Merry Christmas!!

It's that time of Christmas where you've done all you can do -- All the stores are closed, the mailman has fulfilled his rounds and won't be back to work until the 26th, Santa has already packed his sleigh... Now you just have to sit back and let the rest of the pieces fall where they may.

I think back on all the hectic hustle and bustle of the last couple weeks and reflect on my stress levels and attitudes. I had to cut back on some things: I didn't send out Christmas cards this year (sorry to friends and family who were hoping for the annual letter), I didn't buy gifts for everyone and their dog, I only took neighbor gifts to those I truly care about, I didn't search for that "perfect something," but rather for that "something pretty okay," (and I'm okay with that), we didn't put out all the decorations and over accent our house - in all, I didn't run myself ragged (completely).

But, I did find time to be with the kids more, we watched most of our Christmas movie collection together as a family, I wrapped as I bought, so I wouldn't have an all-out wrap fest, I embraced the all-Christmas-Music-all-the-time on the radio and I enjoyed it... basically, I tried to enjoy the holiday more from the beginning, instead of let it run away with me.

This is the season to focus on the Savior; He was born, He died, He lives and He loves us. He doesn't care whether we sent out cards, or whether we shopped at Dillards or at Pic-N-Save, or whether we took home-baked items to our neighbors or didn't even bake at all, leaving that solely up to them... all He cares about is that we remember Him, and try to be like Him.

We do what we can, and He makes up the rest. Now, if that's not love, I don't know what is.