12 hours of Christmas

Here's the play by play...


Christmas Eve

8:45 Kids asleep; wrapping commences
9:30 Out of wrapping paper; make a run to Walgreen's (open 24 hours)
9:45 Wrapping done
9:46 Nathan plays video games. I play with my new camera
11:45 Time to set up the coffee pot and get to bed!

Christmas day starts early!

12:36 Nathan and I finally go to sleep.
4:32 Adam wakes up coughing. I get medicine.
4:34 Nicolas gets up, too. He wants to open presents!
4:36 I tell Nicolas, "Go back to sleep!" (Yeah, like that's going to happen.)
6:17 Nicolas starts talking to himself in his room.
6:18 I am immensely pleased that the coffee started brewing 3 minutes earlier.
6:51 I get up. Tell the boys to be quiet and wait for their sister to wake up.
6:53 I pour coffee. I read my Bible. I listen expectantly.
7:12 "Mommy! Can we get up now?"
7:13 "No. You have to wait."
7:14 "How many minutes?"
7:15 "Fifteen more minutes." (Groans from the boys' room.)
7:38 "Mommy? Can we get up now?"
7:39 I languish another moment over coffee, "Ask your Daddy."
7:40 Noises, toilet flush, "Daddy? Can we get up now?"
7:41 Nathan, "Yes, but don't touch anything." (Ha!)
7:43 Boys enter.
7:53 Girl enters.

Headlines for tomorrow's paper flash before my eyes, "Mayhem hits Pflugerville Home." Stockings explode. Silly string wars break out in every room. Party poppers spark. Paper flies. Mounds of trash lay in the wake of 4 children on Christmas morning.


8:45 Quiet descends. The home is rebuilt...with Legos.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

I'm taking a nap.

The Lights are on but Nobody's Home

I'm sitting here at my computer doing the usual stuff; checking email, updating my Facebook status, reviewing the TV listings for Christmas specials. Pretty mundane kinds of things. An ad catches my eye, "Countdown to Christmas." It's bright and animated; so, I watch it tell me that I still have time to go buy more stuff for my kids. A thought pops into my head. (I can just imagine the little blue light bulb twinkling above my head, like the one in the ad.) How would my life change in 2010 if I put as much effort into everyday life as I do into Christmas? Seriously. What if the "Countdown to Christmas" started December 26 this year, not sometime after Thanksgiving...next year?

My husband pulls out the tree and boxes of decorations. I hang a beautifully decorated, illuminated wreath on my door. I carefully adorn the tree with bright, pretty lights, arranging the strands to ensure I don't see any dark holes. I unwrap each ornament and give it a special spot on the tree. The kids help and inevitably the branches in their reach are more heavily decorated. Of course, this arrangement means they have the most beautiful view of the tree. I lovingly unpack my Nativity and put it on display, cherishing every piece and the memories of each one. With tender care, I hang each family member's stocking, in preparation to receive gifts.

I spend time with my children in turn, talking to them about their interests and favorite things. Armed with this information, I carefully select presents suited to his or her tastes and talents. The same care and attention goes into choosing stocking stuffers; books, games, and fun, little trinkets. Christmas Eve is a time of reflective worship. Christmas morning is a time of joyful celebration. Daily hours of preparation, introspection, and envisioning, culminates in a brief few minutes of gift giving and receiving. After the gifts are received we commence with untying, unpackaging, cleaning up and hours of playtime.

How can I apply this same annual ritual to daily life?

• Although, I've already opened the door to Christ, the light of my life needs to show others how to let Him in; just like my wreath illuminates the door of our home.
  
• Like the lights on my tree, I want to allow the light of Christ to shine in all my dark spots. If I step back and look at my life, I know I arrange Christ in the areas I'm comfortable bringing into the light. I want His light to penetrate all the deep holes. I want to shine brightly and beautifully.
• I want to unwrap the gifts God has given me, like each ornament, and give them the special spot God has planned.
  
• My children deserve to see God and His gifts on full display. I want to ensure that, like the heavily decorated branches of our tree, these gifts are what they see every day; the sunrise, the sunset, the kisses and hugs, the joyful thanks for everything, not just meals.
• As I allow God to work in me and through me, I want to care for my kids in such a way that their hearts are prepared to receive God's gifts; especially the gift of Christ. Their hearts will overflow with God's abundance; so much more so than their stockings.
  
• I want to spend time understanding and nurturing my children's tastes and talents. I want to give extra special care to my husband and edify him as head of our household. The gifts they will receive from us need to be gifts of eternal value; not just this year's whim.
  
