Christmas

With Christmas on a Sunday this year.....and I have off this year as well....it will be special. The day will start with worship with my church family. Then to my parents for family time with my biological family. What a blessing to have so many to spend such a special day with!

I know the day will be full of love and gift giving......but i feel there is a lot we miss. When my kids were small we would read the Christmas story from Luke 2 before the any presents were opened. Our kids were so good. They sat patiently as my husband read the story to them. They all payed attention and showed respect for God. Looking back it was beautiful to watch and know my family had unity in Jesus at those moments. We would then all pray and sing "happy birthday" to Jesus. Makes my choke up now just thinking about it......but we can't stay in the past. My kids needed to grow up. They needed to move on with their own lives......but it's nice to be able to remember.

Last year (2015) was a year of big changes for us. My husbands health isn't the best and has ongoing things he's dealing with physically. With no extra money to spend on anyone.....I decided to write heart felt letters to my brother and my parents. The reaction of all of them wasn't what I expected. The whole room was in tears......oh my. I felt so bad. This year I've done something else for all 10 people in my family. Im hoping they all like it. I'm hoping that even though I have no money to spend, they will know they are loved and appreciated.

I've learned over the past 2 years that material things aren't "all that". We've owned houses and cars and motorcycles. After losing all those things, it's not upsetting, but a blessing. I've learned that we don't need any of those things. We don't need to go through this short life saying we were a homeowner or had many cars that were paid off.......we need to be humble people who appreciate what God lets us use while we live here. I've also made it a mission to let people know how I feel about them. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed.....neither is the next 5 minutes. I want people to always know how I feel about them.....just incase it's our last conversation or encounter. I write a lot down, I blog, and keep tons of notes. I'm preparing for my kids one day to take my legacy and use it well for Jesus. My prayer is that one day they will take all I leave them and use it all......and add to it, all for Gods glory.

Christmases at our house are always special.....with or without a bunch of gifts. How could they not be when your family is alive and well and full of love for one another? My prayer for everyone  this Christmas is that if you don't know who the baby was that laid in the manger......and later hung on a cross.....ask a pastor, or another Christian, or me......it's that important. In fact it's the only decision in this life that will affect the next.