It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!

***Just a warning, I'm feeling a bit rambly today, so who knows where this post may end up!***

Everywhere you look the look and feel of Christmas is all around us. The music is playing in stores, the crowds have started to form, the rush is on! It's the first year that I can say, I'm not one of the ones stressing and fretting over starting my Christmas shopping twelve days before!! :) My gifts and goodies are all hid away so that little Carter can't find them. Well, they're not hidden very well since they are in the half bath in our laundry room, thank goodness he NEVER goes in there!!!
This Christmas seems to be a bit more special as I watch Carter's eyes sparkle and he lights up as we talk about all the fun things of Christmas. Last night we had our first fire ever. Carter was Travis' little helper, go figure. He wanted to help carry firewood, but when it came time for the flames, he was out of there. Such a smart little fella! He was amazed by the fire, and kept telling us it made his ears hot! Carter loves to rearrange the bells on the tree, talk about Santa coming down the chimney, making cookies for Santa, and all his presents! His list gets longer as each day passes. When I say he wants everything he sees on t.v., trust me, he wants everything... even the BabyAlive that learns to use the potty! Umm, none of that in this house! :) When I say he gets excited when we go in Wal-Mart or Garden Ridge and he sees all the lights, that is a complete understatement!!!! He just bubbles over with sheer excitement. Then there was the Christmas parade, last weekend. He was ready, bag in hand, waiting for some candy. Of course, I was snapping pictures from behind, but as I watched I couldn't help but get a bit choked up. We won't go into that, because I already have tears welling up in my eyes. :) I'm just so blessed by this little three foot tall person that consumes my life. I love to watch him learn new traditions and just be in awe of the joy that this holiday brings.

I've also tried to make sure that he understands that Christmas is not about the presents, the tree, the stockings, or goodies. Each day I remind him that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birthday. It melts my heart when we are driving down the road and out of the blue he starts to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!! One of my biggest prayers is that I instill christian values into my children and what better time to remember then Christmas? I pray that my children grow up and live their lives for God and seek His will for their lives. His little mind is so inquisitive now about where things come from, or who made the moon, or why does it rain? I love to ask him who makes the moon, stars, trees, or whatever. He always responds with, "momma, God made it!" his response has that bit of 'shouldn't you know that?' Then sometimes he'll break out into a little song he learned at school, "God made me!"

This Christmas I'm not stressing the gifts and the where do we go on Christmas. We are taking things a bit slower this year because one of my goals is to really enjoy the day and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. We've decided that we will be staying home this year. Lunch will be at our house for those who choose to join us. This is the first time in eleven years that Travis and I have not had to leave at ten in the morning to start our Christmas day which usually doesn't end until ten or eleven at night. We've come to the conclusion that we have to start somewhere with traditions for our own family. I want my boys to grow up and enjoy the smell of Christmas lunch cooking (although me cooking should be interesting!), the excitement of being home all day with their new toys, and the joy of having extended family in our home on Christmas. I think back to when I was little and the holidays were always special because mom and granny would always rise before the rest of us and get things underway. Momma would always have a special Christmas breakfast cooked, and we would invite my grandparents over for breakfast, since they lived right next door. We would open our gifts and then run to the kitchen for momma's hot yummy breakfast. From then until lunch, it was our time. Play with your toys, try on your new outfits, just be kids. No rushing to get out the door to go someplace else. Thinking back, it is very apparent to me now that my family is the biggest part of my Christmas memories. I am so grateful that I was able to spend the first twenty years of my life with my grandparents on Christmas morning. I'm grateful for the love and pride that my mom and grandmother put in to every meal they prepared for us. I'm even thankful for those Christmas' that just weren't "normal" coming from a divorced family, but those are probably the most special ones. They are reminders that you don't have to have the best of this or that, just as long as you have family that loves and supports you that is all you need at that time. I like traditions, they give me a peace, a comfort, and a feeling of who I am. I can't wait to share my traditions & Travis' family traditions with our children. What are some of your favorite family traditions?

Sparkling lights, Christmas carols, good food, and family! This is really my most favorite time of year! :)

Happy Holidays!
Jen


P.S. I tried to warn you this post would ramble and ramble about nothing! :)