Holiday Magic

'Tis the season to be jolly…and sick. 

                                                  and sick. 

and sick.  

and sick. 

It all started with James…who passed it to Levi…and then to Caleb…and back to James and now to Evie. It’s quite a sight to see, all four kids coughing, snoting, sneezing on each other....

 It’s virtually impossible to keep all the sickies quarantined, so everybody gets in on this germ fest. It’s what I knew would happen this winter, and it’s what I dreaded. It’s a “one day at a time” kind of thing. It just seems like it’s never going to end. Seriously, the snot just keeps coming and coming and coming…I find myself in moments almost going mad because just when I think one child is on the mend, the first one gets it again and I fear that we will be separated from society forever. 

Despite the snot fest, I am trying my best to infuse our home with some Christmas magic and merriment. Evie is totally enveloped in Christmas this year. We are doing "Elf on the Shelf"  and she is so excited every morning when she wakes up to see where the elf is. 

I’ve decked our house out just for her. 

I have stockings hung,

 lit garland on the staircase, window stickers, and of course, our real Christmas tree that we cut down at a local Christmas tree farm. ( Actually, the Christmas tree farm is on the land of one of the original families in Tualatin!)

  Just like I was as a child, she finds so much delight in looking at all the Christmas decorations. She is totally enamored with the lights and trees, and the thought of Santa and elves put such a sparkle in her eyes. 

Such innocence.

 I am savoring it all because I know it's fleeting. 

How quickly we lose this excitement and magic in life and are forced to deal with the realities of the world. There have been so many brutal realities this past year that have touched my life…friends battling and losing to cancer, sudden tragic deaths of acquaintances, losses of babies…divorces….betrayal....such sorrows we must endure in this world, in this life!

In addition to Santa and reindeers and elves, we definitely make sure we emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus in this world. And what is so amazing is that in this birth, there truly is the hope of REAL magic again someday. 

There is the promise of a world without death, sickness, heartache and brokenness. My heart-my soul-yearns for this world...so much.

But to live in a world without these things for but a brief few years is such a gift. And to see Evie delight in this world of magic makes my heart happy. 

But in the meantime, we  do the best we can and hold on the the things that matter in this life.

And speaking of what matter in life, food and family are right there near the top!  

We hosted Thanksgiving this year, my very first time ever. 

Honestly, I was a little intimidated by the thought of cooking the turkey; but, once again my champion husband came through and claimed that task as his own…and boy, did he ever make a meal to remember! 

After staying up until 2:30  am Thanksgiving Eve brining the bird, he smoked and cooked the best turkey I have ever had. In fact, he was the MC of the entire meal! He came downstairs Thanksgiving morning with a long handwritten schedule of exactly what times dishes and meats needed to be in the oven, with timers set, sauces simmering…it was like a beautiful, orchestrated dance, and truly the end result deserved a standing ovation. 

Mastering the Bird

The meal turned out fantastic.  And I cherished my time with the family and friends we had here in our living room.  We had John's parents with us and John’s brother, Rob and our sister in law Melissa from Seattle, along with their two girls (whom Evie adores!)  

And then there was Amanda and Amanda’s mom,( who flew in from CA),  and Amanda's  friend, Jane, who goes to school at SPU. 

It was a full house, but one with laughter, conversation and happy babies (because they were all being held!)

 Everyone contributed to the meal and it was a really special Thanksgiving. 

During the meal, I suggested that we go around the table and share something that we were grateful for this year. It was a special time of heartfelt sharing. I am grateful for so many things this year. 

Grateful. 

Grateful. 

Oh, so grateful.

Dressed in their Thanksgiving Best!

Lately, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 keeps invading  my mind, “Be grateful in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will  concerning you all.” 

I’m learning that in every situation and circumstance, there is always room for gratefulness. And we are commanded to search for it. 

It is really a good habit to get into, reminding yourself of all the wonderful blessings in life in the midst of the difficulties. It’s so easy to focus on the hardships…like sick kids and going stir crazy in the house. 
However, when I reverse my way of thinking and start focusing on the things that are going right ( it could be worse…they could be puking!….I’m still healthy!….I have an amazing partner in John whom I can go through this with!….It wasn’t raining today and not very cold so we could take a walk to pass the LONG day!…) 

I find when I do this, there are SO MANY things to be grateful for.

 Like this moment right now, hehe.

 

The kids are all in bed…I’m enjoying a glass of red wine and about to sit down with my husband for some Costco pizza.

I believe we can grab hold of magical moments in life. 

They ARE still here.

We just have to recognize them by having a heart that is open to them. 

 A magic moment is one that sweeps you away. It is a glimpse of something better, A place free from hardship, exhaustion and sorrow. 

I had one of those moments tonight. I just put my kids in bed and stepped outside to get the mail. The silence and the glow of my street caused me to stop in my tracks. The Christmas lights, the breeze, the moon above me….it took me away for just a moment, and I felt a peace, and a joy, and an awe deep inside me. 

And I instantly felt grateful to be alive.

A week earlier, I felt this same way when our street was blanketed in  golden leaves, creating a gilded path. 

One of my goals for this Christmas season was to  create magic for my little girl, Evie. I can put up lights, tell stories about elves and bake gingerbread men. 

But now I've also decided that my goal for this Christmas season is to grab hold of some magic for myself. And I believe that this is done by pausing- despite the situation or circumstance-and being grateful.