Thirty One days hath December

So, I just noticed that I have only written 30 posts in 2010.  That's not much!  But the thought occurred to me that if I would post something today....December 30th then by tomorrow, December 31st I would have 31 posts for 2010.  I guess it would even be more exciting if I waited to post my 31st post on the 31st day of the last day of the year but alas.....with my "on the ball record" I am sure I would forget and then it would be too late by the time I remembered.

Something to Celebrate!

It was anything but a typical Christmas.  Even this morning, as we all awoke under the lights of the Christmas tree after our big "Christmas Eve Campout", it still didn't "feel" like Christmas.  Maybe because Daddy wasn't here.  Maybe because I actually was so organized and prepared this year!  I have had the gifts waiting in the closet of my bedroom since August!

First thing this morning we turned on "The Nativity Story".  Such a sweet story.  Although it differs from the original text somewhat, I still feel it exemplifies the human-ness of the people and times.  Joseph is so humble, Mary so submissive.  And of course, I love the historical accuracy-- the costumes, the buildings, the scenery and references to events and people right out of history.  Ryan came home early....about 6:45 and surprised us!  Yay for surprises like that!

The gifts came next.....each of the children had wrapped every other person in the family a gift for under the tree and hand-written every other person in the family a note for in their stocking.  I love our tradition of notes in the stockings.  Each member of the family has to write a note to every other member of the family.  The kids were so creative this year!  Ryan and I both received poetry (!) and coupons and home-made envelopes and old fashioned, hand-written expressions of love.  This is my absolute favorite part of the gift-giving tradition in our home.  The children had also come up with gifts to give each other...all without spending a dime.  Maya gave Sarah a book of hers that Sarah loves and has read four times and Sarah gave Maya a t-shirt of hers that Maya loves.  Benjamin wrapped each of the girls an item he knew they loved just so they would have something from him to open!  Sarah made Benjamin the cutest bird cage with a red bird inside and everyone had something for Boden...from balls to dinosaurs to stuffed animals!  He opened each thing with a delight and excitement reserved for toddlers and it was such a joy to see everyone enjoying the gifts they had put thought and time into!  What a blessing to see our children take such joy in the giving of gifts!

After this the children each opened their gift from us.  They each received one present.  I have known for months what they were each getting and they were thrilled with their gifts!  Sarah received a camera, Maya a "Molly" doll from American Girls, Benjamin a marble mania maze (huge maze with a motor and everything that he gets to build!), and Boden got a tunnel and tent from Discovery Kids.  They were so thankful for their gift and we played dolls and took pictures of the boys crawling through the tunnel all day long!

Ryan and I each exchanged gifts too!  I really wasn't expecting anything this year and boy did I get a HUGE surprise!  My honey really spoils me way too much but of course....I love it!

After the gifts we had breakfast and hot chocolate and then sent Daddy off to bed to dream of sugar plums and probably chili.  The children and I puttered around the rest of the day.  We played and read some and finished "The Nativity Story". 
 Later in the day we fixed a ham and mashed potatoes, green beans and fruit salad for dinner.  We set the table with the red tablecloth and  when Daddy woke up we had soft Christmas music playing, candles burning and a nice dinner set out on the table.  He even got to carve a ham! 
He loved it of course.  He has told me that when we are all sitting around the table together with a fine meal before us, it really does feel as if all is well in the world.

We sent him off to work again.  After the children played a rousing game of chase me  around the tent and  I brushed out the girls hair and braided it for bed, we are settled down again for another night as Christmas day comes to a close. 

My biggest concern is that my life is being lived for Jesus.  I want the children to love Him and long to draw near and linger in His presence.   Am I making the most of daily opportunities to turn their eyes and hearts to Him?  Am I turning my heart continually to Him?    Christmas is a special day but not for any of the reasons the world says it is special.   And although I will take any opportunity to celebrate my Savior, if I am only "remembering the reason for the season" once a year, it is not enough.  Christ was born and I celebrate that because without His birth there could be no death and without His death there would be no hope, no promise of a heavenly eternity.   And that is something to celebrate every day.

An Ordinary Life of Extraordinary Things

The girls are in the kitchen busily whipping up a batch of sugar cookies.  They came to me and asked if they could make some cookies to decorate.  I told them the kitchen had to be cleaned up from breakfast first.  I expected some hesitation but they joyfully had that chore finished in record time.  They got out their recipe book and began gathering their ingredients.  It wasn't long before they realized there was one vital ingredient missing.
"Mom, we don't have any eggs."
"How many do you need?"
"Just one."
"Well, why don't you go ask your chickens to give you one,"  I offered.
So, they called their loyal brother in and asked him to go out to the pens and check the chickens nests to see if there were any eggs.  At this point I was hopeful but doubtful.  We check the nest each evening and didn't figure any of the "girls" would have laid anything yet this morning.  Later, Benjamin told us he was doubtful too so he prayed and asked God to tell the chickens to lay an egg for the cookies his sisters were making in the house.  Well, of course there WAS an egg!  Benjamin ran to me proudly holding the treasure and shouting, "Look Mommy!  God did a miracle!"

So, as I sit here in my cozy living room listening to my daughters chatter together happily as they busily roll out their "miracle cookies", and as I watch Benjamin and his Daddy tackling a project on the floor of my bedroom above my head, I am humbly filled with praise and joy for the wonderful life God has given us.  A life filled with  simple sweet moments like these.  An ordinary life of extraordinary little things.