Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

I had a VERY long day with the kids doing little but fighting. By the time we left for church, we were all short tempered, snapping at each other, and not at all in the Christmas spirit. Thankfully, once at church, we calmed down. Things were put in perspective for us. We sang Christmas songs and began to smile at one another again. The kids didn't fight once while we were there. Well, they did use their battery operated candles as light sabers for a minute, but we'll forget about that part.

I never sent out cards (sorry to all my family and friends). It just didn't happen this year. I don't think I ever completely finished my shopping, but it's a little late now. Several items I ordered online have been back ordered. I just realized that the kids have eaten all the cookies I've made and there are none to put out for Santa now. I encouraged them to leave him a glass of wine instead. And I failed to read the Christmas story to the kids before they went to bed.

But you know what? None of that matters. It really doesn't. Christmas is here! Christ is born! And He doesn't care if we sent out Christmas cards. He doesn't care if we ate all the cookies we baked. He doesn't even care if we never got around to baking a single cookie at all! He loves us no matter how much we screw up. Now that's worth celebrating!



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
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36 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 12:42 AM

    I love that you're so open about your love of our Savior. I say, "Amen" to the peaceful knowledge that little else matters when we put Him first. Merry Christmas. You've done a lot to life my spirits this year.

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  2. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 12:42 AM

    Amen and Amen. What truly matters is the Christ child was born.

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  3. Miriam RobbinsDecember 25, 2008 at 12:45 AM

    Merry Christmas, Dawn, to you and your family. I've enjoyed reading your blog for most of this year. It's provided some much-needed laughter (I'm the mother of two teens whose husband works swing-shift, need I say any more?) and I look forward to many more future posts.

    Bless you.

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  4. Feisty Irish WenchDecember 25, 2008 at 12:46 AM

    Good thing one of us doesn't care lol. I barely got cards out, and cookies got baked while wearing my church clothes before we left tonight. Then the kids and husband ate about half of them.

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  5. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 12:55 AM

    Dawn, Christmas isn't about presents or cookies or having a spotless house. It's about what is in your heart. You carry Christmas in your heart year round. That's the most important thing. Merry Christmas to you!

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  6. KarenDecember 25, 2008 at 1:58 AM

    Happy Birthday Jesus!!

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  7. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 2:07 AM

    Amen!

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  8. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 2:51 AM

    Amen to that, Dawn!! No truer words were ever spoken (or typed).

    Thanks to all of you for opening your lives up to all of us and for sharing so much!!

    May you and your wonderful family have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

    Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

    Donna in PA :)

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  9. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 5:17 AM

    I know, on Christmas day I shouldn't even have the computer on, but I've been so frustrated with my children and the chaos (we're moving from Germany to Cyprus in three weeks) and not finding the tree candles etc., I decided to "tune out" and come check your blog.

    Thank you so much for posting--it was just the encouragement I needed today. Jesus doesn't care about the mess in my house, just wants to straighten out the mess in my heart. Thank you.

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  10. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 6:49 AM

    Hey Dawn, I'm leaving you a post at 6:47 AM on Christmas morning. I'm wide awake due to being pregnant (for the first time!) with a very, very active little boy. I just wanted to let you know that your post really touched me. Thanks. :D

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  11. SabrinaTDecember 25, 2008 at 8:49 AM

    Amen! Merry Christmas..

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  12. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 9:58 AM

    AMEN !!! and a Very Merry Christas to you and your family !!!

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  13. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 1:08 PM

    Amen. Hope you guys have the very merriest Christmas!!

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  14. ElleahDecember 25, 2008 at 1:21 PM

    I agree! I'm one of the ones who never baked a single cookie and that's ok.

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  15. DarlaDecember 25, 2008 at 4:17 PM

    Amen sistah! Merry Christmas.

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  16. AmandaDecember 25, 2008 at 5:45 PM

    So very true. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

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  17. KristinDecember 25, 2008 at 9:05 PM

    And again Amen! I think it is such a blessing that you are able to use this blog as a way to bring humor as well as the realities of being a stay-at-home mom to so many of us. The fact that you ALSO make sure to stay so open and up-front about your Christian faith is wonderful. I pray that God will continue to use your witness with the release of your book and the continuation of this blog. You've certainly blessed my life. Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  18. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 9:16 PM

    I just love that you speak so freely about Christ and your faith! And I love you blog! Merry Christmas Dawn! I wish your family a wonderful and safe holiday.

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  19. BeckyDecember 25, 2008 at 9:49 PM

    I totally agree!

    Hope you, your hubby, your six pack and the rest of your fam had a WONDERFUL reflective Christmas celebration!

