O Holy Night

Christmas is five days away....FIVE!  Every year I feel surprised by how fast the holiday sneaks up on me.  You'd think I'd have learned by now...

You know how things just don't seem to go right sometimes?  That's how I feel about this Christmas season. 

Dan started decorating the outside of the house, got the lights up around the roof and promptly got sick. He's been sick for the better part of two weeks.  Needless to say no other decorations made it up.  He is highly disappointed.  Decorating the house for Christmas is the highlight of his year. 

I've had a really hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year.  I miss buying gifts for the kids. Gift buying is the highlight of MY year.  I love searching for and picking out gifts.  But we are exchanging stockings this year so I only have one person to buy for. ONE!  How do you only buy for one person?  I mean, it's practical and its necessary and I love the simplicity of it.  But I yearn for the days of a pile of presents under the tree.  I need some grand kids people! :) 

One thing that never changes is why we celebrate this holiday in the first place.  I try to always keep that in the forefront of my mind.  Especially when lamenting the absence of gifts under the tree.  

Driving home last night it was cloudy, a little windy and a tad chilly.  And then from the radio came the most beautiful version of O Holy Night.  It was the perfect setting...for the perfect song.  It made my heart swell and it filled me with Good Tidings.  This is what Christmas is all about, Gerri.  It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.  Amazing how God always does that for me.  In the midst of Christmas hub-bub and lamenting, He finds a way to bring me back to what is Real.  The Christmas Story is one of hope and the beginning of the journey toward Easter and eternal salvation.

I am happy for this season of hope and thankful to my Savior who always finds ways to bring me back to Him.

Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas.