It’s the mooooost wonderful tiiiiiime…of the year (sing it with me!) Unfortunately it can also be the most crazy, anxiety-inducing time of the year. We are all running around like overly-tightened (China-made) wind-up toys, beating down that path to Christmas day, but if we don’t take time to stop and chill a minute, we will soon bust a spring and just keel over and stop working. Seriously, what good are we going to be to anybody if we just flop over at the waist with our heads skimming the ground and our arms splayed out like the Y-M-C-A gone wrong?
NO GOOD!! No good, people!
So it’s time to quit! Quit running around. Finish your shopping online and pay for speedier shipping if need be. You’ll make it up in saved gas! Use the time you saved not walking the mall to read an extra story to your kiddos. Say “no” to that extra holiday party you really don’t have time (or have lost the will) to attend. Stay home. Be a family. Reeee-lax.
Lately I’ve just been feeling reallllllllllllllllly thankful. Thankful that God meets my family’s needs. Thankful I have a husband who works his butt off to provide for us. Thankful that I can be home with my kiddos every day. Thankful for Joshua’s funny phonics and Sophie’s tempestuous teething. (Still no teeth by the way. Zero. Zilch. Nada.)
I know Thanksgiving is past, but the time for thankfulness has not. I am so thankful for this season. I am so thankful for Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. I am so thankful that God cares about me and my family. I am so thankful I can blog with my cousin, and I am so thankful that all three of you all read our musings.
Today my challenge to you is, stop being so busy being busy, and start getting busy hangin’ out with your peeps and being thankful. It’s way more fun and way less dangerous than getting into a fist fight over a parking space or clawing someone’s eyes out over that last $299 laptop at Best Buy. Do you want your kids’ Yuletide memories to be warm fuzzies of a happy, fun-to-be-with mama or therapy-session inducing tales of Stressy McSnappertons?
If you are picking up what I am laying down, slap down a comment full of gratitude. Tell me what you’re thankful for, or what you’re giving up to be happier at home this Christmas season.
Time for some kiddo cuddling! Blog atcha later!
I’m thankful that every member of my immediate and extended family is healthy. I’m thankful that I live in a country where I have the luxury of wasting copious amounts of time and energy zooming around town hunting for stocking stuffers instead of fearing attack or facing starvation. I’m thankful that my parents raised me in the knowledge and love of God and that I now have the opportunity to do the same for my children.
I am thankful for the most wonderful husband and daughter, a warm home and good health, a new addition to the extended family, friends old and new. And most of all for a Savior who has never given up on me and loves me even when I have been unlovely.
I am thankful for a GREAT family and all of the blessings that I have received in 2007. God has truly given me the desires of my heart and my years of praying have been answered. I am thankful for amazing friends are a true source of support and encouragement to me. Most of all I am grateful for God’s mercy and no matter how many times I may fail Him he gladly accepts me back into His arms of love, grace and patience!
This is EXACTLY one of the reasons I Christmas shop all through the year, so I am not running around like a crazed shopper in December. It gives me time to reflect upon the joys of Christmas rather than the chaos that can insue. I love the fact that we have taught our children that Christmas is not about asking for things, but it’s how we can show God’s love for others. In fact, some of my favorite Christmas memories have NOTHING to do with presents, but helping others.
Hey Jenny, does bargain shopping at Odd Lots for cleaning supplies bring back memories for you?
By helping others, we realize how blessed we are in our own lives. I noticed this when my girls, 4 and 7, were cleaning out my cupboards the other day. There was a food drive at church and they were cleaning out my pantry to fill the church’s. My oldest said, “But Mom, we have so much and they have so little. We need to show God’s love to them.” It was at that moment I was filled with thanks!
I am thankful for my family and friends, for my home, my job, opportunities that have come to me this year. I am thankful that my kids are finally starting to look pass the commercialism of Christmas and learning the real reason for the hoiday.
I am thankful that I get to see how much by baby girl enjoys her very first Christmas!
Consider me ChillDad now… thanks for the injection of sanity.
Good one Jenny…
I am vey thankful for my wife,Luanne.My kids,Tosh,Krisha and Austin. We all have reason to get down,but we have so many more to get up. My family and my friends( yes that especially includes the Rapsons ) are my main reasons on Earth to get up.
and having the BIGGEST present under the tree…..JK
And thanks for the book….I wanna be a barbarion for Christ!
what a good reminder. i just finished up another gift guide (and giveaways) on my blog and now i feel like i can breathe and relax a bit.
i’m thankful for my family – thankful they they put up w/ my blogging. 😉 j/k. seriously, i’m very thankful to have such a wonderful family. my kids are the light of my life. 🙂
Excellent gratitude post darlin! You’ve inspired me. I’ve been struggling to be grateful for some reason, but I’ve been too heady about it. I need to break it down and keep it simple.
God is GOOD! I am BLESSED! You are LOVED!
~xo
I did not post that at 5:55 am. fyi. I’ll be asleep at that time, hopefully 🙂