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  20. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM

    Amen to that, Dawn! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  21. AnonymousDecember 25, 2008 at 11:52 PM

    Wow i needed this after the day i had! that was an awesome reminder! Jesus lives in me enough said!!

    Jennhoop

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  22. MichelleDecember 26, 2008 at 12:08 AM

    Oh, what a wonderful message. How cool to have the candles in the dark church. I love that idea. We did a pageant (unrehearsed) at the 3pm and the 5 and 10 were very traditional services (I got suckered into the choir, don't ask). SO cute to see all the kids doing their thing.

    Gorgeous nativity set btw!

    (And on the shallow side, SO glad to hear I'm not the only one who didn't get out Christmas cards and hardly made any cookies and didn't get all the presents here before Christmas etc etc.)

    Merry Christmas -- I hope Santa was good to you all!

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  23. AnonymousDecember 26, 2008 at 12:12 AM

    Dawn,
    You totally could have been describing my Christmas Eve yesterday! Fighting, whining, short-tempered kids whose behavior took all the focus off the real reason for Christmas.

    That is, until my 5-year-old Cole shouts out, in his biggest, loudest, most sincere voice, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!" in the quiet beauty of the candlelight church service. I know the whole congregation heard him, and perhaps many of them smiled, but more importantly, he summed it all up. As did you in this post.

    All the cards, the letters, the gifts, the cookies, and even a lot of the memories...they all go away. But not Jesus. Jesus remains. He is forever.

    Thanks for letting your faith show. Merry Christmas!

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  24. AnonymousDecember 26, 2008 at 12:15 AM

    Amen! Thank you Dawn. We had a wonderful day (except for my frantic two hour cleaning session in which I treated everyone like crap!). I love what one reader said, "Jesus doesn't care about the mess in my house, just wants to straighten out the mess in my heart." I didn't get one Christmas card out (first time for that), baked cookies with store bought dough (first time for that, too), and decorated everyday since Thanksgiving because I could just never get it "all" done (again, first time). But the "first" that I am proud of is that the five of us sang Happy Birthday to Jesus this morning and each blew out a birthday candle. I bought the cake mix (didn't get a chance to bake it) but I got store bought cupcakes as a back-up...which I needed. Jesus could care less what we used, if any, but I know it made a difference to remember him today and what HIS life meant and what he did for us. Thank you for your post. You make a difference in people's lives. God bless you.

    Tonia
    Castaic, CA

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  25. AnonymousDecember 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM

    AMEN!!! I think I'll post this blog and hang it on the fridge!!!

    It truly expresses everything. It is hard sometimes to remember who we are working for. NOT our children, spouse, boss, bill collector....but GOD. If we do all we do with him in mind, we KNOW we have done a great job!!!

    Bless you and your lovely family!!!
    Colleen
    St Helens OR

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  26. AnonymousDecember 26, 2008 at 11:11 AM

    I especially like your concept that the Christ child is the the only figure in the nativity with color and all the rest are simply white. The only additional color are the gifts of the Kings, each of which relects a facet of the purpose of His life and death and resurrection. What an awesome statement that makes about what is truly important in this season.

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  27. UnknownDecember 26, 2008 at 11:29 AM

    Amen!

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  28. ErinDecember 26, 2008 at 12:54 PM

    Amen sister! Hope you and your family had a very merry Christmas!!!

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  29. Patois42December 26, 2008 at 1:14 PM

    He doesn't care at all. I'm sure He's happy that everyone found the Spirit, light sabers notwithstanding.

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  30. CookieDecember 26, 2008 at 1:34 PM

    Merry Christmas (a little late myself)!
    Am I the only one who looked at that picture and wondered if one of the kids put shredded cheese on the baby Jesus?

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  31. The Wunder FamilyDecember 26, 2008 at 3:40 PM

    Hi Dawn,
    I read your blog often and I wanted to say that I love it! Could you please tell me how you got your signature on your post? Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  32. AnonymousDecember 26, 2008 at 4:52 PM

    That is a amazing picture, and a great post. I really agree with it.

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  33. AnonymousDecember 26, 2008 at 11:30 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.
    Thanks for the gift of you.

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  34. AnonymousDecember 27, 2008 at 9:53 AM

    Amen to that! Thanks for reminding us the real reason for Christmas..not the gifts, baking, wrapping, etc....but CHRIST!!

    Thanks!

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  35. ShellieDecember 27, 2008 at 10:29 PM

    Amen!

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  36. BloggessJJanuary 1, 2009 at 3:29 AM

    Beautiful Nativity scene!

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