocolate. Due to a pretty tight budget, I decided to try my hand at some homemade decorations this year. I am the first to admit that creativity is not a skill I possess (my Mom gets upset with me every time I say that)! But really, it is not something that comes naturally for me. And I have learned to accept it rather than getting envious of other people who do possess this skill! See, we are all a work in progress aren't we? So, I made an advent wreath for our kitchen table, and we have enjoyed reading Scripture and lighting the candles each Sunday. I also made a few other little decorations around the house - mossy cup acorns that I collected out of someones yard (figured they would miss a few since they had thousands - is that stealing???), and then spray painted them gold and silver. They were beautiful I thought - and added such a nice, natural touch inside. We have baked a few things in the kitchen, Elijah Brooks and I decorated a gingerbread house together, dipped pretzels in chocolate and then put sprinkles on them, driven around each evening with Jay looking at Christmas lights, listened to alot of Christmas music, gone to a few church parties, gone to several Christmas music events, and I have sung in a few events myself as well - am supposed to sing, "O Holy Night" on Christmas Eve so that should be interesting with me at 38 weeks pregnant! There is a plan B in case I can't do it. We still have a few more things on the calendar still to come (Breakfast with Santa, Zoo Lights Festival, gingerbread house making party with friends, and a date with mommy to see the Living Christmas Tree). I know it sounds like alot, especially when I am talking about not getting overwhelmed and slowing down long enough to know Emmanuel. However, I do not feel like I have run myself ragged. I guess it's just a matter of perspective and really learning to find the "coolest spot in the heat". Some things are worth getting anxious and stressed out over, and others simply are not. I am still learning that valuable lesson and pray God continues to remind me of it. Life is so much more enjoyable when you don't sweat the small stuff and just enjoy it. It's all going to be okay. So even while driving your kids around town to a thousand events and trying to be the best mom or the best whatever you want to be, you can still experience Emmanuel in the car with you, in the kitchen with you, in the bathroom with you, in the store with you, in traffic with you, and in the line that never ends with you.

Emmanuel is WITH US!

Every Christmas Tree needs a cat curled up under it in my opinion. Every year, Gus takes his place right next to the nativity scene. Every year. My other cat is far too sophisticated and she perches on top of the couch.