I very very much hope that everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! We had a good one, different, but good. I think that Christmas snuck up on me this year and I didnt process well before hand the fact that we were not at home, away from tons of loved ones. The weeks before Christmas I found myself easily angered and frustrated and at the same time walking in shame and guilt because I knew that is not at all how I wanted to be in the midst of celebrating our King. It was such a battle in my heart to enjoy and be excited about Christmas with my family while fighting off the next bought of annoyance at the heat or traffic or life in general. I allowed the annoyances to win a lot, and the day after Christmas or so as Craig and I were talking in the evening I think that I realized that it has been really really hard this year being away. It was hard reading on Facebook about everyone going on road trips to see family. It was hard seeing pictures of snow. It was hard when my sister landed in Albuquerque and I knew that she was going to be home with the huge red Christmas tree, my mom's homemade stockings, the endless smell of baking cookies, and Christmas lights. It was hard seeing Craig's family all together on Skype and hearing the loud noises of joyful kiddos running around playing together. I let my focus go to the things that I was missing out on and, sadly, in turn I missed out on things that could have been right here in front of me. I'm not saying that I didnt love this Christmas, because I very much did, but I know myself and I know that my heart was dabbling in the "injustices" of being so far away. In the heat. With no eggnog. And yet, again, as I watch Charlie Brown Christmas with the boys, there is Linus reminding me that Christmas is about worshiping our sweet savior and the miracle that is. Ahhhh, worship. Right. It really is incredible and I am so incredibly blessed to be able to worship Jesus with my husband and kids by my side and all of my family on the other side of the world through the amazing world wide web. And although it's not the same as eating my weight in my mom's delicious cookies or having matching pj pants with all of Craig's family, I am reminded again that we are united in Christ and I am so thankful for everyone near and far. So, now that Christmas Day is over, I have rearranged my thinking and pried my heart away from the things of this world and been able to rejoice in the reality of what has come. Jesus! Our King! Truly amazing! But here are a few pictures from our Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning celebration madness!
Craig and Lucy Mae awaiting the start of the service. She was still awake and happy :)
Christmas Eve service here is so different than in the States. It starts late and goes through the night. Some stop around midnight, some go clear through till morning. Our service was supposed to start at 8 and to till 12, but because there was traffic and there were not enough people there in the beginning to really start, they decided that they were pushing the start time to 9. Yikes. My kids hit the sack at 7:30 or 8! Keenan and Elliot were shepherds in the production and had a song to sing, so we stuck it out until they were at least finished with the kids part and finally made it home around 11:30. We were tired!!! The whole kids production was fabulous, though and our friends who headed it up did an amazing job roping in all those kids!!!
I dont know if I have ever seen a cuter shepherd!
Getting ready to go on
Keenan with a buddy
One last practice in the Sunday School room
I honestly did not think this little shepherd would make it till his song! He was so tired!!
Singing. Mostly Elliot stood there looking around stunned by the crowd, only halfway going through the motions. But Keenan was all in! Even if he was hidden in the back!
And then came the classic small child in the front row scene as Elliot saw his friend Eva sitting on the side. His focus was all on her and he happily waved at her for the rest of the song!
Still waving and beaming
Lucy didnt last. She snuggle up with Stephane and dozed right off!
Christmas morning! First look at the tree
I had the boys go and pick out presents for each other and these are them. We had all gone together to the store and I just took them one at a time to pick things out and after Elliot chose for Keenan but before we were reunited with Keenan he kept yelling throughout the store, "Keenan, we got a present for you!!!!" Then the night before he asked where his present was for Keenan. I told him that I wrapped it and he could open it in the morning. He then asked, "Will he share with me after?"
After the opening
Craig with his new toy
Christmas sticky buns!! Or stinky bums as Elliot has renamed them
This was the kids big gift from us. We had a little kitchen built for them that fits right behind the island in our kitchen. So now when Im in there cooking, they can be too!
Keenan, want to taste? I made dessert!!!
Already a favorite toy
Drinking
We finished the day with a movie. This is a regular thing in our house and we think it is so so funny that the boys choose to sit like this. There's a whole couch!!!
Why use the kitchen when you can hide behind it?
And last of all, I made this little video for my parents. Sadly, my older sister tried to get her little munchkin saying Merry Christmas, but it would not send, so we are missing little Taylor!! When I works I can redo it and burn a new DVD for my parents! I did a second version with only Keenan and Elliot which was on Craig's facebook, but I like this one the best. And again, I realized Im not in these pictures! Gotta get out from behind the camera a time or two, huh?! Now, the Christmas season is over! SOOOO, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment