Twas the Days After Christmas

Today is the 28th of December. The rush of Christmas is over. I think the kids were pleased with the gifts they received even though it was a very small Christmas for them. And we are still waiting on the weather to co-operate so that Santa can put in the basketball goal! One thing I have noticed in the changes of seasons of life~ mine and my children's~ are the way some traditions have changed a long the way. Even the decorating of the Christmas tress. What once was a family affair is now with the younger ones and the older ones who may be home that evening. Even having everyone place their own ornament on the tree is a hit and miss. The fun of going to look at Christmas lights has changed from several times before Christmas with the whole family to maybe 2 times before Christmas if we are lucky. And with only the younger children. The busyness of basketball games and exams have led to those changes. Another tradition that has changed is reading of Christmas stories before bedtime. Again, I think the ball game schedules as well as the change from homeschooling to the kids being in school has led to these changes. I so miss Jotham's Journey and the other stories we read. Another change was our Christmas Day with the whole family. With Adam's children growing up and Jason's too, we have decided to get together the day after Christmas instead of Christmas day. Last year was the first day for that in YEARS and it was so quiet here! Yes even with our 8 at home and Amber's family, it was quiet. In a way, it was nice to enjoy Christmas without all of the cooking. This year with my children being sick, and Rocky and Pam being in Oregon, we had a real small group. Momma and Daddy came, Adam and his family did too. Jason and Jenny decided not to come since my kids were sick and Alex was with Allie's family. God has shown me a couple things from these changes. One is that as life changes we can either let it change us and the things that are important to us or we can adapt the life changes to still do the things we want to do. Next year we will read Jotham's Journey~ we will have to start in November to get it done~ but we will do it. Another is that changing traditons is not a bad thing. We will probably have to change the family time again. Maybe a weekend earlier in December. But the tradition that will never change is making Jesus the center of Christmas. And remembering that HE is the reason for the season!

Christmas Eve

On this Christmas Eve with a house full of sick children and a list of things still to do, I started the morning very early with a child needing a breathing treatment. As she was doing the treatment, I thought I would check my Facebook. It was there that I saw the video for "Where Is The Line To See Jesus?" As I watched that video, tears streamed down my face. I was so convicted of the truth that I had lost site of the REAL reason for this season. My vision was blurred by the business of life, working full time, and sick children. I was so disappointed in all of the "traditions" that we were not sharing this year that I was not focusing on the ONLY tradition that matters and that is the celebration of Jesus. Oh, I am one to believe that we are to celebrate HIM all year, but I also believe that we are to be the LIGHT of the world who focuses ONLY on the THINGS of Christmas. And here I was, falling into that trap myself. So today, with presents left to wrap, and cookies left to bake, I have gone to my Lord and asked forgiveness and praised HIM for loving me these last weeks as I have been so unloveable. And I am starting our Christmas season NOW~ focusing on HIM and not the THINGS!! Merry Christmas to ALL!