The Rest of Christmas 2011

Picking up from my previous post…

This year we had a Christmas Eve Service at church.  It went really well and we had a great turnout.  From the past in other churches it was always one of my favorites.  It is nice to get to that point and just stop and prepare for the next day and the real meaning of Christmas. 

A and I before the serviceLizz and Mill waiting with Daddy for the service to beginAnd Sall had to have her pic made with Daddy!THIS is what happens when a 4 or 5 yr old gets your camera (during service) and you do not realize they have it.  Just found out as I was looking through the pics!And another…AND Another…  Guess I was really paying attention!We came home and ate dinner and then got ready for bed.  I LOVE THIS PICTURE SO MUCH!!!My always favorite Christmas shot!  A reading the Christmas Story to the girls as they prepare for bed.I actually had to wake the girls!  They all slept in Elleigh and Sallie’s room.  Is this not precious?  Look at Millie’s hand on Lizzie’s leg!  All up!  Can you tell Ell is excited?!  YES, I will pay for this pic!

It doesn’t happen very often that Christmas falls on Sunday like this yr.  I kept thinking about how rushed our morning was going to be but it really was not bad at all.  The girls ready for church!Our family after church.  I could not think of a better way to spend the day we celebrate our Savior’s birth than in His house with our church family.  It was really wonderful!  We were very pleased with our crowd Christmas morning as well.  Always thankful for our Melbie!Back home to play some more!  (Pretend as if you never saw all this stuff on our living room floor!)  We did not make them clean at all Christmas Day!

So, that ends our Christmas festivities.  We did go yesterday to see Alvin and the Chipmunks and went to a few stores.  Everywhere was really crowded.  Today was back to reality.  A went back to work and it was just a normal day here. 

This Christmas was very different for our family for several reasons.

First we attempted to change our focus.  Yes, we have always told our girls about the real meaning of Christmas and reminded them of that, and we always read the Christmas story to them, etc.  but over the past couple of months we have both really been convicted about instilling this is them and showing them the importance of this day and not confusing them.  So, we really played down everything else and tried to focus. 

For the past couple of yrs we have not been “home” on Christmas Day but we travelled the day after Christmas.  This yr because of various reasons we were unable to go home at all.  How did I do?  I had/have my moments.  Sunday nt was the hardest for me.  All the excitement was over and I wanted to be with our families.  I admit, I said “this is not fair and that is not fair”.  I tried to go to sleep and I just couldn’t and I prayed for the Lord to take that bitterness toward my situation and the circumstances away.  Within minutes I was asleep.  Will I allow those feelings to come back?  I am sure but I am thankful they are gone for now.  A deals with this so much better than me.  Of course he misses our families but it is just not the same for him BUT he hurts for me and for the girls when they are longing for family.  I think sometimes it may be perceived as he could care less and I just do whatever he wants and although I do whatever he wants there is SO MUCH more to it than that.  He is so attentive to me when I am homesick and he feels absolutely helpless.  I really can’t stand to see him so helpless.  I do not like to see him long for things he can’t give us.  Not things like material things (although I see those desires too) but things as in being closer to our families.  However, as much as it hurts him to see us long for those things he never waivers because he knows he is where God would have him to be for now and that I respect and value more than anything he could ever give us, as hard as it may be sometimes…