Christmas Thoughts

Well, I know my posts haven't been too deep lately. I've had plenty on my mind, but have been trying to figure out how to put it down on "paper". It's been an interesting Christmas season. Normally at this time of year, I'm scrambling with preparations for Christmas with my family and the Christmas Eve services at my church. I've still been working on the family stuff, but decided to sit this Christmas Eve out since I just stepped down last August. It's been tough. I would say that, hands down, Christmas Eve was my most favorite part about my job. I love Christmas...I love what it means and sharing it with people in my life (as well as those who come to the candlelight services). I loved getting to church at 11am on Christmas Eve and working until at least 1am on Christmas Day with people who have become like a second family (hey, you get pretty close spending that much time together). One of my highlights each year is the 11pm service. After everyone has a lit candle and just before the congregation sings "Silent Night", the people I've done Christmas Eve with for the past 7 years and I head up to the balcony. We're the only ones there besides our sound guy. We sit together and worship together in that magical moment when the clock strikes twelve and it's Christmas Day...the first finale of the many that God has gifted us with. It's so peace-filled and joyful.

I'm going to miss that this year, but I know that I need to stay home with my family...I want to. I've never been able to put my boys to bed on Christmas Eve and I'm so looking forward to that. I can't wait to come down the stairs with my hubby after the boys are sleeping and curl up in front of the fire with a glass of wine and just hang out with him. This is the beginning of another chapter in my life and I'm loving watching how the story unfolds.

I hope that you have been able to carve out some time to slow down and bask in the glorious wonder of what our God has done for us...just because He loves us so much. If you need a candlelight service to attend, I know of one that will not only knock your socks off, but also guide you to the true reason we all feel that undescribable tugging in our hearts during this time of year.

With that, I leave you with what I have learned this Christmas Season...

1. Easy cheese and wheat thins taste MUCH better when you're 10.

2. Kids in the preschool program are so adorable that techinical difficulties don't matter.

3. Hearing your 5-year-old read the Christmas story out of his own (brand new) Bible will bring tears to your eyes.

4. That thing you stood in line for the day after Thanksgiving (at 5am) will go on sale again (during regular store hours) the week before Christmas.

5. Making time each day to be still with God...even when every ounce of your being is screaming "but there is still SO much to do" will refresh and restore you.

Deep thoughts from my brother

Got this text the other day from my brother...

I saw two geese fighting today and I thought, "hey, that's like a pillow fight...but before."

Our family get togethers are ALWAYS fun!!

Conversations from the back seat...

As we were driving home from the grocery store today, my older son says...

"Hey mom, wouldn't it be so cool if when you drove super fast the police gave you movie tickets?"

Of course I said "That WOULD be cool."

Then he says..."Yeah, then everybody would drive really fast and we'd see all of our friends at the movies."