It’s a crazy time of year, and the thing is, as many times as I remind myself of what the season is really about… well, it doesn’t make it any less crazy, really. The season is about the birth of Jesus, the Christ child, God’s son. That’s wonderful, and terribly important to remember. However, Jesus’ birth is also the reason why many of the traditions we have arose, and as much as I want to keep Jesus central, that doesn’t mean that we’ll drop the traditions we have on the side. Actually, I’m using many of those side traditions to teach Alexis more about Christmas. We have a Nativity scene set up and two advent calendars (the older one made of paper, the newer one made of more durable cloth). All of the gifts? We got a few for the kids and Joel and I buy a couple for each other, but we also love buying for other people and giving to charities for Christmas. (I hate the fact that we can’t give to all the ones that seem worthwhile!) What a wonderful way to teach the kids about God’s love and His wonderful gift to us! Alexis is helping us shop, so she’ll have a first-hand experience of giving instead of just thinking about getting. Of course, this year she’s more interested in the unwrapping than in the actual gift inside. 🙂
We finally finished our Christmas cards last night. Better late than never! Actually, this is probably the earliest we’ve ever had them all done. 😛 It helps that I had most of the addresses typed into the computer and just printed them out on mailing labels rather than writing them all out (not to mention finding them in the first place). I also had notes from last year as to who got what size picture of the kids, etc. That made things a lot quicker, too. So I’m saving the info from this year since that should help out next year as well. I just have to remember to update addresses in the computer when people move this year. 🙂
We have a big day planned today. This morning isn’t too much, but the girls and I will meet Joel at work when he’s finishing up. From there we’ll go shopping, then go to dinner (fast food) with some friends, then we’ll head to our church for their drive-through live nativity. It’s really cool! They have a camel and various other animals, plus the teens dress up as the different characters from the Christmas story. As you drive through you listen to a tape or CD telling the story, then at the end you can park and take the kids out to let them pet some of the animals. 🙂 It should be fun, though I’m a little nervous because Alexis seems a tad off today and I’m not sure what Branwen’s eating schedule will be this evening. Well, that’s all in the Lord’s hands.
I know I had something else I wanted to write about, but I haven’t a clue what it was right now. We’ve been staying up late trying to get things done this week, and I’m feeling terribly tired this morning. Well, I think we may actually be able to sleep tonight… as long as the girls do. 🙂