'Tis the Season

Merry Christmas! I know it's been a while...again, but I have to be honest...this break has been nice. Not to feel the need to blog. We are right smack in the middle of the busiest time of the year and I wish it wasn't so busy. I want to savor this season. It's my favorite season, but seems to be becoming a not-so-favorite anymore just because of the stress and the busyness of it all. Our church is conspiring against the craziness of it all and trying to remember what it's all about. Jesus. The baby who came to save the world! Visit Advent Conspiracy to see what I'm talking about. Our pastor is doing a sermon series on it this month and I totally believe in it. This Christmas, try to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all.

Speaking of giving more, our small group adopted a family with six children this Christmas. Their grandmother is raising them as the parents are in and out of jail. Their ages ranged from 10 years old down to precious 6 month old. Every couple in our small group pitched in and bought a gift for the children. Two couples were assigned per child, so one couple bought a clothing item, just as a coat and some socks, and one couple bought a toy. Then Wednesday night, some of us delivered the gifts. Walking into their very, very tiny home with all these presents (that took up the whole living room) was humbling to say the least. It was a lot of fun, too. These kids were very excited! Jim and I bought a gift for the grandmother (who did not speak any English and we are thankful to a pastor at our church who is Spanish-speaking for going with us) and she could not believe there was a gift for her. Bless her heart. The children were beautiful and it brought tears to my eyes. We truly are so blessed.

Tonight, we kept our nephew while his mama went to a birthday party. The kids had so much fun playing together just like they always do! After supper, we bundled up, I made hot chocolate with marshmallows, and we drove around in the golf cart and looked at Christmas lights. They had a blast ooh-ing and aah-ing over the lights. And God provided a clear night with a beautiful full moon to shine on us. It was gorgeous. They ooh-ed and aah-ed over it, too!

We bought a new video camera about a week ago and I LOVE it! Here is a video I took of the boy singing 'Frosty the Snowman'. It is adorable! (Just excuse my singing in the background to kinda help him along in parts!) They love Travis Cottrell's verson of Let It Snow/Frosty the Snowman. Travis' "thumpity-thump-thump" is syncopated (not sure if that means much to you if you're not musical) but the boy sings that part with the synopation and I think it's precious! I really think he's going to be our musical child. He loves to sing, play the piano, play the drums, and he can keep a pretty good beat!

Next weekend, Jim and I are going to the Gaylord Texan and I am SO pumped! His work Christmas party will be there Saturday night with Boyd Polhamus as the MC and Collin Raye performing. Dinner will be served, along with drinks and a dance. They are paying for two nights at the hotel! And Jim just found out today that he needs to be there Thursday afternoon to set up some screens and stuff and they are paying for us to stay Thursday night, too. I'm torn. The girl's Christmas program is Thursday night and I really don't want to miss it but I also really want to stay THREE nights at the Gaylord. I'm not sure what we are going to do. Plus, if I go with Jim on Thursday, then we will have to find someone to keep the kids on Thursday. I don't know.

Well, I'm not sure if I will be on here to post between now and Christmas. In case I'm not, have a very Merry Christmas and remember to make room for Baby Jesus, our Prince of Peace and Savior.