Operation Christmas Child

I've been searching for something meaningful for Buddy Roller to do during the holidays as an act of "giving back." I think we found something special. Here are more photos if you'd like to see..

Light Up The Night

It's a tradition. Every year on the night before Christmas, we attend Christmas Eve service at our church to celebrate the true meaning of the season...the birth of Jesus.

It's one of the only times for the whole year that kids are allowed in the main sanctuary for this special service. At first, Buddy Roller wasn't too thrilled with the very loud music, but after a while he was clapping along (a little off beat) and singing with the rest of us.  He was really fascinated when it was time to light the candles.

It was truly a beautiful sight. And even though I've seen it many times before, I am still taken aback by the allure of the dark sanctuary lit with hundreds of candles burning bright.  It really is a metaphor for how we should be living our lives.  We need to be the light...that positive loving energy when there is darkness...hatred and anger.  That's how Jesus lived his life, and if we are truly to honor him, then that's the least we can do. Be that light when there is darkness.

So light up the night, not just at Christmas time but throughout the year as well.

Happy Christmas Eve!

What Is Christmas?

What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas is being happy...even when there are legitimate reasons to be unhappy.  I've said a trillion times before that "life happens." I see friends going through stuff all the time. Bad stuff. Unfortunate stuff. And just when it seems it couldn't get any worse...it does! I sometimes wonder how some people have the perseverance to keep going through life unscathed.  Life can take a beating, and it can hurt the human spirit.  If we're not careful, we can become dejected, hopeless, and toxic.

You've heard the saying before, when life gives you lemons...make lemonade. It's so cliche, but so true. Even though we can't change the people or circumstances around us, we can change our attitude. We can control our thoughts and actions, and even though it's easier said than done, you hold the power to do that.

These past few days I've been taking care of a sick Buddy Roller. It started with all the tell-tale signs...sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat and then a fever at 5 a.m. yesterday morning. And if you have a child with asthma, you know things can get pretty serious really fast. So for the past 48 hours it's been breathing treatments on the nebulizer machine, lots of saline, wiping a sore and runny nose, not getting enough sleep because you're listening out for that cough hoping your child will get better really fast, and just giving lots of TLC as us moms know how to do.

And through it all, you know what I kept thinking? It's not that I have to wake up and go to work after a sleepless night.  It's not that I have to find a sub for school because he's sick. And it's not having to choose between my son and work tomorrow. But, what I keep thinking is how fortunate I feel to be able to take care of my son one-hundred-percent without having to figure out all the working-mom dilemmas that go with this territory. I am so thankful I'm off from school for two weeks to be able to experience what it should really be like caring for my child when he's sick.

Christmas is getting teary eyed no matter how many times I watch this commercial from Publix. It never fails, I've seen this ad so many times, but each time I see it, it's like a first, and I get emotional every time. Have you seen it? Love this! Publix gets me every year.

Christmas is believing there is a God and miracles do happen.  I know it, and I believe it, but once in while it's good to be reminded.  Did you see this story on the Today show? It's about a man, David Espinoza in McAllen, Texas who needed a life saving heart transplant. His wife through faith and prayer didn't want a transplant.  She wanted a complete healing for her husband, and she was hopeful for a miracle. Don't you just love a praying wife! She was sure God would answer her prayers and give her a sign in the form of snow on Christmas Eve. Get this...it hadn't snowed in McAllen, TX in over 100 years! And as you may have guessed, it did snow on Christmas Eve, and Mrs. Espinoza's prayers were answered. Check out the video for more on this miracle. It gives me goose bumps!

Wherever you are and whatever your situation, I hope you can find joy in the midst of your crises, you can tear-up over some heart-warming television commercial, and you can be a witness to one of the many miracles taking place this holiday season.

Have a joyous Christmas Eve!

When It's The Holidays...

When it's the holidays, you can take a photo in front of a ginormous Christmas tree,

The cutest five year old in the whole wide world is like a present wrapped up in a big red satin bow,

My heart smiles with adoration when watching the two loves of my life spending quality time together,

And it fills me with so much joy and peace.

When it's the holidays, we spend time with special friends we don't get to see nearly as much as we'd like,

We eat way too much because there's just too much good food around,

And we spend time giving thanks and appreciation for those we work with every day...when it's the holidays.

Traditions And The Day After

What are your holiday traditions? When do you put up your Christmas tree? Who does the holiday decorating? Is one person sort of forced to do it alone? Or do you decorate together making it a family affair?

On this the day after Thanksgiving, and because my mom is in town, the girls spent the day together...shopping and then eating lunch. I don't think I've ever been shopping on Black Friday, and I don't ever see the need to do that again. We visited a couple of stores that had great deals, but made sure to stay out of the stores with very long lines. No waiting for us today!

Back at home it was time to continue our family tradition. We typically put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. And I'm using the term "we" very loosely as The Hubs is the one who always initiates this...bless his heart. If it weren't for him, who knows when our tree would go up.

And because mom's in town, she got "recruited" to help with the tree. I don't think she minded at all. Once the tree's up, then the lights are strung. 

I'm always in charge of dressing up the mantel and banister.

And Buddy Roller's job is to hang the ornaments and be the cutest little elf ever!

And after all that work, it's time for dessert complements of my aunt who makes the best cheesecake. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

So...when do you take down your Christmas tree? We do it on the first day of the new year. I know someone who didn't take down their tree until April! I'm not saying who. My lips are sealed.