Not your traditional Christmas Eve

As we finished the final touches on our Christmas gifts this afternoon I could not help but cry a little. Today is Christmas Eve and it is our first time without my hubby. With his night schedule he has to work tonight and tomorrow night. Our Christmas is not the same. Oh the joys of working in the medical field. There are no days off! Thinking of the many wives and children that won't have their dad home because of work, deployment, illness, or even death. Yes I was sad and yes it may sound pathetic but I so wanted my hubby home. I wanted to wake up with him next to me, then get up together to see the joy of Christmas from our precious son. I will be setting out cookies for Santa with my little guy and it will be just the two of us. I will read the story of Jesus birth and tuck him in on my own. Yes I am crying even more now! 

I decided to take my son out to dinner. As I said good bye to my hubby so many different feelings were running through me. Thankful for his job, for him, for everything that he does for us but I was still upset. I wanted him home!!!! He left for work and Kaden was set to have dinner with me at Macaroni Grill. Kaden and I ordered our usual salad, chicken and pasta. Nothing huge and I was feeling a little content. The server came by and told me to pick out a dessert because someone was buying our dinner and dessert!!! I was shocked and of course I cried!!! Little did that person or family know what I was going through. No I was not struggling financially but emotionally I was a mess. Then I remembered the Reason for this Season! Jesus Christ who gave everything! A simple act of kindness like this was an eye opener that kindness is still out there and the love of Christ is shared through acts like this. Giving is better than receiving! Have a wonderful Christmas. It may not be exactly be the way you think it should be but reflecting the true reason is more than enough. HE is more than enough!! Merry Christmas to all

There are two weeks till Christmas?

Unfortunately there are only 5 shopping days till Christmas and if you are shopping online you better hurry! Here are a few things that I have been contemplating today!

1. Christmas arrived too soon (you are probably wondering what I mean). Thanksgiving was so late in November that it was Decemeber two days after Thanksgiving. As soon as it's December 1st I feel like I'm scrambling!

2. The Advent calendar was a great idea but my child only wants to eat the candy. Not a good idea. Next year I will think of something better. 

3. My decorations are not completely done. My manger is not up and I cannot find all the pieces to Kaden's fisher price nativity. Boo :( 

4. I still have wrapping to do! Sigh.... Even though I begin my Christmas shopping in the summer I don't have all the gifts wrapped. 

5. I was hoping to write a blog about tips for the Christmas season but I guess I need to buckle down and think through this.

6. Elf on the Shelf was a hit for the first 6 days but then my son figured out that the Elf was not going to tell Santa anything. So there goes that idea! Good behavior meant nothing. Maybe next year it will work. (Insert wishful thinking here!!!)

7. My home is still a mess! Literally! But I have learned to just let it be and enjoy watching Charlie Brown Christmas but most important is reading what Christmas is all about. It's about Jesus and that is what matters the most. 

8. My Christmas cards did not go out on December 1st and not even on December 15th BLAH! So if my Christmas card has not arrived at your home then one of two things happened- it's lost in the mail or it is in a snail mail transit. 

There you have it! My life has not been glamorous the past few weeks but I did manage to go on a getaway with my hubby. Post coming up soon! Please tell me that I am not alone.