Christmas!!!

Well, I hope everyone had a very merry and Blessed Christmas! I know I did! It had been a crazy few weeks and weekends there getting ready. I spent about every Sunday, shopping with my siblings and running around town. We managed to look at some Christmas lights a couple of times which was nice, cause last year, due to us busy moving, we didn't get to look at any of them. We also baked lots of goodies, wrapped presents together, watched the classic Christmas movies, etc. But despite ALL that craziness we call, "Christmas Traditions," I was still having a hard time finding the, "Christmas Spirit." I love to have it and some years I haven't and it's sad. What a joyful time it is meant to be! Our Lord Jesus Christ came to us as an infant and humbled Himself to us and our way of living and was born among animals and wrapped in rags. How could I not be joyful!!!?? So, among all the Christmas chaos, I managed to take a brief walk through our beautiful woods I so dearly love. I cherish the woods we have at our house. We only have a few acres, but they are liked 100 to me! I don't get to walk in them nearly as much as I'd like to. My Dad and brother even made some awesome trails that connect, so it's like walking through your very own park. But it seems like every morning, as I'm rushing to get ready for work, I look out my window, which faces the woods and just sigh, cause I so wish I could take a quick walk in them. Once spring hits, I MUST, every morning if I can! Anyway...I managed to take a walk and just be still, completely still- not just physically still, but mentally and more importantly, spiritually still, which in my case- needs to happen more often. But I was so still and could just feel God's presense so close and He was so almighty. What a loving God we have! Could you imagine giving your child to the world, not to mention be born in a stable with animals, to save the wretches like you and I!!!!??? Oh, how awesome He is! How loving He is! He IS love!!! That moment, I had the Christmas spirit, the Christmas reason and the whole meaning for all the hustle and bustle.
Also- I hope you got to hear Casting Crowns new and AMAZING hit version of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Awesome song!!! If that won't get you into the Christmas spirit, then what will!!!?? I also adore and cherish their song. "While You Were Sleeping." The ending of our nation being a nation that sleeps to the sounds of thieves in a country where we save the trees and kill the children just pulls my heart every time. I so want a bumper sticker or t-shirt with that. I cannot fathom how we can save trees and kill children. But God is in control and those unborn and killed children are holding the scarred hands of our Savior, knowing they do have a reason for being. I only hope I can embrace each of them someday!
Well, Christmas was good. I got to go to my future-in-laws on Christmas Eve with my wonderful man. It was so nice to see everyone, cause we don't get to visit nearly enough. But it was great! Great food, lots of laughs and hugs, kids running around, babies crawling and presents with thoughts! Christmas Eve night, my 5 siblings and I did our gift exchange. Since there's 6 of us- different ages from 22 to 6, we each draw names a few weeks before Christmas and we all get the other one a small, simple, yet special gift and we give them Christmas Eve. This year, I got my sister, Katlin who is 14. She's easy to shop for and liked the cross necklace I got her and I'm also taking her to see a movie, just the two of us, after New Year's. My darling and only brother, Seth, got me, and gave me some of my favorite chocolate. :) But it was so special, us 6 there together, my older sister home from college and our folks. Christmas Day was nice too! My sister, Rosie age 7, watched the animals, cause she has read the story of how the animals are different that night and they certainly were. She was amazed!
Ok, back to work- more later.
God Bless your New Year!!! May 2009 be a year in the Lord!