Thankful Hearts and Full Days

I had big intentions about writing about Thanksgiving Day! However, we are already almost a week past that already! We did have a great Thanksgiving Day...did you? My friend, Allison, graciously invited our family to come along with her family and extended family. I’m thankful for those who don’t mind an extra seven people along for dinner! I was also very thankful that I didn’t have to cook. It was a blessing to be invited to share in someone else’s family time. The kids had a great time as the day was cold at about seventeen degrees! But Carolyn has a hot tub at her house, and the kids borough along swimsuits! Yes, those kids were out there wallowing in the snow and then racing to jump in the hot tub. Except Emma! She gladly let everyone else get out to go jump in the snow, while she enjoyed the hot tub to herself for about thirty seconds at a time! It created a fun and special memory for the kids, and I know they will remember this Thanksgiving as the one when it was really cold!

Roger was working on Friday, so we spent a low key day at home. I did have to run a few errands, so we did go in one store for some Black Friday deals. The store was practically empty! It certainly didn’t feel like a Black Friday! I guess everyone went to the bigger cities for shopping today. I made some cookies with the kids, they played outside for a lot of the day, and we just enjoyed most of the day at home. Saturday was much of the same as Roger was working, but we got ready for getting a Christmas tree!

On Sunday it was raining for most of the day. However, we had already planned to get a Christmas  tree today as Roger had off today. After church we weighed our options. One option was to wait to get a tree. Guess what? None of the children voted for that option! Option two was to go out to the tree farm and cut our own in the mud. Guess what? Mom did not vote for that option! Option three      
 was to go to a pre-cut lot and pick one out. Option three won the vote! We found a tree lot that    offered any tree for $25.00. We made a quick decision in the rain and piled back into the truck.  Actually, Emma never even bothered to get out of the truck. She looked out the window into the rain, and told the boys, “You can pick out the tree today!” Roger tied on the tree, and we headed for home.

This tree! A pain in my backside! First of all, the wet tree needed to dry! So we had to bring the wet tree into the house to dry off. Finally the tree was dry. Next the boys wanted to spray white “snow” on the tree. We had bought it last year after Christmas as Roger wanted to try it. It actually turned out very nicely, but again the tree had to dry. While the tree was drying, we realized that not all of the lights were working for the tree. So Roger and I went to get some lights. We came back and put the lights on the tree, but now we didn’t have enough of that particular kind of lights. Well that’s not a big deal, we can just use the other white lights! Yeah, do you know how many different shades of white lights there are?!  I wouldn’t say I’m very particular about the tree, but this was looking like a red neck Christmas tree. Roger went back to the store to get more lights for the tree. This is one   weekend I was thankful for Black Friday sales on Christmas lights! Roger came back with the lights,  and we started stringing lights again. I have to say, I am very thankful that we did not have church services on Sunday night as we used up most of our day on this tree! Guess what? Yes, the brand new Christmas lights did not work! Only half the string was working! For the first time in our married lives, we went to bed with a half done Christmas tree! The boys were very understanding about the whole situation and by the end of the night we were able to laugh at the events. Emma struggled a bit more, so we decided to help her out a bit by letting her put ornaments on the bottom of the tree! Now it really looked half done! Oh well! Another project to finish another day!
 

We finished decorating the tree on Monday night! It’s not exactly the way that I would decorate the tree, but I’d much rather have the kids create their memories of decorating the tree than to remember that the tree had to be decorated moms way! We also had Christmas program practice on Monday  
morning! Only three more practices before the program! You know...they say in show biz that if the   rehearsals don’t go well, often the actual performance is awesome! Well then, we should be all set to be awesome! A lot of little details have to be worked out, but overall, I’m pleased with the efforts that the students have put forth in the Christmas program. I also will be delighted to have it behind me!

Rogers grandfather did pass away last week, and Roger is planning on going out to  California this weekend. Through some family connections, Roger was able to get a very reasonably priced ticket to go out to California for two nights. It’s a quick trip, but I’m thankful that he will have the opportunity to share in the memories of grandpa. And it’s also an opportunity for Roger to reconnect with his family, and that is important also. We will miss him!

We appreciate your continued prayers. I want to be intentional this Christmas season with my time  and with the making of memories with our kids. The truth is that our kids won’t remember the presents we did or did not give them, but they will remember the time we spent with them. It’s a busy  time of year, but above all, I want to point our kids to Jesus. After all, He truly is the reason for the season!
 

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