December at our house

This Holiday season has been so super busy. We've had parties (Michael was the guest speaker at one and he did a great job! talked about our identity in Christ as priests), did our annual gingerbread houses, made our annual spiced tea for the staff, and had a service project at our house (Christmas cards/cookies for elderly/shut-ins), etc, etc. We FINALLY got our tree put up, and this was the first year that Jonathan has been able to help decorate. He LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it! I will definitely miss his little-boy-glee when he's bigger...sniff, sniff.

Isn't there something magical about a child in the glow of a Christmas tree? Especially one as cute as Caleb? ;>

We've listened to Christmas music pretty much 24-7 (I often forget to turn off the CD player at night, so I'm greeted with Christmas music when I'm up in the middle of the night feeding a baby or getting a toddler back to sleep), which I LOVE!

Here's Benjamin doing what he does best...Just hanging out!

He was going about 8 hrs at night, but this past week he's woken up 3-4 times a night. Not sure what's going on but we'll get back on track soon, I'm sure (fingers crossed!).

Annual gingerbread houses...

which were unfortunately destroyed by cookie monster!!!

I've tried hard to really focus on what traditions my children will enjoy and not running around doing more than they can handle. It's hard for me to not keep my plate too full (then everyone ends up stressed out and cranky) but I'm working on it! I love this FB post a friend from high school posted...I hope it blesses your heart:

1 CORINTHIANS 13~~CHRISTMAS VERSION~~

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.......

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.
Merry Christmas!