Christmas contemplations..... year 2
I have decided that in my absence of blogging this past month, that I will make it up to you with my Christmas Contemplations year 2. If you could recall last year you will remember that this is a list of this I love/don't necessarily love about the Christmas season. Not to be all bah-humbug, but yes there are things about the season, that I do not love. As you read, contemplate with me what exactly is important to you this year.
1. Well, like last year, I love spending time with Family. Immediate and extended.
2. I love getting out the ornaments, and decorating the tree and such.
3. I love that we don't go all out in decorating.... I tend to be a bit of a minimalist.
4. I love that Santa stayed out on top of my bookshelf all year... and that my neighbors and husband make fun of me. Hehe! I do love it!
5. I love how my children get excited!
6. I don't love the worry and wondering of "what shall I get so and so, and oh, they need this and that and the other!"
7. I love making Christmas goodies.
8. I don't love that apparently I am the only one who really appreciates all those goodies. Next year will be different. (note: I say this nearly every year!) But even I tire of them, and will inevitably get rid of all chocolate and goodies of all sorts before Christmas arrives.
9. I love the wonder in Ruby and Lillian's faces as they watched "The Polar Express"
10. I don't love the feeling that I did not get everything accomplished. Typically it is not cleaning the house before we depart over the river and through the woods to Granny's house that bugs me the most. I dislike coming home to a messy house.
11. I love the merry-making and festive activity that Christmas Morning is.
Oh for the love of pete.... I just looked over my list from last year, and decided that it is certainly sufficient for how I am feeling this year, and I am simply going to re-post it. Here it is! I can't believe I came up with so many last year! So, add these 11 to last years list and have a Merry Christmas, filled with joy, wonder, and love, and remind yourself that Mary felt those very things. Joy at the birth of her Son, and HIS Son, wonder, in how things would be for her and Joseph, and their baby, and love for Jesus, Joseph and her heavenly Father. What a humbling thought. Sweet Mary with her sweet baby Jesus.
So, add these to last years list and have a Merry Christmas, filled with joy, wonder, and love, and remind yourself that Mary felt those very things. Joy at the birth of her Son, and HIS Son, wonder, in how things would be for her and Joseph, and their baby, and love for Jesus, Joseph and her heavenly Father. What a humbling thought. Sweet Mary with her sweet baby Jesus.
Merry Christmas
Ben Sarah Jonah Lydia Fiona Ruby May and Lillian
And check out this legacy! This is my Grandparents with 17 of their 20 Great-Grandchildren. My cousin Kellie got married last evening. What a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful time for cousins to see each other and dance the night away. In May we will celebrate Joy's wedding, and with that every one of their Grandchildren will be married. All of us. We have some glorious examples in our life. They are one. Love you Grandma and Grandpa!
1. Well, like last year, I love spending time with Family. Immediate and extended.
2. I love getting out the ornaments, and decorating the tree and such.
3. I love that we don't go all out in decorating.... I tend to be a bit of a minimalist.
4. I love that Santa stayed out on top of my bookshelf all year... and that my neighbors and husband make fun of me. Hehe! I do love it!
5. I love how my children get excited!
6. I don't love the worry and wondering of "what shall I get so and so, and oh, they need this and that and the other!"
7. I love making Christmas goodies.
8. I don't love that apparently I am the only one who really appreciates all those goodies. Next year will be different. (note: I say this nearly every year!) But even I tire of them, and will inevitably get rid of all chocolate and goodies of all sorts before Christmas arrives.
9. I love the wonder in Ruby and Lillian's faces as they watched "The Polar Express"
10. I don't love the feeling that I did not get everything accomplished. Typically it is not cleaning the house before we depart over the river and through the woods to Granny's house that bugs me the most. I dislike coming home to a messy house.
11. I love the merry-making and festive activity that Christmas Morning is.
Oh for the love of pete.... I just looked over my list from last year, and decided that it is certainly sufficient for how I am feeling this year, and I am simply going to re-post it. Here it is! I can't believe I came up with so many last year! So, add these 11 to last years list and have a Merry Christmas, filled with joy, wonder, and love, and remind yourself that Mary felt those very things. Joy at the birth of her Son, and HIS Son, wonder, in how things would be for her and Joseph, and their baby, and love for Jesus, Joseph and her heavenly Father. What a humbling thought. Sweet Mary with her sweet baby Jesus.
