A look inside: Why Is Christmas Over?

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Why Is Christmas Over?

How do you tell a 3 year old Christmas is over?

(Will her bangs ever grow out after catching on fire? I'm beginning to think not)

And yes, Olivia is 3 now. She turned 3 on December 28. And yes, I should be banned from blogging forever due to my appalling lack of documenting Garland family events. The last two weeks have been a blurry haze. So much has happened, and yet I wasn't able to find 5 minutes to get to the computer and even turn it on. On top of that, I can't find my camera. The last time I saw it was Christmas Eve day when we were able to have a wonderful visit with our dear friends and relatives. So Shauna or Angela, if by chance you haven't used your diaper bags since Christmas Eve, check and see if my camera ended up in there! :)

So yes, no pictures of Christmas 2007. No pictures of the week long visit with my brother, his wife and little girl. No pictures of all our adventures these last two weeks held for us...so sad.

But back to the title of this post. Olivia can't seem to understand why we are taking all the Christmas decorations down, and is having quite a hard time with it all. Jon hasn't been able to take the outside lights down yet. Last night she went to the front window, looked out longingly and said,

"please mommy, please can we turn on the kwissmus likes?"

"No sweetie, Christmas is over"

"Why not?" (which means why)

"Because it's a new year now"

"But I want to see the pwetty kwissmus likes"

"No Joy-Joy (her nickname), Christmas is over"

"mooommmmyyy!!!" (as she sprawls herself out on the ground and fake cries, hoping I'll give in. But I won't, my pride is too great. I will not risk our neighborly reputation and turn on Christmas lights after January 1st....that would be soooo wrong!)

But how do you tell a 3 year old Christmas is over? She doesn't want it to end. She loved every single twinkling light, every ornament on the tree, each and every figure in the nativity set, which is now missing Joseph's hand, an angel's wing, and a donkey's ear. Her new found love for Christmas is so sweet, and reminds me of how I used to be as a child. Christmas has always been my absolute favorite time of year. But the last few years I have been enjoying it less and less. Why is that? The meaning of Christmas alone should be enough to fill our home with joy, as we reflect on what Jesus did for us: Coming to earth in the form of a helpless baby, so he could live a life blameless, without sin, take our place and die a sinner's death, so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life. Isn't that enough?!!! Why do I allow myself to get so stressed out and wrapped up in the materialism of the holiday? So I've been thinking, I hereby make a promise, a New Year's Resolution if you will, to enjoy Christmas more next year. To be better prepared. To get the decorations down from the attic, shopping completed, and Christmas cards written by November. Christmas only comes once a year, and for such a short time. Yet it comes with so many opportunities to make memories and to bless others. You just need one thing: TIME. Next year I want to do whatever it takes, so that come December, I have nothing but time. Time to relax and enjoy my family and friends. And most importantly, time to share the life-changing message of Christmas, by blessing those who are in need. As I look back on our past Christmas' as a family, my favorite memories are the ones when we focused on giving and blessing others. That will by my focus next year! So I guess you can say, I've learned a valuable lesson. And I am looking forward to this new year, and all that God has in store for our family. May God bless you as head into this wonderful new year!

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." ~Hebrews 12:1-2

I will leave you with my precious few pictures I have of December:

6 comments:

Ona said...: She is so cute!!! Kaia is sitting on my lap and she just made her "surprised" face, she recognized her from the other day I assume.

p.s. another pair of pants would never be noticed if you just went and bought them :) At least not here!; January 5, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Rachel said...: She really is so cute! I take all my decorations down after Sawyer goes to bed....we had a similar incident at our house when she was 3 and it just was too hard to explain!; January 5, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Unknown said...: I am with little Olivia...I think you should turn on the "kwissmuss likes". She is just too cute. Such a sweet smile...so much for me to look forward to with our upcoming little one. I hope you find your camera soon!; January 5, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Anonymous said...: I have not seen your camera. Did you call Wilma?

I agree I would love to have everything done by November. I want to enjoy every second of the Christmas season!; January 5, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Anonymous said...: My little guy Mason and Olivia share the same birthday-same year. He just turned 3 as well.

I like your idea of taking time next year to enjoy the season.; January 5, 2008 at 10:32 PM
momaof4 said...: What a great goal to have it all done. It is something I am going to aim for. So not into the last minute stuff!!

Our 3 year old...wants to know when Santa comes...guess the stocking weren't good enough ;); January 6, 2008 at 10:20 AM

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Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.