A Wonderful Christmas

Christmas Day was a whirl of excitement and activities. Every year we go as a family to the inner city and join a group of people who make soup and sandwiches to deliver to the homeless and poor on the street. IT has been one of the highlights of our Christmas celebration and we all look forward to it. This year my Beloved took our oldest two daughters while I stayed at home with the youngest two. The night before had proven too much for Sweetpea to handle and we wanted to safeguard her from another overload at our expense. Hopefully next year we can all be together in participating. The ones who went had such a great time they came home with color in their cheeks and excited stories to tell. They jumped back into their pj's to get comfy and regaled us of their adventures. We 3 girls at home had not been idle as we were putting on the brunch feast. It's a simple but heralded feast of scrambled eggs, fruit, toast, cinnamon rolls and BACON! It's the one time in the year when I cook bacon for my Beloved and everyone loves it. We feasted and talked and made merry while the tree and it's presents sat unmentioned. After eating we all nestled on the couch and I read aloud from a book we are trying to finish. After a few chapters we set that aside and my beloved donned his festive hat and gave the children their presents. They were delighted.

I have been concerned coming into Christmas as Sweetpea really struggles with seeing anyone else receive a blessing of any kind. She struggles with jealousy and comparison and often would go into a royal sulk even when she had gotten something as well. I was delighted this Christmas day that their was none of this evident. She was curious but seemed content and quite happy with her own blessing. I sense a settling in her understanding in how our family functions. How we are different than previous families she has experienced and that she will get her fair share without having to compete or demand it. At least for today. This mama's heart is rejoicing.
After gifts we all got dressed and made our way over to our friends home for the big feast. I love the fact that this friend who claims to be no M*Stewart constantly opens her home and her table to many offering simple nourishment for body and heart. I wish at times I could be more like her. At this moment I am just so glad to be invited. We spent an evening of engaging fellowship and I laughed like I haven't laughed in the last 6 weeks. It did my heart good. It was better than a vacation for me and I left with a light heart.

I am overwhelmed by God's goodness to us during this season of our lives. He is allowing us to watch the miraculous work in Sweetpea's life, He is guiding our other 3buttons in areas of growth, He has surrounded us by a cloud of friends who become pillars for us in our weakness, and the overwhelming gratitude I feel for His redemption in my life.