It's a tricky thing, this Christmas season. It's full of things the world thinks you should do, should say, should think, should teach your kids, should buy, should want...you know what I mean! You should take your kids to get pictures with Santa every year but also teach them about Jesus' birth. You should give your kids whatever is on their list but also give to the church, food bank, homeless shelter and giving trees. You should bake all the things, make homemade gifts for everyone, etc, etc. I don't know that I have ever felt quite this way about Christmas before. I'm slowing down a bit and trying to sort through what's *really* important.
With that in mind, I spent a few days in town on business last week. I got a refresher/update on Robert's Rules of Order, some presentations at a Science Night, a day of long-range planning, and a Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Party. It was a busy two days followed by a long day of shopping on Saturday. Here's the thing that hit me while I was in town...Christmas is such a sad season for so many people. There's so much hurt in the world. So much pain and suffering in my own town. I cannot fix it all. I want to. I want to bring all the hurting kids home with me, feed all of the hungry people, love all of the people who feel unlovable. I am only one person, but I hurt for many. We are so blessed...our basic needs are met every single day. I don't worry about a roof, food, or clothes for my kids. I work hard to teach them about doing without some luxuries so we can share with others. We teach them about Jesus' birth, life, and death. We teach them how to love on their neighbors, how to be good friends, and we teach them about people. But still...
I feel such pressure to "be merry" this time of year and truth be told, I often am. But this year I am taken off guard by this other feeling that is creeping around in my heart. This hurt and sadness I feel for so many people. I am not the only one. I just keep trying to do the next right thing, one thing at a time.
***
Yesterday the girls and I hauled out our Christmas decorations and did a little decorating. I know I have complained before about the challenges of decorating a tiny space and now that we have a bird who chews on things decorating is even more *ahem* fun. Here are some not-so-great phone photos of our progress...
Kelsey had a blast decorating notebooks for everyone in her class. She really got into the project and finished it off this morning! Stacy did a batch for her class as well. (pardon my foot)
So that's what we're up to...and if you've made here to the end of my ramblings I congratulate you! Thanks for sticking with me on this walk through my muddled mind!
With that in mind, I spent a few days in town on business last week. I got a refresher/update on Robert's Rules of Order, some presentations at a Science Night, a day of long-range planning, and a Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Party. It was a busy two days followed by a long day of shopping on Saturday. Here's the thing that hit me while I was in town...Christmas is such a sad season for so many people. There's so much hurt in the world. So much pain and suffering in my own town. I cannot fix it all. I want to. I want to bring all the hurting kids home with me, feed all of the hungry people, love all of the people who feel unlovable. I am only one person, but I hurt for many. We are so blessed...our basic needs are met every single day. I don't worry about a roof, food, or clothes for my kids. I work hard to teach them about doing without some luxuries so we can share with others. We teach them about Jesus' birth, life, and death. We teach them how to love on their neighbors, how to be good friends, and we teach them about people. But still...
I feel such pressure to "be merry" this time of year and truth be told, I often am. But this year I am taken off guard by this other feeling that is creeping around in my heart. This hurt and sadness I feel for so many people. I am not the only one. I just keep trying to do the next right thing, one thing at a time.
***
Yesterday the girls and I hauled out our Christmas decorations and did a little decorating. I know I have complained before about the challenges of decorating a tiny space and now that we have a bird who chews on things decorating is even more *ahem* fun. Here are some not-so-great phone photos of our progress...
Usually I bake a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff to share with people around town. This year I decided to do something different. We assembled taco soup bags with the ingredients, recipe, and a package of cornbread mix so people have an easy dinner for some busy night in December. I found the idea via Pinterest from this gal. The kids and I delivered some of them last night and people seemed to like the idea!
So that's what we're up to...and if you've made here to the end of my ramblings I congratulate you! Thanks for sticking with me on this walk through my muddled mind!
Know your classmates appreciated them. Good job girls.
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