Ok, so it's late February 2012 and once again I find myself with the urge to start a blog post with "wow, it's been way too long since I last posted.." so I'll just skip that obvious fact and move along with what's been happenin around here...
We had a wonderful 1st Christmas with Moriah here at the house. Tootsie and Pop came and spent Christmas Eve day with us and then went back to Gilmer that evening. Moriah went to bed at her regular time and Santa came and visited that evening (apparently). We did Christmas quite simple this year (1. Because it is Jesus's bday and we don't wanna get so carried away with all the Santa and Me, Me, Me, 2. We are trying to do things simpler, in other words, cheaper, these days and 3. Because we have a fresh start with an 11 month old and have a few years to experiment with what our Christmas will consist of). In theory, if we continue to Keep It Simple as she gets older, she will just think that's how Christmas is done around here and we won't have to keep trumping the last year and Keeping Up with The Joneses on the day we celebrate our Savior's birth. I know, easy there killer. To be honest, the jury is still out on how we will end up doing Christmas in years to come. There are people we love and admire very much who are on all ends of the spectrum and everywhere in between as far as Santa Clause goes. I think every family unit has to decide what they feel is the right thing for their family within the context of His will, and so Christmas morning could look different for a lot of different folks celebrating the same Savior.
Wow, ok, weird transition from Serious Talk back to What We Did On Christmas....
If memory serves me correctly, we went ahead and let her eat and then led her into the game room area where Santa had stopped by. She got a stocking full of goodies (and perhaps some essentials snuck in there) as well as a neat musical, light-up, talking table thing. And also one of those popping things you push with all the colorful little balls inside. (I'll post pics later...This computer i'm on now is sooo slow about posting pics which is part of the reason i haven't posted anything).
We all played together with some of the toys in the game room, let her open up her presents from us, and from the Allen side of the family that we missed during the holidays! (But will get to see over Spring Break).
We then went to church, then went to Gilmer and spent the rest of the day with the Pate side of the family at Tootsie and Pop's house. That evening, we opened presents with Uncle Ryan, Aunt Shanna, and Kyleigh, Brayden, and Karsyn. (pics coming on that). We had a wonderful time enjoying being with family and just having a fun time together. We are so blessed to be able to celebrate such a special day with loved ones.
Christmas 2011 was wonderful, and it meant all the more having our own little precious baby girl to celebrate with! Last year, while quite pregnant, I remember totally re-thinking the whole Mary Riding the Donkey to Bethlehem While Very Pregnant part of the story. And this year I really reflected on the special gift of having a little one and how much a baby changes everything. (Of course having been through labor, I also re-thought the whole Having a Baby in a Manger scene). wow. wow! Let's just say I have a whole new respect for Mary.
Isn't it interesting how God uses our life experiences to help shape our perspective and continue to see Scripture through a new, refreshing light? Each year I get older and experience different things in life it seems I see the same Christmas Story through a slightly different viewpoint. Such a sweet story and what meaning it has for us who follow Christ. The King of All stepped out of Heaven's glory, became flesh and blood, and came to us in the form of a little baby.
A Baby Changes Everything.
