Gifts

When I think about the Christmas season it is hard not to think about gifts. As much as I don't want to admit it I have spent most of my life focusing on material gifts more than the gifts that truly matter. Not that I was so concerned with what everyone was getting me but what I was getting everyone else. Either way the focus was in the wrong place. To me Christmas should not be about material things at all. It is about recognizing the true gifts that we are given, not taking advantage of them, and showing appreciation for them. Like, the gift of:

• Jesus
  
• Quiet time spent with the Lord
  
• My husband
  
• Spending family time together
  
• Looking into my children's faces everyday
  
• Having close extended family and watching cousins play together
  
• Prayer
  
• Having Grandma and Grandpa geographically close (a gift we don't have right now but someday...maybe!)
  
• Health
  
• Life
  
• Making a difference
  
• The Bible
  
• Public worship
  
  This is not an exhaustive list by any means. It is just meant to highlight a few of the most precious non-material gifts in my life. These are the things that are more important to me than anything material I could ever receive.

Pig Tails

Cutest thing ever!

Digging For Gold

Kaley loves finding long lost treasures in her diaper bag.

Daddy's Girl

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

We did not put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving but we did put it up the Saturday after Thanksgiving...close enough! The kids have been great with the tree so far. Kaley could not seem less interested so she hasn't tried to yank anything off of it yet. Braedon likes to rearrange the non-breakable ornaments along the bottom half of the tree, which we are totally ok with. We had a great time putting it up and we are looking forward to enjoying it for the next several weeks. I also setup all of my other Christmas decorations and that triggered a well needed decluttering session. So, the house is clutter free (for the most part) and decorated for Christmas. Yay!