Holiday Madness

It is hard to believe that just a 2 1/2 weeks ago we were celebrating Thanksgiving and

now here we are 10 days from Christmas.

A lot has happened in the past few weeks. We have had some boo-boo's that were scary, some illnesses that have required much medicine, and we spent 4 wonderful days in PA

(which includes 10 hours one way in a car with 4 kiddos).

Thankfully it looks like we are on the upswing with getting over illnesses and boo-boo's. Last week Emma fell head first over the handle bars of a tricycle at daycare directly onto a concrete floor. Her upper lip was extremely swollen, fortunately her teeth seem to be fine. In fact you can't even tell now that she fell. Emma is now fighting a nasty cold, that thankfully is not pneumonia (a classmate at daycare just came down with it), my migraines are now at least at a controlled state of manageability. We have spent more in the past week on Dr's visits and medicines than we had in the past three months.

We traveled to PA and spent time with people we dearly love. PA after all these years still feels a bit like home to me. We always end up having the discussion about moving east,

this year was no different.

While a lot of what we have done in the past few weeks is good and necessary, I have often felt that the season is being forgotten, in my own heart as well of the rest of the family. I keep wishing for just one day-to slow down, relax, reflect, etc... and that doesn't look like it will be possible with everything going on this week. Why the unsettled feelings? I know the truth of the season. I am no less grateful this year for the Gift that I have been given. Is it the economy and the fact that money is tight-for everyone? Is it seeing all the hurting people around me and wishing I could fix it? Is it watching the commercialism and consumerism of such a precious life-giving holiday? I'm not sure, but it is my goal to continue to seek the One who was born that Christmas night long ago. It is my hope to reflect Him during the craziness of the next few days. It is my prayer that others will be enraptured with Emmanuel--God With Us.

For He truly is the Reason for this Season.