Christmas is over, the New Year approaches and it’s time for MarmotMom to come out of hibernation and sniff the cold, crisp air!
I have gotten some sweet comments from some of you saying you’ve checked this blog and notice I haven’t posted since this fall. Thanks! It feels good to know somebody’s out there.
Life gets pretty crazy for me at school during the fall—and our personal lives have really paralleled it this year. It’s good to be back in cyberspace.
I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas. For one thing, we had a White Christmas here for the first time in 70 years!! So, while the snow fell in big, fat flakes, the four of us sat together and started opening presents at eleven. (Most definitely another first in our home.) Christmas morning was a little on the small side because we are low on funds. But, God, in that, great, ironic way that He has, seemed to make it more fun than usual. It took us a longer time to open fewer presents, and it felt so great to linger over them, laugh at the unexpected ones and sniff at the sentimental ones.
Those that know me, know that I’m not exactly the mushy type, but at one point I felt in awe that our kids have become incredible gift givers. Each gift they gave had so much thought poured into it-- tailored so perfectly to what they really knew about that person.
It also blessed me more than I can express that we had so much fun just sitting around laughing with each other. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard parents say: “Oh, they’re cute now, but just wait until they’re teenagers.” I had to stop both kids at one point and tell them that Christmases with them literally get better each year…Of course, we totally lost track of time and just barely made it to the Christmas Dinner we were invited to…(Thanks for being patient, Carole!)
Christmas was always such a train wreck when Teacher Husband and I grew up. Could it really be possible that Christ has actually crafted something worthwhile out of all that pain? When I look at my husband and my children, it’s not hard to see His ongoing work in my life as a Redeemer.
3 comments:
What a beautiful tribute to the redemption Christ brings...in so many areas of life.
Good to see you back! Glad it was just busyness keeping you away. :-)
Oh, and the teenager comment warms my heart to the very core. I hear this all the time...enjoy 'em now because you won't later.
Could be true. But is it too much to just embrace the process of raising children -- both the good bits and the bad bits -- and cherish each stage? There's always something to dread, I suppose. But there are also special gifts at each age.
L.M. No doubt, children can irritating and irresistible at the same time. But, really, doesn't that describe all of us? Some of my favorite people in the world were the teenagers that Teacher Husband and I worked with as youth leaders many years ago. Sadly, their parents didn't see them that way. Teenagers have a lot to give--I wish people would cut them a little more slack and try to remember how confusing those years were. I can tell you and Llama Papa will enjoy yours then because of the way you enjoy them now :)
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