Just a quick update in a very busy time of the year. We are currently off the list for foster care just until Jan. Because we are traveling out of state, it makes it difficult to get court approval this time of year. It is killing me to be off of it, but there is no need to waste the case workers time with "I so wish we could take her!" It makes me anxious for January! Otherwise, I am not anxious for this time of year to pass at all. I love spending this time with family and friends. We are so amazingly blessed to have so many that love us and so many to love. We had a nice visit with my dad and step-mom here. It was their first time to visit and it was great!
Here is Annika getting ready to open her gifts on "Christmas" morning!
My super creative husband made me this big hot chocolate mug! It had two big bags of dried marshmallows- my FAVORITE!!, a pretty scarf wrapped around the top to look like hot cocoa and down in the bottom was a gift certificate for "Coco" Chanel- so it was the cocoa part. I am actually not a big fan of their perfume, but I love their makeup. When I was in high school I did some modeling for a store that paid me in Chanel makeup. I got hooked, but it has been at least 12 years since I bought anything from them. It will be a special treat to go pick some things out!
Every year I want to limit the presents for the girls- especially since they also get gifts from Travis' parents and my two sets of parents. But I always see a lot of things I want to get them. And even after they open them all I still feel like it wasn't enough. I think I'd feel like that even if I had given them a million presents. But this year Travis made the girls a bakery display case. I was so glad he did- not only because it is AWESOME, but also because it is such a meaningful gift. He worked hard on it. And the girls did too- that is what makes it so neat. We all put something into it- they didn't know it was for them, but they were so excited on "Christmas" morning to find out it was for them. They have enjoyed it so much already. I am thankful that Travis can build this kind of stuff. I was just thinking he could build them some shelves or something and he planned this whole thing. It has two drawers on the back on the bottom with knobs we picked out at Anthropologie. {they have the cutest knobs EVER!}
For several years I sort of struggled with how to balance Christmas while still honoring Jesus. A couple of years ago in bible study we were talking about this. We came to the conclusion that we should celebrate Jesus everyday (spending time with him, giving, etc). Making ONE time a year to celebrate him is really just ridiculous. He has given us so much and saved us from so much just focusing on him once is simply not enough. This has given me freedom (in my mind) to enjoy this time of year and continue to enjoy him everyday and celebrate him everyday. And be thankful for him everyday. Otherwise, for me, I don't think there is a real way to balance our fun Christmas traditions while celebrating him {without having some sort of guilt}.
Hope you all have a wonderful time with family and can really enjoy this time of year- and celebrate the birth of our savior today and everyday!
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