Ho Ho Ho

Hey!  I have been absent for a good while (with good reason) and I certainly hope my stories have been missed!  Christmas is a killer as far as time management for me.  I used to be pretty efficient, but as I have gotten older and as I have collected more "stuff" ( you know, decorations), it takes me longer and longer to get things done. 
But my big question today is "Who are these people"?  You know who I mean, the ones who efficiently put up millions of lights, a beautiful tree scented candles, etc. etc. etc., the day after Thanksgiving.  Listen, I don't know about you, but I do not have thousands of workers like they have at Disney World or Disneyland to transform my home into a magical Christmas wonderland in a matter of hours!  Heck, I just have me!
I started Thanksgiving weekend.  I will not back down and refuse to start decorating before that date.  There is no Christmas in July for us and I am pretty stiff about no Christmas movies either.  (I am proud to say a few kids have taken my stance on that!)  I managed to plod along for weeks.  Finally, the second weekend in December, Pook and the Surprise put up the trees for me when I was out of town.  The main tree was decorated that weekend by all of us.  The others took another week.  Decorating ended approximately one week before Christmas. 
Then it hit me!!!  I have not wrapped one gift!!!!  My bedroom, as usual became "wrapping central".  It never fails, at least one person asks if I have time to wrap a few things for them.  Sure, in all my spare time.  In between, babysitting, cleaning, cooking, wrapping gifts and working.  No problem!!!
The bottom line is that Christmas comes whether I am ready or not.  The season is about the ultimate gift given to us by God - His precious Son.  And we mimic that by giving gifts purchased with love and thoughtfulness to our family and friends.  Hopefully we remember to include a few strangers and charities.  And more importantly, hopefully we remember to keep God and church in the season.
So, Christmas day arrives and following a whirlwind of excitement and wrapping paper flying around like a cyclone has just traveled through the living room, we finally breathe.  The tension of preparation is gone.  The arrival of another grandchild took place three days before Christmas, so the tension of waiting was for her was gone.  We sat down to a dinner with friends and family and enjoyed the spirit of the season and shared our love with one another.
AND THEN.....
Did I mention that all this stuff has to come down and be stored for next year?  It is one week into February and I just put the last of the decorations out of sight.  Things from outside are tossed in the garage and still need to be packed up!  Everything inside is stored.  Thankfully I also found a gift or two that missed being wrapped and presented!  I tried like crazy to get each of the kids to take one or two things that they really like to use in their homes next year.  I am not dumb!  That would mean less to pack this year and unpack next year.  But then again, if you know me, you know that I will be on the hunt between now and next Christmas for new treasures.
And I am left still searching for those Disney workers or at least the elves who helped that old shoemaker to help me out.  Maybe the Elf on the Shelf could be a little more useful and help out instead of just sitting around all day!
It has been a beautiful year.  We had some challenges and yet God blessed us with a new son in law and two new granddaughters and some new found health.  I will still pray for those elves, but I will also try to remember to thank God for the many gifts that I treasure every day!  Here is to a new year (one month old).  Maybe I can restart those resolutions.  Oh my, that's another issue!  Have a blessed week!