Thursday, November 12, 2009

Christmas Cards

Well, I just finished making my Christmas cards on Shutterfly and I'm not happy with them. Don't get me wrong...they're cute. Two cute kids on the front. But we never really got a good family picture and I wish I had a family picture to put on the front. But I just wanted to get it done. That's sort of how I'm feeling about Christmas this year and quite frankly, I need to change my attitude. I didn't want to have Christmas in our townhouse. I wanted to have it in a new house, but that's not going to happen and I need to get over it. I wasn't going to do that much decorating for Christmas this year because all of our Christmas decorations are in the very back of our completely packed 10X20 ft storage unit. There is NO WAY I can get to most of them, but I'm going to dig out what I can. And I'm going to decorate as much as I can and I'm going to find a spot somewhere for our tree (I still don't have a plan for that one).

I think this holiday is going to be a refining time for me. I can say I love Jesus, trust Jesus, am thankful to him for everything in my life. I can say that Christmas is really about Jesus and not about decorations or traditions (like my Jesse Tree that I don't know where it is) or presents. I can say that I'm grateful for all the HUGE blessings in my life. I can SAY whatever...but now I've got to live it. Actually be content and not just pretend that I am. Actually be thankful for our current living situation and where God has brought us. And instead of saying that I trust God to bring us the perfect house, I need to actually really trust God with all my heart that he's got us right where he wants us. I think I put on a pretty good show most of the time when the truth is that my heart is fair from where God wants it to be.

And now I'm going to click "publish" before I change my mind about publishing something so transparent. It's good to be real and I think I needed to write this just to be real with myself. Hopefully I'll be able to reread this in a few days and realize that my heart is a little closer to where God wants it to be. And if you want to share a scripture with me that might just pop into your mind as you read this...I would love it!

7 comments:

the mccollums... said...

hang in there, Judy! :) The house will come in the perfect timing. Enjoy this season. The pics of McKenna in the previous post are absolutely precious!

Becki S said...

Thanks for sharing and being honest about how you're feeling. I usually have to go through a period of admitting out loud how I feel and whining about it for a while before I can put it aside and be positive again. I'll be praying that you'll be able to focus on the excitement and reason for Christmas rather than the disappointment over still being in the townhouse!

Millicent said...

I understand. Sometimes it's hard to get over our own expectations of how something should be. But you guys are blessed that you have a wonderful roof over your head...it might not be what you want, but one day you'll have the perfect place!
((hugs))

Amy said...

I'll bet anything that five years from now, you are going to look back at this season, this brief time in your life and this Thanksgiving/Christmas, and discover that it was one of the most meaningful and memory filled that you've ever had. I'm so glad you were so transparent, because you're going to want to capture every moment so that you have it to look back on. And you'll be able to say "Wow! Look what my God has done!"

Heather said...

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:12-14

Judy, God is working on giving you a good and perfect gift in the form of a house that is perfect for your family!! I know the wait is frustrating, and your feelings are totally understandable. Praise God that He uses all of the situations in our lives to make us more like Him! I love you, and I am thankful for your friendship. I can't wait to see how this all works out!!

Katy said...

oh my precious friend. i have been there - so recently! that was me last year at christmas! david had just lost his job at thanksgiving, and suddenly the brakes were put on everything. i know i posted about it last year. all of those fun, memory-making traditions i couldn't do. couldn't send out christmas cards b/c i couldn't afford the stamps. couldn't do the happy birthday jesus party that i wanted to because i couldn't afford to feed everyone. couldn't buy presents for my kids or even stocking stuff. it all got stripped away, and i was left with just my family and our faith. and you know what? it was amazing. God poured out his blessings in amazing ways - the kids had more presents under the tree to open than ever before, we had more time just to PLAY together rather than doing all the activities we normally do, etc. It's going to be a GREAT year Judy!!

Christina said...

Ok Judy, I have to say I'm still stuck on the idea that your Christmas cards are done. Although I have decided this year that handmaking all my cards is just not going to happen. My mom asked if I was going to do a letter with my cards this year and I said of course. She wondered how I was going to do that with all that has happened this year and I told her I had much to be grateful for. You are right, that's what we need to focus on. It will be a wonderful, joyous holiday because of all of our many blessings :) Christina