1. I love spending time with my family. Immediate & extended.
2. I don't love worrying about the road conditions, or which one of my kids may throw up at any given moment.
3. I love giving gifts.
4. I don't love spending money. It does however help me relate to Mary & Joseph. They were poor, & by Dec.23, we are too.
5. I love working on the Christmas puzzle.
6. I don't love wondering which of my kids will mess it up & make us have to start over again.
7. I love the Starbucks Christmas blend, & that Joy can get me a deal!
8. I love having the traditional Christmas treats.
9. I don't love making them. This year I broke my finger so that people would pity my gimpy-ness and make treats for me. (just kidding totally not true.)
10. I love having my kids home for over a week!
11. I love/don't love that we will likely not be at home for any of that time.
12. I love that we have neighbors (guthries) who have put up Christmas lights this year, even if we are the only ones who really see them very well. (now that the cedar trees are gone)
13. I don't love that my selfish side said that lights on the tree were enough. The kids would love outside lights.
14. I love that we drive by neighbors house often to see the lights, & the kids ooh&ahh each time.
15. I love that the loves see to be outweighing the don't loves.
16. I love Christmas music.
17. I love my special Christmas coffee cup.
18. I love our Christmas tree this year. I talked Ben into a Fir tree!
19. I love that Ben has a Santa's workshop going this year.
20. I love that we get to celebrate Jonah's Birthday in the midst of all the craziness.
21. I love that we get to see my brother Tim & his beautiful family.
22. I love my special ornaments. Especially the ones Dad gave to me.
23. I love receiving Christmas cards
24. I love the December calendar page.
25. I love having a white (not icy) Christmas.
26. I love remembering my childhood Christmases.
27. I love our Christmas stockings.
28. I love Ben. (sorry... had to sneak that one in the list of my loves. Go ahead, swallow the bit of barf in your throat)
29. I love that I have colored lights on my tree. Everyone else has white lights.
30. I love that Fiona accepted Jesus in her heart this week. This Christmas will be her first as a child of the King.
31. I love having clementines. A Christmas staple for me.
32. I love seeing the looks on my kids faces on Christmas morning.
33. I love that this year seems to be so fun for Lillian! She is full of wonder!
34. I love that we read all kinds of Christmas books. I ordered The Gift of the Magi this year.
35. I love that Ben's Mom has something like 19 Christmas trees this year!
36. I love that Ben's family has a $5 limit, & that we all (15 adults, 17 kids) will go to Wal-Mart together, draw names, each adult will take 1 or 2 kids, and we will go on a hunt for the perfect $5 gift for our person! This is so fun!!
37. I love helping my kids realize the true meaning of Christmas. We like keeping it real, in a world that fights us all the way.
38. I love it when people look at us like crazy people for setting our spending limit at $30 per kid. Pick up your jaw. Less is best in this house.
39. I don't love that Ben & I usually don't get each other a gift.
40. I love Christmas movies.
I think I will end here. Enjoy the season. Don't get stressed out. Remember why we celebrate.
So, add these to last years list and have a Merry Christmas, filled with joy, wonder, and love, and remind yourself that Mary felt those very things. Joy at the birth of her Son, and HIS Son, wonder, in how things would be for her and Joseph, and their baby, and love for Jesus, Joseph and her heavenly Father. What a humbling thought. Sweet Mary with her sweet baby Jesus.
Merry Christmas
Ben Sarah Jonah Lydia Fiona Ruby May and Lillian
And check out this legacy! This is my Grandparents with 17 of their 20 Great-Grandchildren. My cousin Kellie got married last evening. What a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful time for cousins to see each other and dance the night away. In May we will celebrate Joy's wedding, and with that every one of their Grandchildren will be married. All of us. We have some glorious examples in our life. They are one. Love you Grandma and Grandpa!
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