weird Christmas

Well, for starters, it's Christmas this week.  Totally weird and not really feelin' ready for it.  I mean I bought the few presents we're going to buy and wrapped them.  But they're all stacked up high on a shelf because when I put them under the tree ... well .... let's just say a certain one year old boy was totally fascinated with shiny bows and tearing off wrapping paper.  So we have an empty tree.

And then there's the fact that this is the first year we're not spending Christmas with either of our parents.  Chris' mom and dad were supposed to meet us in Minneapolis, but couldn't get away for work/church reasons.  After the initial disappointment I thought "maybe this won't be so bad.  We'll get to start our own family traditions this year."  But we're not going to be at our house for Christmas.  We're still going to Minneapolis to spend the holiday with Chris' brother and his wife.  Which will be fun, but kinda weird.

And then I had this huge dilema about cookies.  (yes, cookies!)  Should I bake Christmas cookies??  I usually never do because our mama's bake a whole ton of them and that's usually enough sugar intake for the whole year.  But our mamas aren't going to be around for Christmas!  And I don't like making dozens and dozens of cookies because I EAT THEM ALL!!!  (sigh)  So I've been fighting this scroogy, bah-humbug attitude for the past few weeks and I don't like it :(

So then what's this whole Christmas thing all about?  (and let's be honest, we all know the right answer, but do we really live it?)  I know Christmas is not about presents, or cookies or in which bed we wake up on December 25.  But it's alwasy easier to say that when you have cookies and presents and the like.  So I'm learning to let go.  I'm learning to enjoy this season for what it is.  I'm finding Christmas.  I guess that's a part of growing up and making that transistion from being a part of my parent's family to becoming our own little family.

And the closer we get to Christmas the more excited I'm becoming.  I'm looking forward to a low-key Christmas with JD & Pamela.  I'm excited for Brooks to actually know how to open presnents and enjoy the tree.  And I'm totally excited to take Mr. B ice skating for the first time.  And of course I'm excited to remember the great sacrifice that my Savior, Jesus made by coming to earth as a baby so I could have eternal life (way better than any gift wrapped in snowman paper if you ask me) 

Merry Christmas!!!!