Christmas 2011

Well, this year was better than last. 

Last year we had to get up at 330am to do gifts because Andrew had to be at work at 6am. This year I didnt get up until 650 

So, our Holiday went like this....

Christmas Eve Andrew got off work at 745pm and we went to my parents house.

Shortly after we got there we ate dinner - Pizza, Sausage, Smelts, Calamari, Olives, and some candy and cookies from me 

After Dinner we all plopped on a couch and watched The Family Stone. After my call to the drs this week, that movie really hit me hard. I could just imagine Andrew and Kat decorating a tree without me next year. 

Anyways, after the movie, we came home.

We got home, Kat crashed, and we stuffed the stockings, placed the gifts, and then cleaned off the dining room table and set it for breakfast.

Christmas Day-

650 the alarm went off, got dressed, visited the bathroom to empty my bladder and then made my way slowly to the kitchen 

Started frying the bacon, and then Kat and Andrew joined me 

Andrew cooked the eggs after the bacon was cooked, while Kat made the toast. 

We got the Juice, and grapes out, and sat down to a very yummy breakfast.

After breakfast I wrote our names on paper and out them in a bowl. 

Then, we started watching The Polar Express 

When he got to pick the first gift of Christmas, we drew a name from the bowl, and Andrews name got picked. 

This was epic because he HATES opening gifts before everyone else. 

From there, we took turns, and opened all the gifts. 

At about 11 Andrew went to his parents house while I finished some cookies, and cleaned up from Breakfast. 

At about 1-130 Scott picked us all up and we went to Moms.

Dinner, Dreidle, and gifts later, we came home about 9am and crashed!!

It was so much fun, and I am glad I was there for Christmas this year 

'Tis the Season

It is so very hard for me to sit here and think of this season as Holy or Jolly. 

The season in which we are supposed to be celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ has become the season that we celebrate extended shopping hours and half price clearance sales. Why have we done this?

Have we honestly forgot the meaning of this season?

There are many different Holidays celebrated in December....

December 5th is the Muslim Holiday Ashura. 

December 8th is the day Buddhist Celebrate Bodhi Day. 

December 8 - 15th is the Jewish Holiday Hanukkah. 

December 25th is Christmas for Christians. 

December 26th is Kawnzaa for African-Americans. 

With all these days to celebrate Joy, Love, Enlightenment, Courage, and Faith, how is it we have gotten so wrapped up in the joy of, Shopping?!?!

I sit here and wonder, are we teaching our Children how to be happy, or how to make themselves happy?

Are we teaching them that no matter what he have we can be happy with what we DO have?

or are we teaching them that no matter what, if we don't get at least 7 or the 10 items on a list of things we want, then we cant be happy?

Im not Muslim, or Jewish, or African-American. 

I was raised Catholic, was Baptized Catholic as a baby, and then re-baptized into a Christian Church at the age of 24. And at age 28 I watched a movie called "Eat, Pray, Love" that sparked a bone in my body that has never stopped meditating and chanting since. 

I am fully capable to serve one God, and have two Teachers. 

I believe there is only one God, and I believe that that God is the leader of all Good Religions. No matter what name you use, if you are referring to the God I know, then you are referring to a kind, and loving God. 

And that Kind and Loving God didn't intend for any of these Holidays to be celebrated by going on mad shopping sprees while we let others go without. 

That being said, I'll completely admit that Andrew is out Shopping right now for gifts for Kathleen. 

But I also made sure she knows the meaning of these gift, she knows where these gifts came from, she knows why she is receiving them. 

No, they didn't come from Walmart, no she didn't receive them because they were on sale. 

She received them because Jesus Christ, one of our Teachers, and Savior was brought to us as a gift from our God. And on this day, we celebrate his Birth, by lighting a tree and giving gifts to others, the way God gave his son to us. 

This year, when you are at home exchanging gifts, please remember that those gifts wouldn't be under your tree, nor would there be a tree, if it weren't for our God who sent his son, to die for us. 

Remember,

You are LOVED,

Always,

Me