It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

     December is here.  I could use a little more snow falling...precisely on the lawn, not the walks (hey, shoot for the moon right?).  Stores are filled with Christmas items, just like they were starting late September.  24 hour Christmas music.  I'm starting to feel that heartwarming Christmas spirit!

Whew!  That was a close one!(A sign I saw at Dickens)

Reindeer at the Dickens Festival

     Spent today with my mom at the Dickens Festival.  My favorite thing: the fudge stand.  Mmm boy!   I always get some stocking stuffers there.  Marshmallow shooter: check.  Splat balls: check.  Twirly air-born thingies that Lyle and the kids play with: check.  And I enjoy spending time with my mom.  She's such a great companion!  And she bought me some chocolates.  Aren't mom's great?  Then we sat and watched a Lutheran grade school choir sing.  So adorable!  And they all sang so well!
     Now it's time to decorate the house for Christmas while Harry Connick Jr sings Frosty the Snowman in the background.  Christmas tree: check.  Stockings: check.  Nativity set: check.  My good friend Amanda helps me since I've been such a pain in the butt about getting the house ready that Lyle's stuck in bed.  Okay, so the pain in the butt really isn't me...it's his sciatic nerve. I'm not sure he could tell which it was at first!

Me and beautiful Amanda

     I've been thinking about the words to one of my favorite Christmas songs: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel

Shall come to thee O Israel.

     I think about how long the world waited for the Savior to come.  And when He did, He came in a most unexpected and infinitely more humble surrounding than anyone expected.  And He came at the exact time that the world needed. And notice, that the song is sung from the perspective of the awaited Lord, not the already arrived Lord.  And still they rejoice, knowing He will come.

      I think about my life.  It's not what I expected it to be.  Sometimes that starts to make me sad.  And I think of this song.  Life may not be exactly how I pictured it to be, but look at all the blessings I have because it happened they way Heavenly Father knew it should.  I may be waiting for the blessing of my own children, but they will come in the time and surroundings that is right for them.  And I'll be so much happier than I can now imagine when they arrive.  Until then, I will rejoice, knowing my God will be with me and comfort me until they come.

     I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  May you feel the importance of the Christ child in your own lives.

Laura