To Christmas Letter or not to Christmas Letter

Sometimes I hate Christmas letters. You know the ones I am talking about. Everyone is so perfect and life is so rosy. You just dread those letters. "My husband has been promoted to Law Firm Partner, my son got a perfect score on his SAT's, my daughter has been chosen to model on the cover of American Girl Magazine, we've taken trips to Europe and Hawaii, THREE TIMES EACH!" Blah, Blah, Blah! Bah humbug!

I'd like to send one sometime that says, "Life sucks! My husband is a real douche, my boys have been arrested, my eleven year old just got her belly button pierced and I haven't gotten out of the trailer in months." You know, just to see what people would say...

But on the other hand, a Christmas letter saves you from writer's cramp. It provides a quick easy way to let people know what is going on in your life. It's nicer than just a plain signed card, I suppose. I have sent two very creative Christmas letters in the past. I've written a Christmas story and a Christmas poem about our family. Needless to say, I'm not feeling very creative at the moment and am leaning toward a traditional Christmas letter.

What are your feelings on a short family update with maybe a favorite Christmas recipe to share?

Or would you dread it all the same?

WoWW

Photo Source:  ME

"This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols. 

But the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift -- the Christ."

~Frank McKibben~

Dancing in the Rain

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While living in the "arm pit" of America, aka Yuma, Arizona, I saw it rain once.  To have a cloudy day was a rarity, but for it to open up and rain was most peculiar.  It was like the heavens opened and dumped on us.  A sudden downpour, a gulley washer.  In most places, the rain cools things down, but the temperature remained the same, HOT.  I took my 18 month old TJ outside to witness such a miracle while leaving 3 month old Miguel in his crib to nap.  The rain was bathwater warm.  Friends and neighbors began to emerge from their homes, too.  We laughed, and danced.  We ran and jumped in puddles.  Our clothing was soaked through.  I threw my arms out wide, turned my face to the heavens and twirled.  Spinning like an airplane, TJ copied me.  The water was cleansing and invigorating.  At 24 years of age, I had never felt so young.  I was a child again.  It was soul cleansing.  When the rain began to slow, we held hands and walked toward the house.  We stripped inside the door of our soaking clothes, with hair dripping down our backs we changed into dry clothes.  Grabbing a blanket, we wrapped up and snuggled.  For me, this is a moment that will last a lifetime, it's like the warm rain seared itself into my memory. 

The Gummy Bear Chronicles...

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It's hard to keep a straight face around my boys...even in Church. I'm sure I'm going to be struck by lightening one of these days because of my irreverent behavior in the Lord's house. Sometimes it is hard being a parent. When Kevin and I were first married, he was laughing at his young cousin's little antics when his Aunt scolded him saying he was encouraging negative behavior. What am I doing as a parent when I laugh at my kids little antics? Even in church?

Recently in church we sat next to TJ's best friend. She had brought a bag of gummy bears to share, much to her mother's dismay. We shared those sweet, chewy bears like a bunch of two year olds that can't go an hour without a snack. My boys began to play with their food like the two year olds they were emulating. Licking the bottom of a gummy bear so it would become sticky, my oldest, mind you, stuck it to the suit clad shoulder of the man in front of us without his even knowing. A snort could be heard coming from me as I tried to stifle a laugh. I scolded as I tried to hold it in, thus encouraging more negative behavior. A little girl sitting in front of said gentleman, was pointing at the gummy bear.  He mistakenly thought she was pointing at him.  As he leaned forward to see what she wanted, the gummy bear stayed planted and leaned forward too.

Have you ever tried to quietly hold a laugh in?  The harder you try the more you want to just bust out laughing?  The laughter was escaping my body through the tears that were running down my face and the sob that burst from my throat.  I'm hoping others may have thought I was deeply moved by the Spirit with my sobs and tears.  I mean Charity is a very moving topic.

I truly hope the Lord has a sense of humor, otherwise, I'm screwed!

Woww

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Remember this December,

That love weighs more than gold!

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon~