Tuesday, December 15, 2015

...to start thinking aloud again...

...during this thoughtful season...

This is the busiest time of year.  School activities, finals, shopping, sicknesses (mostly mine this year), and advent activities.

In particular the advent activities are what my kids look forward to most.  Each day of the month, one of them opens the door of the calendar, and our family does something special.  Some days the activities are more focused, sometimes they take several hours, some days only a few minutes.

What our children don't realize is that I love making these memories more than they love the surprise  of the activities.

We went to get our Christmas tree after school on the 4th of December at the same farm we cut our tree down at last year.  Unlike last year, the weather was surprisingly nice this time.


Thus, the kids' spirits were surprisingly good!


It was a good thing we all started out so happy...


Because we walked a long way and got pretty cold looking for the perfect tree that we never found to cut down.


Then the sun began to set.  And we still didn't have a tree.


And the kids grew a little weary.


And a little grouchy.


'Till we finally settled on one of the farm's pre-cut trees (Abbey was so grouchy by this point she refused to get into the photo).


 A few days later...

We were taking communion at church and I was last in line behind my family.  Audrey and Abbey were leading the way crossing their arms, William and Isabella followed their sisters, and Mark was right in front of me.

As I stopped to take the cup, the Eucharistic Minister said to me, "You have such a beautiful family".


She caught me off guard.  And I had a catch in my throat and tears in my eyes when I thanked her.

She sure is right.


I am so thankful we are all together and healthy this holiday season.






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