• I want to worship and celebrate every day. I want every day to begin and end with preparation, introspection, and envisioning God's plan for us through prayer and meditation on His Word. Christmas is a forever gift, not just a season.
  
• And, as my children trust Christ and receive that most important gift, I want to help them untie the bondage of sin, unpackage the gifts and plans God has for them, and nurture pure hearts. As Christ leads us, I hope I can help my husband lead them.
• This year, I think I might leave my Nativity on display.
  

What about you? Is your home beautifully decorated for Christmas? Do lights adorn your eaves, your tree, your door? If the lights are on, is anybody home?

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

The Myth or The Ministry of Santa?

Every year since our first child was old enough to really start getting into Christmas, the presents, songs, festivities, and overall joy of the season, I have struggled with whether to have Santa Claus as a part of this celebration.

I have wonderful, fun-filled memories of Santa Claus; the anticipation, the hopefulness, the early morning risings to find loads of gifts. I remember things like "reindeer turds" (kiwi fruit) and getting my first Precious Moments Nativity pieces. I remember going through my brother's stocking and switching his play-dough colors with mine because I wanted to make pink with the red and white. I did these things long after, at the tender age of 4, a classmate revealed there was no Santa Claus. I "believed" because it was fun.

I still love the Christmas specials, but I like Disney cartoons, too. They are both entertaining; not real. And, like Disney or any other cartoon, I find myself very mindful of what message my kids receive when watching these programs. I think Snow Miser and Heat Miser are hilarious, but after seeing that show again, I question the emphasis put on Santa being the "reason for the season." Whereas, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" emphasizes the holiness of Christmas as the time of year when the world received a gift of "profound love." Even Santa and Mrs. Claus are married in the sight of the Lord.

One year, my husband and I reached a compromise. We hang stockings every year and he likes to pretend they are filled by Santa Claus. I can't say I like it, but this way helps keep the peace...sort of. Mostly I avoid confirming or denying where the goodies come from.

However, I can't bring myself to tell my kids, or even avoid denying, the presents under the tree are from this mystical guy. We work so hard and sacrifice so much to earn a living for our family and God blesses us tremendously. To give that credit to someone who doesn't exist, didn't earn it and certainly doesn't deserve it, is heartbreaking for me.

Then the hard questions come, "Is Santa Claus real, Mommy?" With our first child, I just said, "No, God gives us our gifts." He then believed (and told people) that God came down our chimney on Christmas Eve and brought presents. Too funny! Now, our next child, who struggles so much more with abstract concepts, is asking the question. Nathan wants to allow him to believe and, well...I don't. Our sweet child is finally coming to a point where he believes in God and wants to pray. I don't want to confuse him. So, I argue with my husband, which, admittedly, is just as bad.

Tonight, as I reached out to cyberspace for an answer, I find Christians on both sides of the issue. And, then, as a convicting relief, I read this article, "Santa, Saved and Santified." What I found most startling and true about this article is how we collectively let our guard down this time of year. More importantly, this author conjectures, and I think, rightly, that the global embrace of "Father Christmas" proves the desperate need this world has for "Our Heavenly Father"...Abba.

So, this author through his gentle firmness, ministered to me through Santa. I don't want this time of year to be fraught with contention over "to Santa or not to Santa". Do I, in the depths of my black and white view of things, like to compromise on this issue? No. Of course, not. Are we teaching our children the Truth about the "profound love" of this season? Yes. Most definitely. Is there an emphasis on Santa or Jesus? Certainly, we emphasize Christmas as the birth of Jesus, have a birthday party for Him, and remember that He humbled Himself for us. Truly, our home is filled with worship at Christmastime. This year, though, maybe Santa can worship with us.

12 Days of Christmas

I've been away for nearly a year. Life changed dramatically for our family in February when, after 8 years, I chose a full-time paying job outside our home. The economy dictated the choice, and God made clear the path. We've been blessed this year. In looking back, though, balancing work and home consumed my days and I often collapsed at the end of it all, exhausted. I look forward to the refreshment of the Christmas break, which leads me to the renewed energy behind my blog.

We have 12 days until Christmas. I love this time of year. I find myself being particularly introspective, and occasionally reverent, more so than I have been in awhile. (I sadly admit.) I also find myself wanting...no...desperately craving tender moments with my Lord and this creative voice where I can share quips and cares. It's been too long for both.

So, for the next 11 days, I will share with you, whomever chooses to read, the blessings of Christmas God graciously bestows on me in the quiet moments of the morning. Over a cup (or two) of coffee, of course.

I hope you join me for a cup.