There is Nothing Under the Christmas Tree?!

Every year we try different ways to teach the real message of Christmas to our children. The last couple of years have been more difficult to fill the void under the tree with the wants and desires of our 10 children. This years wanted things include the latest video game equipment, battery operated hamsters, guitars, bikes, and air soft supplies. All of which would put us in debt of course.

Well its 6 days till Christmas day and not one gift has been placed under the tree. But can you believe it? Not one child has asked why! Has Christmas gone unnoticed?

I don't think so. The kids have spent the days anticipating Christmas day by decorating the tree & house, setting up the outdoor lighted displays, making tree ornaments out of paper, glue and glitter, singing Christmas carols, hot cocoa & cookies, making ginger bread houses, and walks in the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights. So there is no shortage of Christmas cheer in this house for sure!

We of course highlight Advent, the feast day of Saint Nicholas with candy filled shoes, and have even incorporated a Jesse Tree. (More on the Jesse tree later.)

Of course we couldn't just leave the kids empty handed this Christmas. Instead of Christmas gifts under the tree, we bought a gift for the whole family. We are going to the Winter Wonderslam concert with Toby Mac, one of our favorite Christian performers. It was still a hit to the wallet, $36 a pop x's 12, yikes! But we will be rocking it out together and what a memory for all of us!

Yeah, the kids are stoked. Daddy & Mommy are too.

"Chinese and Tibetan dissidents are either locked up in prison, forced into hiding, or silenced by fear of police retaliation against their families. All the happiness about China's economic growth has made many Americans forget that police clubs and guns and the Laogai system keep the Communist Party in power. Moreover, it is still little recognized how American resources help to sustain that power through trade, investments, and the transfer of technology... It is only when the Laogai is abolished in China that real change will come about." -Harry Wu

Just a drop in the ocean.

http://laogai.org/

I Shouldn't Complain

I really hate to complain, at least thats what I tell myself, because I think I complain too much. I should more often stop and count my blessings to thwart off those urges to gripe.

I used to complain about all the negative attention that our family gets when we all venture out. We get some of the rudest comments about the size of our family or our family planning decisions. One day I will tell you all about the worst ones just for giggles.

After some time of prayer and reflection I thought from that moment on, instead of complaining God would be more pleased if I just accept these moments and take them as an opportunity to react in a more positive way. So now, when ever someone says something atrociously stupid, I do my very best to dig deep and say, "I love each and every one of them so much, I couldn't imagine life without them" or "My children are such wonderful human beings, I feel not only blessed, but honored that God chose me to be their mother". Sufficient enough I think.

Have a blessed day friends! @>-->-