The kids are chomping at the bit to open their gifts. It will be their first American Christmas and it didn't take much doing to get caught up in the commercialism. My excuse for getting carried away with gifts was that they started out with so little that they need to catch up ... yeah, right!Never fond of Christmas shopping crowds, we took early Toy-R-Us and Target ad flyers and had the kids go through and mark the things they thought they might like. Naomi marked everything pink or with babies in both books. Josiah didn't like anything - but still wants everything. I'm sure we'll hear words of disgruntlement on Christmas morning. He ended up with circles around any video game that looked like fighting, as well as some nasty looking guns and such. Sigh. Lists were made and shopping completed in just a couple of trips well before the Thanksgiving rush. Whew! I took it all to work for safe keeping and wrapping out of sight of curious eyes (and hands). Once at home they instantly were on to my color-code and counted gifts just to insure everything was fair. Natch!
Most years I painstakingly decorate my tree with many beautiful, fragile, and meaningful ornaments I have been collecting since my teens. It is always a source of much pride and joy for me at the holidays. I had to work very hard to let go of myself and let the kids decorate the tree. Other than the tendency to put everything directly in front of them so there was a one foot swatch about three feet from the ground that was decorated leaving the rest of the tree bare, they did a good job. With a bit of coaching and moving some of those stacked on a single branch, it didn't turn out half bad. And the pride and joy I feel for my children when I look at this tree far outweighs anything felt for past efforts.GLORY HALLELUJAH! THE LORD HAS COME!!
Come Christmas morning amid the wrapping and surprise you can bet we will be celebrating and rejoicing the birth of Jesus!!!
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