With the Holiday Hustle over, it's time to look back & reflect on how the holiday was spent; was it less stressful than years past, did we enjoy spending time with family... The answer to both questions, YES! We spread the family gatherings out & stuck with the vow to not fight & stress each other out. (This is Not to say there wasn't a fight at a family gathering...but it wasn't us & we sure didn't get anywhere near it!!)
With Christmas Day landing on Sunday this year, we had our annual Christmas Eve candle light service with the children's play & then had worship service on Sunday morning. Leaving church on Saturday night, the rain was pouring down so hard it was difficult for me to see the road. I was thinking out loud & asked the kids if it continued to rain so hard throughout the night could we just stay home all day on Sunday, in our pj's & watch movies. I got a very loud "No way" from the back seat & just said, "I know, i'm just tired. Everyone would be upset if we stayed home."
Well, God did continue to bless us with the downpour all night long & into Sunday; creating not only a risen lake level in our back yard, but a small pond in our front! The kids & I made our way to church, & our two family gatherings, coming back home between each to gather gifts & food. Each time we stopped by the house, Brooklynn ran into her room saying she would be right back & came out in a different outfit. Now, let me just say, I was exhausted, so I let her do this. Playing Santa alone for the first year gave me a whole new appreciation for Vernon & all that he does to help (yes we still do Santa even though the kids are 11 & 9 but they do know, it's just part of the holiday magic)!!
When we returned home for the night, the kids began talking about the worship service from the morning. The shephards in the fields had to go 'after Christmas-shopping'. They had to go tell about the visit from the angel & the birth of Jesus...to spread the good news---shopping for people! The stores are going to have after-Christmas sales for left over decorations for a few days, but Jesus didn't come to the world in that stable for 'left overs' just for a few days after Christmas...He came for all, for eternity. Nicholas said he really enjoyed the sermon & was going to try to 'shop' all year. Brooklynn then stated she loved going to church on Christmas Eve then again on Christmas morning & that Jesus should always have lots of Birthday parties!! (This made it clear to me why she kept changing clothes; she wasn't changing to go to different gatherings, but to different Birthday parties.) I went to sleep last night with a great feeling of pride for these wonderful children that God has placed into our lives & given us the opportunity to raise.
Today, we began with discussing this weeks to-do list: clean your rooms, put away new clothes & gifts you received, household chores.... God is still showering us with rain, so I offered to help Nicholas take the trash to the dumpster. The trash truck had arrived early this morning & emptied the dumpster, closing the lid, so I had to take the broom with us to throw the lid open (I am vertically challenged & the dumpster is a large size). Now, anyone who knows me knows I am very accident prone....some say an accident waiting to happen. I really did think the lid was going to go back & open--alas, it did not. It came back down with a horrible thud, right onto my hand. I tried to move, but just wasn't quick enough & my pinkie was smashed. I have broken enough bones to know, it is broke! The kids have been helping me but things are getting done at a slower than normal pace.
Thank goodness I don't need my hand for the 'after-Christmas' shopping I am going to be doing!!! Oh well, sooo much to do & sooo little time!!
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