A very "Merry Christmas" life...

Love my people so much.

Christmas is almost here! So many things have changed over the 8 months since I last posted, and it's a comfort to know God has a purpose and a reason for all of it.

I have been enjoying the lights and traditions so much this year because I get to see it through the eyes of a precious toddler, and there just is no better way. There is something about the way a child views Christmas that makes it magical.

Bee has to kiss all her favorite ornaments when she comes to visit.

I am not talking specifically about the acts of Christmas time, or the presents and Santa, although those are pretty great too. I am talking about the feeling of festivity that surrounds this season for most Americans. Even in the hardest years we have had- lost loved ones or scandal or poverty- there is just SOMETHING about this time of year.

My mom always puts up the best Christmas lights, and only her great granddaughter can play with them!

In our bible study right now we are focusing on grace and the way it changes lives. One of my favorite paragraphs just keep resounding in my mind:
"Joy is at the HEART of God's plan for human beings. Joy is at the HEART of grace...The Bible speaks not just about our need for joy in general, but for that particular kind of joy which characterizes God. After teaching on the need for obedience, Jesus told His friends, "I have told you this so that MY joy may be in you and that your joy may be COMPLETE." (John 5:11) The problem with people, according to Jesus, is not that we are too happy for God's taste; it is that we are not happy enough." (Grace- An Invitation to a Way of Life pg 60; Zondervan by Willow Creek Association)

When I look at my grandie girl and all the beauty that makes up her little life, I realize that my tendency to over analyze or over criticize robs life of the sweet joy of simple obedience and perspective. Now, reality is- when she looks at the decorations and the Christmas tree, when she turns the pages of The Nativity book and bows her little head to pretend to pray...she's not the one who crawled around in the attic to find all those things, cut down the tree, decorated it or vacuums daily the pine needles that are never ending. But what could be my focus? Instead of the busy-ness and the effort, what could my heart rest upon?

"While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger...
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were taking care of their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. But the angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy for all the people. TODAY in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,
"May glory be given to God in the highest heaven!
And may peace be given to those He is pleased with on earth!" ...

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone...All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over. " - Luke 2:6-14, 17-19

Talk about someone who could have allowed the circumstances, the stress...the STRUGGLE of life rob her of the joy God has for us. Yet, she didn't. She pondered all that God was doing and would do..and it was a treasure for her heart.

Thank you, Father, for the constant reminder that if I do these things for YOUR glory and for my relationship with you and your people...there isn't a thing about the process of living, about the process of Christmas time, that can't be enjoyed. Thank you that you WANT me to overflow with joy, and you have commanded me to CELEBRATE. And more than anything, thank you for the birth of my Savior...for sending me Jesus, the Christ, the very best reason to have a joyful "party".

"Though the fig tree should not blossom
and there be no fruit on the vines...
the fields produce no food...
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will show great JOY in the God of my salvation. " -Habakkuk 3: 17-19

Jasmine's work Christmas party gave them a reason to dress up and look adorable. Red lipstick for the win. 

No "Grinch-ing" around here!

("Hey, Jack. Ho, ho, ho.")

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
 Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Dr. Seuss

("I like to look out the window...and count the weeds.")

The last month has been a dizzy madhouse of work and family... and work and fun... and work and work. I was preparing myself for this to be a difficult Christmas. With my daughter loving on her own little family, my son working two jobs, college and his beautiful lady...Steve and I were prepared to process this season with new eyes and open...if not lonely...hearts.

(Nothing says "Christmas Decor" like Star Wars.)

Little did I know that as I filled up the schedule with more patients and activities to distract myself, I would only make it worse. The hustle and bustle of trying to NOT do our regular traditions succeeded in simply making me "grinchy". That's the word we use around here for being less than enthusiastic for Christmas time. That's nearly an un-forgiveable sin in our house...and here I was, the "grinchy-est" of them all.

(Love this little family so much.)

The wonderful thing is that as much as I love all there is to love about this holiday season (Shhh! Don't tell my husband I said "HOLIDAY". That will set him off for sure. "It's about Christ, not HOLIDAYS, woman!") with the decorations and the activities, the music and movies that make it the "warmest time of the year", there isn't a thing about this season that doesn't bring me back to the basics.

("Candy, candy canes, candy corn and SYRUP.
Those are my four food groups!")

When I try to be crabby because it's too busy every where I go- God puts an old man with a big beard and a santa hat in my path...wearing the sweetest smile anyone ever had. All people matter.

("I am a future professional photographer.
 I like to help Nay Nay practice shoots by eating her equipment.")

When I feel lonely because I miss my house full of kid laughter- God sets me laughing with someone special. (One of my favorites- my dear 100 year old patient told me the other day, "People always ask me what my secret is...it's simple. I just forgot to die." ) We are never really alone.

(These two never stop giving me reasons to laugh out loud.
Love them so. )

When I am tempted to buy just "one more thing" for that stocking- just to fill the empty spot in my heart- God sends me a Christmas song that puts the bounce back in my step and reminds me his money is best used helping others, rather than pleasing those who already have more than enough. "Stuff" will never truly satisfy.

And when I am being particularly "grinchy" and overwhelmed with all of it- He puts the picture in my mind of God- incarnate in the body of a newborn. Helpless, defenseless...yet full of hope and light and love. Jesus is the Christ, the one who rescues us all.

What a God we have, who gives freely and abundantly, and never forsakes us.

 

 No matter how many times we need the reminder- Jesus came to seek us, to save us, and to love us unconditionally. Oh, Merry merry Christmas, indeed!

So if you are bubbling over with Christmas spirit that would rival Buddy the Elf, or you look a little more like The Grinch tonight...find hope and joy in these words, friend. God be with you, and bless you.

"...the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger."

 Luke 2 excerpts

(This pic had to be added..just because he's so cute. If his 4 lbs of fluff doesn't make you smile, get help. Teeheehee)