Here's how I kicked off my New Year in Mom-Style...

(First a bit of background - The kiddos went to bed around 11PM on New Year's Eve.  We saw midnight, but quickly fell asleep.  My husband told CJ that he would take him hunting for the first time on New Year's Day.  So, CJ went to bed with MUCH anticipation.)

4:38AM

Soft footsteps pull me from my sleep, and then, "Daddy...Daddy....is it time to go hunting yet?"

"No, CJ, back to bed."  A minute passes.  Footsteps again.

"Daddy...Daddy," and I honestly don't remember what question he had the second time.  Or the third time.  Or the fourth time.  But he was tucked back into bed with instructions to stay there until he was woken up. 

Morning came, and CJ hunted with his Daddy, and their day was successful in that a boy spent the day with Dad in God's creation.

So, my New Year began in a classic mom-of-little-ones way - having my slumber interrupted!  I'm usually not in the best of humor when awakened at night, but I did have to smile inwardly at the uniqueness of my children this time.  (AJ, who inherited more of my genes, slept until 10:00AM on New Year's day.)  Only my little CJ, who had gotten a mere 5.5 hours of sleep, would be up and rarin' to go on his own.  The verses from Psalm 139 came to my mind...

So, moms, out there, among your New Year's resolutions about time management, scrapbooking, exercise, and healthy eating, let's resolve to love and appreciate the unique personalities God has blessed our families with in 2016!

Out of the mouths of my babes…
 
I asked each of my boys, “What is the meaning of Christmas?”
 
AJ (5): Jesus’ birth
CJ (4): It’s good, and there’s snow, and we get presents.
JJ (2): Yights (translation: lights) and (pausing as he searched his 2 year old vocabulary) points to the gifts under the tree
 
As I reflected on my boys’ replies, I was reminded of how we parents try to teach a lot through words, but end up teaching more through actions.  Which is truly a good thing, but can feel like a large responsibility at times.  So, I was led to think about what Christmas means to me and how that spills over into what my children believe Christmas means.
 
The meaning of Christmas has changed and deepened for me over the years, and will likely continue to do so.  As a young child, I knew the real meaning of Christmas as summed up by AJ above, but in my heart, I was with my little JJ and his gesture at the gifts under the tree.  Christmas meant PRESENTS!  And, oh, how I longed for Christmas day when I could open my gifts.  My wonderful and wise parents always read the Christmas story from Luke 2 prior to opening gifts as a reminder of the true meaning of the day.
 
As I grew into my teen years and accepted Christ as my personal Savior, Christmas became less about presents and more about Jesus and His birth.  Christmas also came to be a special time with family around a table full of delicious food.
 
When I think about what Christmas means to me now, I would say that Christmas is indeed about Jesus’ birth, but it is more than that to me.  It is about Jesus’ choice to step down from His heavenly throne into our world the same way we all enter the world.  It is about the love that it took to make such a choice.  Love that left all to know what is like to be man.  Love enough to come knowing that the end of the physical life began at Christmas was going to be a cruel Roman cross.  Christmas reminds me that He came for me.
 
As a mom, Christmas also reminds me of the joy of new birth.  I have said to some friends recently that I think with the birth of each of my children, I realize more and more what a miracle birth is.  Some of that is due to growing older and hearing more stories from other people that didn’t experience the healthy birth of a child.  But, I think it is also God’s way of reminding me anew that birth is truly a miracle and reason to celebrate.  I think Mary and Joseph were caught up in all the normal emotions of having a child.  I think they counted his fingers and toes, traced his cheeks, and snuggled Him close while they marveled at the miracle of His birth and wondered what it all meant.
 
As you look forward to this Christmas week, reflect on not just what you say Christmas means, but what your life says Christmas means.  As I thought more about my boys’ responses, I can say with CJ, that Christmas is “good.”  It is full of good things – a Savior for the world, family, presents, food, peace, decorations, lights, joy, and the list goes on! 

Merry Christmas!