Christmas, Christmas time is here.....???

"It wouldn't be Christmas without xyz"
How often have you heard this or a similar exclamation from friends,family,and complete strangers?
Your answer should be "Well,yes, yes it would be."

Whether you have a real tree, a fake tree,  or no tree....the angel STILL appeared to Mary all those years ago and told her a baby would be  born of her virgin's womb

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" Luke 1:30-31

Whether you bake Christmas cookies or put up lights, it doesn't change the fact that Jesus came to be our bread and our light...

I think it's sort of funny that we think we are stressed at Christmas time.
What about Mary, the mother of Jesus? Don't you think she was stressed despite being blessed? She was a pregnant, unwed teenager, in a day and time when that was an unheard of, stoning offense.
She had to travel,at full term, to a far away city, on the back of a donkey.
She was then turned away from every inn because there was no room for them.
She gave birth in a dirty stable, which experts believe was little more than a cave or rock shelter.
She then had to flee to Egypt, again  probably on foot, or donkey, with a small baby.
But we're stressed because the mall parking lot is full? Or the hot toy of the year is sold out?
And yet, look how she responds in spite of those stressors...

38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

• Luke 1:46-56: The Magnificat: Mary's Song of Joy and Praise of Yahweh

46 And Mary said,
47 "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness (tapeinosen) of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly (tapeinous);
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

REALLY people?

This woman gave birth to a son whom she knew would die to save others. She gave birth, knowing she would watch him die.
What a sacrafice, what emotions must have flooded her as she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in that manger.
Mary chose to focus on her blessings, not her stressors.



I'm sorry if I'm being scattered, or redundant, but I just think it is so so so silly to get stressed over Christmas.

Family Heirlooms

These are the little felt figures that my Grandma Mary made many many many years ago. My dad estimates them to be over 50 years old. They are my favorite Christmas decoration and have been M.I.A the past few years. When we found them this year I was soo excited, I was jumping up and down and yelling "Woo hoo!!"

They are so darling, and so special and they say Christmas to me!

Angel

Three wisemen

Snowman

Santa

Choir girl

What is your favorite, or most special Christmas decoration?

God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you...

Today is my five year wedding anniversary.
The weather here in Michigan today mimics the day I got married back in 2005. Cold, gray, blustery, and with a bit of spotty snow clinging in patches and blowing around.

My hair was perfect. My makeup was perfect. My dress, nails, jewelery, and shoes, all perfect.
My marriage, well, not so perfect.

We have had some bumps in our road. Everyone has bumps, so perhaps it should be said that we've had some mountains to overcome in our journey. It's been a rough and rocky five years.
But, there isn't anyone else I would want to be married to.
When I cry there is no one else I want to wipe my tears. When I'm scared there is no one else I want to hold my hand. When I'm happy there is no one else I want to share that joy with other than MY husband.
He's not perfect and honestly some days I can't stand to be around him, but he's my husband. He's not my best friend. I hear people say that about their husband's and that's all well and good for them, but I don't want a best friend in him. I want just what I have.
He adores me, I adore him.

Alot of other people don't understand us, and that's ok, they don't have to. Alot of people want to judge us, and that's ok too, they are entitled to their uninformed, outside opinions.
God destined me to marry Nick, and though I haven't loved every minute of our five years of marriage, I do love him, and I love being married to him.
Today I look back on the 5 years we've had. The fun, the love, the tears, and I"m thankful for every single day. Anything worth doing isn't going to be easy, and we both work to make our relationship the best that it can be for us.

So today, I just want to say I love you to my darling husband Nicolas, I'm looking forward to a lifetime of love, laughter, and beautiful babies with you!