I love Christmas, but it comes with so many things I could live without. First of all, everything just gets so busy. Christmas parties, shopping, sending cards, decorating (I do everything except the outside lights, which I finally gave up on this year - Marcos just couldn't...or didn't... find the time to get around to it.) Sometimes you just have to be okay with the way things are. So I love it and yet it's crazy. We do it to ourselves, but can I leave anything out...no! I start to prioritize Christmas things, but then I feel bad and end up trying to squeeze everything in anyway. Then there's the winter season. No matter what you do, you end up catching some weird virus. This year, it's an evolving cold that starts to go away, comes back, gets worse... and for the kiddies, pink eye (which apparently everyone in this area has had). So on top of being really busy and trying to fit in extra activities and memorable moments for the kids, we end up missing church and staying in the house in an attempt to stop spreading our germs to others. What a joke! So I apologize to anyone who may have checked the blog only to discover it looks the same day after day, but I honestly haven't had a moment to think. I haven't even made a Christmas list (and I love lists) but I've been winging it. I'm sure I'll forget a million things, but I just don't have the time or the patience to cross things off my little piece of paper this year.
I love kids though. We're trying so hard to teach Dylan the true meaning of Christmas in this commercialized society and have found it's truly an uphill battle. Our FHE about the baby Jesus was so touching for one slight moment. We talked about the Christmas story...the stable, manger, wise men, etc. I even tried to bring up the importance of Christ's birth and sacrifice (in 3-year-old lingo) "When we're naughty and feel sad, we can say we're sorry and do better next time. That's called repentence. Jesus was born on the earth anad died for us so that one day we can live with Heavenly Father again." That ended up in several 3-year-old type conversations. First, it was how he loves Brownie (Grandpa's horse) and is going to ride Brownie and feed her carrots (brought on by all the stable and animal talk. Okay, focus child. Then it veered another direction and we were talking about the earth and planets and how we saw the planets at the Clark Planetarium and can we get some stars next time we go... And then he sometimes brings up death or why he can't go visit Heavenly Father right now so I try to explain that Heavenly Father is around us, but we can't see Him, but we can feel Him. I heard Anthony ask Dylan "Who's that?" and point to one of the ornaments on the little Charlie Brown tree that proudly displays all my old childhood ornaments. Dylan explained that it was baby Jesus and then talked a little about Joseph too. So I think he's getting it...sort of. But his prayer tonight was all about "Thank you that I can feed carrots to the reindeers when Santa comes and that we can put carrots on the snowman's nose." It makes me want to laugh and squeeze him tight all at once. He truly tells Heavenly Father what he's thinking so even though it makes me feel like I've failed at actually getting through to him about what Christmas really means, his prayers are probably more real and heart-felt than mine are. Ah, to be a kid again.
Anyway, I thought I'd let you all know why I've been such a posting slacker and wish you all a Merry Christmas in case I don't get around to posting again for a while. And for those who may not know yet, I have some news...but you'll have to wait a little longer until I post it on the blog. How's that for a teaser?
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