I'm Dreaming of a Right Christmas...

Some years, Christmas goes smoothly. All your shopping gets done three days before Thanksgiving, none of your pies burn, you get along famously with your in-laws, the decorations in your house would make Martha Stewart jealous, and you still make time to sip hot cocoa by a roaring fire.

Those years, your tree might look something like this:

Other years, things are so hectic and you're so far behind in your shopping that its all you can do to smile and not burst into tears when someone wishes you a Merry Christmas at the mall.

In that case, your crazy holiday tree might feel more like this:



I'm thinking this year for us is going to fall somewhere in the middle!


I haven't started my shopping and usually at this time of year I'm almost done! My house is decorated (thanks to my mom's generous help!) but not the tree. Its up and lit (it's a pre-lit tree, haha! we cheat) and I hope to do it tonight... but I've said that every night for the past 4 days!


I don't stand a chance of cooking a thing or contributing to our family dinner. (I usually at least bring a dessert!) There is simply no time. I'll have to leave that to the mothers and grandmothers that don't have 4 1/2 month olds needing their constant attention. =)

But you know what? Even if I finish my shopping on Christmas Eve, don't get to bake or enjoy an evening by the fireplace, and only get to wrap half the gifts I buy, this is going to be the best Christmas ever because we have an addition to our family! Audrey's first Christmas! Even if nothing goes as planned, it will be super special because I'll get to see Christmas through my daughter's eyes. She'll be 5 1/2 months at Christmas this year, and I realize that's too young to understand what's going on or even to unwrap a gift, but it is going to be fantastic. I can't wait!

And hey - since Audrey's not crawling yet I don't have to worry about ornaments on the bottom part of the tree! (assuming it ever gets decorated, of course) =)

So who cares about the stress! Jesus is the Reason for the Season and we can worship and adore Him and celebrate His birth regardless of how our tree looks or if the house smells like apple cider! If you're already stressed this holiday season, take a breath and refocus. Get your eyes back on the manger and off your dwindling checking account. Put down the credit card and pick up the nativity scene.

It's all about Jesus!

And to help you relax a bit further, check out these cool, VERY unique trees!

This one is made of Mountain Dew cans!!

The Charlie Brown tree...

And my personal favorite...a book tree!!

For copyright/credit purposes, the link to that site is here!