The Annual Christmas Letter
Why waste creative effort only to mail out the letters? I say spread the effort around, and blog it!!
A few days after Thanksgiving, I began the process of decorating for Christmas. This year, it meant Brent had to climb into that awkward closet and begin lugging down box after box of my favorite things. I told myself, that at this point in my pregnancy, just the tree a few small things would be enough decorations for this year. But with each box I opened, I just couldn’t resist.
Alas, snowmen, Santa’s, strands of garland, stockings, three nativity scenes and five days of work later, the job was complete.
In the days that have passed, I have spent some portion of time each day on my hands and knees – remember, very pregnant - looking for baby Jesus. Of all the figures in the two out of three nativity scenes that are within reach of little hands, baby Jesus seems to be the favorite. I have found him under the couch, nestled among the Christmas books, baking in the toy oven, and sleeping at the bottom of the toy box.
I just could not stand to look at an incomplete nativity scene – especially one missing baby Jesus, himself. After all, we’re celebrating his big day!
During one particular search and rescue mission, where I found baby Jesus deep in the cushions of the couch, Jesus had this message of thanks for me,
“My dear, you are looking for me in all the wrong places.”
I heard his message. Loud and clear. And I’m wishing the same for all of you this year…
…that you find baby Jesus, not in the mess strung across your house, but in the faces of the precious children who made that mess…
…not in the crumbs under the kitchen table, but in the blessings of food and warmth…
…not in the broken decorations and ornaments, but in the grubby little hands that just wanted to throw a ball…
Some days, it can be so hard to see what is right in front of you.
Brent and I strive to be mindful each day of just how precious, and fleeting, these messes truly are. Noah, now 3, and Tucker, 18 months, can really wreck havoc on Christmas trees and nativity scenes. Oh and next year, when there are three of them, I just hope baby Jesus is up for a solid month of hide and seek.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Brent, Sarah, Noah and Tucker
A few days after Thanksgiving, I began the process of decorating for Christmas. This year, it meant Brent had to climb into that awkward closet and begin lugging down box after box of my favorite things. I told myself, that at this point in my pregnancy, just the tree a few small things would be enough decorations for this year. But with each box I opened, I just couldn’t resist.
Alas, snowmen, Santa’s, strands of garland, stockings, three nativity scenes and five days of work later, the job was complete.
In the days that have passed, I have spent some portion of time each day on my hands and knees – remember, very pregnant - looking for baby Jesus. Of all the figures in the two out of three nativity scenes that are within reach of little hands, baby Jesus seems to be the favorite. I have found him under the couch, nestled among the Christmas books, baking in the toy oven, and sleeping at the bottom of the toy box.
I just could not stand to look at an incomplete nativity scene – especially one missing baby Jesus, himself. After all, we’re celebrating his big day!
During one particular search and rescue mission, where I found baby Jesus deep in the cushions of the couch, Jesus had this message of thanks for me,
“My dear, you are looking for me in all the wrong places.”
I heard his message. Loud and clear. And I’m wishing the same for all of you this year…
…that you find baby Jesus, not in the mess strung across your house, but in the faces of the precious children who made that mess…
…not in the crumbs under the kitchen table, but in the blessings of food and warmth…
…not in the broken decorations and ornaments, but in the grubby little hands that just wanted to throw a ball…
Some days, it can be so hard to see what is right in front of you.
Brent and I strive to be mindful each day of just how precious, and fleeting, these messes truly are. Noah, now 3, and Tucker, 18 months, can really wreck havoc on Christmas trees and nativity scenes. Oh and next year, when there are three of them, I just hope baby Jesus is up for a solid month of hide and seek.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Brent, Sarah, Noah and Tucker
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