A Christmas to remember

It's only a few days until Christmas and then, a week later we start a new year. 
Every year you hear people say, "I'm ready for this year to be over so I can start over".
It was a tough year and yet our family is safe, we have a roof over our head, food, and our strong faith.  I keep trying to remind myself that that's enough.  All of us know someone who is going through a more difficult time than we are. 
Trying to live up to our expectations during the Christmas season is probably the hardest thing about Christmas.  We think of the perfect meal, the perfect gifts, the perfect Christmas card, the perfect decorations, etc, etc, etc......  The build up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is full of all kinds of pressure.  We spend money on gifts and then try to figure out how to pay our taxes a month or so later.
 
I was watching a show yesterday that was talking about stress causing your heart to fail.  We hear about stress causing cancer, stress causing auto immune diseases and a list of other lovely problems.  It doesn't keep us from stressing.  We are creatures of habit, and tradition.
I'm not going to say, "I'm ready for this year to be over".  I'm not going to expect the perfect Christmas, because it's impossible to have a perfect Christmas.  My goal this year is to enjoy my family and friends as much as possible.

The very first Christmas was not perfect and yet...it was made perfect in it's imperfection.  Does that make any sense?  Sometimes the things we remember the most are the things that weren't supposed to happen.  That's where the best stories come from.  That's why we enjoy the movie "Christmas Vacation" so much.  Instead of trying to make a perfect Christmas..........make a memorable one.  Have fun.  Make your family laugh.  Make a memory.  Christmas is about LOVE not gifts, decorations or the perfect meal. 

My prayer is that you have a Christmas that makes you laugh,
warms your heart,
makes you feel loved,
and makes a memory for you to cherish for years. 
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Shannon

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