Hope your Christmas is BLESSED!

OK so Christmas time I guess is officially upon us whether you are ready for it or not. Around this time it is hard not to get caught up in all the "most" have things you have on your list to do. It is easy to get sucked into the hoopla that is the season. However, for me this year I have really tried to set a not stressed logical pace. OK you guessed it...it really wasn't much of my choice as my energy level is stuck on incubate and not on productivity! But as I sit here a few days before Christmas and know that my presents aren't all shopped for, my packages are not all sent, I made the minimum amount of cookies, the presents aren't wrapped, Brahm has a store bought stocking (the one I started for him last year is still in my sewing kit), and the fresh pine bough garlands and wreathes that adorn the front of my house is not even a thought anymore. You know what? I am ok with all that not being done, because as I sit here in the semi dark with only the Christmas tree for light I know that it is not about what didn't get done or what should have gotten done. It is about so much more. It is about the two little faces covered in sprinkles after making cookies, or about the sugar high that they have been on since the baking and package opening has started. It is about snuggling with my daughter on the couch with just the multicolored window trim glowing and talking about all the things she loves. It is about over hearing a sister teaching a brother all the ins and outs of Christmas to finally hear her conclude with "but most of all Brahm it is Jesus' birthday". These are the things that make this time of year great. It is about the unexpected...heck think of how unexpected everything was for Mary! She was not given a list or score of things to do she was to carry the Christ child and see to it that she did God's bidding no matter the cost. So with that, that is my new goal. I will not worry or fuss, but give Glory and Honor. I will not focus in so close into my life that I miss those around me but instead put those around me first and love unconditionally. And hopefully with this shift of focus I will be able to truly ponder all that Christ coming to earth meant, and cherish all that God has so richly blessed me with...even if it is on a sugar high and sprinkle covered. May this Christmas find you loved and filled with the JOY and FREEDOM that only Christ can bring.

Where did the creativity go?

So here we are close to Christmas and everyone is all in a bustle trying to decorate and do things to get ready. Funny, I have no desire to do any of it. I am trying to bake, but haven't even thought about decorating. I am just to busy trying to get the little done around the house I use to to keep up. But the bright side is only one more month and we will met this little monkey that is zapping my energy. So keeping it short but I figured I would give you all an update. The kids are well. They are loving the lights daddy put up outside, and Auden is telling Brahm all the things to look forward to this up coming Christmas. The super cool thing is that she tells him it is baby Jesus' birthday and not just Santa is coming (which) she hasn't said at all. They sing happy birthday together it is sorta cute. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our tree. Daddy has been working a lot of overtime, but has found time to go snow machining already. However, his hand has been giving him a slight problem so that could be a prayer request. He has been using it more and the cold weather doesn't help. We ventured out last night and took the kids swimming in Homer and they LOVED it. (They had happier faces then the picture below:)...I figured you would like to see them with their..."not enthused" mood on.)We were equipped with waterwings and goggles and though they looked like goobers they were CUTE! Brahm started out with a lifejacket that just turned him on his back, and then we tried the waterwings on him too and it was great! I never knew they worked so well. They have been asking all day if we can go again...we will see. Other then that all is well here. Just doing Christmas odds and ends. I hope you all are enjoying this time of preparation.