December is going by to quickly. I'm beginning to understand why people put up their Christmas gear the day after Thanksgiving. My holiday season got off to a rocky start this year after a violent stomach rocked its way through my family....the day before Thanksgiving. For those of you who don't know me-- well, this is the day I look forward to for 364 days from the last time I did all my Thanksgiving pre-cooking. Every year I get up, watch the parade with my kids, cook, eat food, and close the day with White Christmas. Instead there was moaning, pots next to beds, pepto, and we'll leave it at that. We missed the parade, had turkey the following Saturday...its wasn't the same. I did watch White Christmas to kick of the new holiday season {my own personal tradition} So to say that I was looking forward to moving onto Christmas was and understatement.
With this Christmas is closing in fast I'm trying to find that balance of getting all the stuff we wanted to do as a family for fun holiday prep and merriment, but not getting angry at myself if we don't get to it all. The phrase quality not quantity comes to mind. {Sometimes I think I even need to tattoo it on my forehead so I see it everyday when I look in the mirror. I'm a visual learner..} Anyways...We have been out past bedtimes a lot the past few weeks and it's such a treat to see all the holiday lights. My youngest son says while we drive, "Mommy, Christmas comes in darkness." The first time I heard it I giggled to myself and said, "that's right honey."
After he said this a few more times during the week it really got me to thinking about the deeper meaning that my two year old was oblivious to still; Christmas really does come in darkness. The true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our savior, that miracle really can bring light and hope to even the darkest corners of the earth. It's in the ways we pause during the craziest dinner hours and help a little boy who's struggling putting a puzzle together, pay for the person behind you in the drive thru, or bring a thinking of you present to a random friend. Taking the time to let Christmas be apart of your life and not just something that comes one morning every 25th of December.
Even thought my kids are only 4, 2, and 10 months I really feel like teaching them this truth early on will help them enjoy the simple things in life. To be grateful for what they have and share it with others. Weather it be toys now, or testimonies later.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and look forward to seeing you back here again.
xO- Cat
