Day 28-29 of Thankfulness - Wonder of Christmastime

I have been so blessed by doing this month's theme of posts on thankfulness.  It has helped me focus on the bounty of blessings I have been fortunate to receive.  I haven't had time to get stressed out that I don't have as much done on my Christmas shopping yet.  I haven't even been stressed out that my home is woefully not decorated for Christmas. (Greg is trying to finish drywall in front room and there is NO point in getting out decorations if they will be coated in drywall dust!)  I let the boys put up their little trees in their bedrooms and that made them happy.

Each day or usually each night, I have sat before my computer screen to ponder something else I am grateful for and it has impacted my heart in a positive way.

Tonight is no exception.

I have been keeping my nephew and nieces today/tonight because my sister is doing a holiday boutique in Lexington.  When it grew closer to bedtime, I loaded them up and took them home to get them in bed.  As we left my neighborhood, I took them past a house that is EXTREMELY decorated for Christmas.  Their awe was abundant as we approached the lights.  There were many "oohs" and "aahs" in my van.  I pointed out other lights on the way.  They asked stories about when Carter, Jenny and Jason lived with us (they were building a house and sold theirs quickly).  I told them about that Christmas together.

What a blessing to see/hear Christmas through the eyes of children.

My boys are so thrilled with lights.  They get this from me.  Even now, at my age, I am immediately drawn to Christmas lights.  Once we have a tree up, my favorite thing to do is turn out other lights, play some Christmas music and sit, wrapped up in my favorite quilt, quietly soaking in the lights of the tree.  For a fleeting moment, I am a child again, sleeping in the room with our Christmas tree.  They are excited to open their Christmas books.  They are anxious to buy one another presents.  They want to stay up late watching Christmas movies.  They sing along LOUDLY in the car to favorite carols and songs.

It IS a wondrous time.

During the hustle and bustle that encroaches on us through the holiday season, I pray I can stay focused on this wonderment.  I pray I can stay focused on Christ, his birth and the promise that he WILL return again someday for his church.