A new kind of Christmas

Growing up we were spoiled for Christmas. My parents always went over the top, my grandparents spent equally as much, and well, it was kind of amazing. As we have gotten older, I've noticed the focus of Christmas slowly become about $$. Sad but, true. Not all in a bad way though. Mostly, as we children became adults and no longer thought "Santa" brought us our presents, we wanted to be able to give as much as receive and none of us had money to spend on one another.

I have been frustrated for several years because for me Christmas is such a special intimate day for me spiritually. It has always been my wish that we would read the Christmas story together, pray together, and do something to remember Christ on that day. For some reason, even though I do have an aunt, uncle and grandparent who are all Christians, we've never done this. I do this for myself, each year I take time to spend with God and thank him for becoming flesh...

This year, with my Dads cancer battle and resulting medical retirement, both my sister being laid off, my Uncle being out of work for 8 months and me having my hours drastically cut, well, I knew money was an issue. I had this idea that this year we would all buy only for "the babies", meaning my 2 year old nephew and one year old cousin. Thankfully everyone agreed. I like this idea because it gave us the opportunity to spoil them the way we were spoiled, and to bring a bit of the "magic" back into Christmas. We also could spend what we had on the babies, without worrying about buying for everyone, or forgetting someone.

It all turned out REALLY well. No one was left feeling bad or left out. No one felt like maybe they should have spent more, no one fretted. The babies were adorable, the parents were grateful. And, I got to focus even more astutely on Christ without being overwhelmed and distracted by the family drama!

I won't lie though, my Mom decided she wanted to give each of us some cash for Christmas, and she did. And my grandmother also gave each of us some $$ with some other small goodies. All of which I was very grateful for (it's mostly going towards school books!).

I also attended a low key Christmas Eve Svc. with my best friend Alicia and her family. We sang some of my favorite carols, read the Christmas story, and headed home, where the power was out! Alicia and I chatted about her new engagement and accumulating wedding plans...

It was a good Christmas.

Venting

My Dad joined face book. I guess that means I need to be a little more careful about what I say there. Not because I say things particularly BAD but, I know I've occasionally said things he might take the wrong way, assume are about him, or some such. Or, thing that I just really wouldn't want to share with my Dad. I know facebook is a very public venue, and so is a blog. I guess I didn't mind sharing some things on facebook because I have amazing friends who were always so encouraging. Plus, with my parents and siblings not being facebookers and bloggers, it was like my own personal little world, and escape so to speak. I still have my blog.

With that said, I was rather hurt by my Dads actions today. Monday I cleaned the entire house (ok, the main living areas, bathroom, kitchen living room). I did dishes, vacuumed, mopped, swept, DEEP cleaned the bathroom including cleaning the mirror/toilet/scouring the tub, picked up the living room, folded laundry... then I got really busy with school and work, and I HOPED that since I had done SO much house work by myself on Monday Dad or brother would help me out with dishes this week. Well, it's Friday, and the dishes hadn't been done since Monday. DISGUSTING. The sink was starting to smell. So, I did all the dishes, the dish washer was CRAMMED full of dishes, so I washed a bunch by hand. One thing I HATE to do when doing dishes is rinsing the silverware (in my house everything is scrubbed free of food before it goes in the dishwasher, my Dad believes the dishwasher is only meant to sanitize dishes, not really clean them), I asked my Dad if he would please wash the silverware before I started the dishwasher since I had washed so many dishes as well as cleaned up the rest of the kitchen. He didn't say a thing but, he did give me a nasty look. Instead, he closed the dish washer, and went to bed.

I just wish that my work was appreciated and that I could get a LITTLE help every once in a while....

Tobias

My good friend J. had a baby Saturday. Sweet Tobias Samuel. His arrive was much anticipated. I knew I'd love him when she told me she was carrying him, I started FEELING that love when I felt him move while giving her a pregnancy massage and I was head over heals the first time I looked into his precious little face. This is boy # 4 for this family, and they named him Tobias because it means "GOd is Good" (well, and they liked the name) see, they all were hoping and anticipating for a baby girl, especially their only daughter. When they found out it was a boy, and came across the name, they knew that God is good, all the time, and he has big plans for this 4th baby boy. There is a reason he chose this family to raise this special boy.

I've been babysitting for this family for 11 years! Their family had a 3 month old son when they moved in next door. He is 11 years old now, and they now have 5 children. I still babysitt for them and love them all. I had the priveledge of watching the other four children while baby Toby made his Debut! It was a busy, special, fun time!