Blessed Beyond...

Handprint Ornaments - I love traditions!!!
Grace on Left, Abi on Right

I. Love. Christmas.  It's true, Aaron made fun of me last year and ended every conversation with "We know, you love Christmas"...even when it was not at all related.  Love it.  But every year I'm struck with this weird guilt when I try to buy presents but don't have "just the thing" in mind or when I write my Christmas list.  Sure, I wish I had an amazing camera and I would LOVE to redecorate the house, but needs?  That'd be a short list.  I know it isn't necessarily a season of filling needs, but I have so much already.  Seriously.

The other thing that I thought was funny was my clothing on Monday and really, almost every day.  I believe a delightful combination of hating shopping and God working things out really makes this happen a lot, but my outfit Monday consisted of jeans my sister had bought me for Christmas a couple years ago, a shirt and sweater a friend had given to me in a bag to take to the thrift store after I took out anything I wanted, socks that were in my Christmas stocking and jewelry that had been gifts from family and friends.  I want for nothing.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (Matthew 6:28)

I bought a Christmas present today using a gift certificate that was 6, yes SIX years old.  I have been doing as much Christmas shopping as I can using gift certificates, "free" money and other avenues and I was stoked to find what I wanted at the best price at this store AND have almost half of it taken care of for me.  Delighted.  I do believe that God provides so much more than I could ever need.

And finally, I was sorting out the girls toys tonight. You know, all the toys they had to have?  We ended up getting the right pieces together and putting most of them away.  They each got two babies and have a set of blocks, a baby stroller and a stacker game to share.  That's it.  The rest is out of sight.  And you know what, they had more fun with those items then when they empty everything onto the floor.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  (Matthew 7:11)

We have so much.