♥ Merry Christmas!! (A Christmas Letter, and a Video of Jordan) ♥

To parents of Young Children, on the subject of Christmas, (and to my friends and family everywhere),

As the mom of many, I've been where you are. It can be frantic in the days leading up to Christmas. Gifts to buy, programs to attend, meals to prepare. I learned a long time ago that I can't do everything, and my family is better off if I don't try! Don't feel guilty about what you don't do. You don't have to bake cookies for your kiddos to decorate. You don't have to go to every Christmas party. You don't have to decorate to the hilt, and keep everything clean in case someone drops by. You don't need to spend money on professional family photos to send to everyone...snapshots show your family as they truly are, blur and all :)

♥ Just enjoy your time together.♥

Drive around and look at Christmas lights in your pj's, they'll remember that more anyway. Stop for soup or hot chocolate on the way home...you'll have the money for it, because you didn't spend it on a photo session :)

We quit going anywhere on Christmas day, many years ago. My children wanted to play with their new toys, and dragging them somewhere else just didn't seem fair. Also, I don't cook a big Christmas meal. I know we're less formal than many families, but believe me, my children don't go hungry on Christmas day, (although they are most definitely under the influence of a more-than-average sugar rush) and again, there is more time to just relax and enjoy the day. 

This will be the first Christmas I spend without one of my children with me. He and his wife will be spending their first Christmas as a married couple, half a world away, establishing their own traditions for another generation. It happened in a flash. It really did. It was just yesterday that he was a little boy, joyfully tearing open his gifts. 

As I reflect on this, I believe that the memories we will all cherish won't be the gifts, the programs, the parties, or the food, but the time spent together, enjoying each other, arguing with each other (there were 6 kids in our house, so there was/is always an argument or two going on)...and in our family, it was almost always a new movie to watch. Nothing special in itself, but Oh So Special in the time spent together. 

Don't sweat the small stuff young parents, just enjoy the moments :) 

To Randy and Sarah, we will miss you dearly, but are so happy for the Christmas traditions you will be forever establishing for your family, and so thankful that Christ is the center of your celebrations! We love you both so much and are so proud of you!!

Btw, I'm now married to a very handsome "senior" citizen!! 

Senior meals, here we come!!

And for those of you who are still reading, waiting to hear about my nephew Jordan, 

I have something special to share with you! 

Watch this short video and get to know a little bit 

about Jordan and Jenn, their sacrifice, and the blessing of a new home; a gift from

Homes For Our Troops!! Feel free to share it, and spread the news

about this wonderful organization!

Merry Christmas to everyone! 

(Btw, this will serve as my Christmas card...because I didn't get any out this year) 

Lol :)

Blessings,

Marcia