7 Days to Christmas

Am I ready for Christmas? Yes, emotionally but still need to finish some loose ends. I am thinking of my day and all it's challenges being posed to me this day. I am already exhausted. I am thinking or fretting about my trip to the post office to rush mail my family presents. I look forward to the impatience of others, their whining, complaining, ....wait I guess i am talking about me. Forgot about the log in my eye. Really though the thought of others beside me squished together to stay away from the door's cool breeze just sounds delightful. How about the lovely fragrance of Christmas...or rather the fact that someone in there is not going to wear deodorant or brush their teeth. I will be balancing 2 boxes and a gift card to be put in an express mail envelope. No help...woe is me! I want to go without make up and in sweats but just as soon as I do, I will run into someone I know who I will frighten to death. I couldn't do that to a family a Christmas. This is sure to be a lovely experience as I write out my check for mega pennies because we wait until the last minute. Oh well, the chestnuts will soon be roasting on the fire and mistletoe will hang over my head soon. Yeah right!

I have had some lovely Christmas experiences this Christmas seasons. It seems we often find ourselves rushing around shopping for, working with, cleaning for, preparing for, and obliging to others during Christmas. It is necessary and I find it fun most often. What we don't do is find moments to relax and experience some joy. I have had to make time for adding some good old fashioned fun to my December. Here are some of my experiences:

Tuba Christmas: Columbus, NC has hosted over 11 Tuba Christmas shows. I experienced my first earlier this month. Let me tell you it was great. It had numerous types of tubas, all shiny and festive. Several songs were played, not in their entirety so it wasn't too long of a program. We were invited to sing along with the carols. I so enjoyed it. Yet, I don't know what I enjoyed most...the fact that I was one of the few women without grey hair in attendance...get my drift? or the fact that my two boys we dragged with us were truly tortured. It was a hoot watching them try not to enjoy the music. It was horrible trying to not laugh out loud at the wise cracks my youngest was sharing with us. All in all it was a great show and a great afternoon of smiles.

I attended a First Grade program at Tryon Elementary School. I reported in an earlier post about it. It was great. I enjoyed watching the young kids and reflecting about our boys at that age. It added to my Christmas joy as I saw the wonder and awe of Christmas reflected on such young faces.

I attended a Middle School play of a young friend a week or so ago. It was a hoot. It was entitled Christmas Chaos. These little actors did a phenomenal job. They accurately protrayed the insanity of Christmas. My little friend did a superb job being the young teen who give less than quality service as she tends to her cell phone conversation and try to take care of a shoppers business. She did a convincing job and was a comical reminder of what we experience out there. This play added to my Christmas by giving me gut laughs and stirred in me the reminder to keep calm as I experience my own "chaos" this season.

I made a point to go see our church's children's Christmas program a week ago Sunday. It was a beautiful program of praise and worship in song. The kids were well prepared and did excellent sign language. I was reminded to keep our worship simple and pure. Now I must say I had to laugh out loud at times. It was so funny to see this little boy front and center stand with his hands on his hips very seriously singing in his bright red shirt then all of a sudden more than half way through the program, he flys across the stage, over the pews(chairs), and into his mom's arms. He was like a little monkey. I think he is 3 years old. So cute. Some traditions are so welcomed and this one was one of them.

I can't forget my mall experience with my special friends. I can't even post about it. I miss them so and it was so special. I am truly blessed with healthy children and great friends.

I have 2 more events to look forward to: church choir program, and a friends church's "Blue Grass" Christmas choir program. It will conclude my outings for entertainment.

Ladies, I encourage you to get out, make some time to find some relaxing, joyful escape in midst of your Christmas busyness. It puts the holidays in perspective not only spiritually but reminds us that Christmas should be fun for those around us and to ourselves.

Now, I am off to finish my wrapping and go to the post office. My Christmas Chaos begins.

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
~Roy L. Smith

Love Ya, Ladies