The Forever Plan and Some Randomness

This post may be similar to one Jamie is doing but I wanted to blog some of it for memories later one. It's Christmas season and it really felt like Christmas on Sunday when we watched the girls in their Christmas program at church. There was a man who told the story of Christ's birth as though he was the owner of the inn and stable where Jesus was born, and then Emily sang a solo verse to the song, "The Friendly Beasts," and did a great job!


But there's always something fun that happens at these programs and this year it was with Rylee, our 3-year old granddaughter (anyone surprised?). During the second service, Rylee didn't want to repeat her performance from the first service so the teacher held her on her lap while they all sang. Unfortunately, Rylee and her teacher sat next to the table with the advent candles which had been lit during the service and while the teacher was distracted by a little boy next to her, Rylee blew...and blew...and blew until she blew out the first candle. A few chuckles ensued by audience, and the kids kept singing. A few minutes later she got another chance at the candles and blew out the second one. Haha! The guy next to me was laughing so hard as I was whispering loudly, "Rylee! Rylee, no!" The guy commented that hey, it WAS Jesus' birthday after all, so blowing out candles was to be expected! Here's a picture just before she blew out the first candle.


We also just celebrated Emily's birthday as she turned eight. Eight! Wow. She had her first "friends" party where she invited classmates. Jamie put a lot of work into the whole thing and it was worth it, Emily declared it her best party ever! Next month, Allyson turns five, and my own "little girl" turns 29, her last year in her 20's. Time really does march on, doesn't it?




We also enjoyed taking Emily this week-end to see Chronicles of Narnia, then to lunch at Red Lobster, her favorite restaurant.


I was doing the last of our Christmas shopping last night (it was crazy!) and had to fight my way through traffic in the rain, finding a parking space, working my way through store aisles, and then standing in lines. As it went on, I found myself getting tense, tired of the people who seemed to forget they weren't the only ones in the stores or on the road. Then I realized that I was one of those same people who were frazzled, wanting to be done, wanting for the sea of people to part like God parted the sea in the Bible. On the way home I was thinking how silly things can get at this time of the year with the shopping, worrying if I really got each person something they would really like and use. And then there's the endless gifts that pour into my office like See's candy, cookies, fudge, and on...and on...and on. I find myself eating it even when I'm not hungry. The thrill of Christmas isn't the same as it was as a child when the tree was all it took to make it feel magical. Now things just feel rushed and frazzling.

Then today I saw a picture like this one on a blog and read that THIS was God's Forever Plan for us, the greatest gift of any gift ever given. (Idea borrowed from another blogger, hope she doesn't mind!)


It's not about eating 3 pounds of See's candy, or finding the that one perfect gift for each person. There is no perfect gift, the only perfect gift is the one that was given when Christ came into the world in the form of a tiny baby who came to save us and everyone around us and that's what I want to think about the rest of the week. Presents are fun and I love watching my family open what we've given them, and it's especially great if they are excited about them. But most often, within weeks, if not days, we all move on and most gifts are used up and forgotten for the most part. But God's gift to us is the Forever Gift and brings with it the gift of eternal (forever) life.

Steve and I wish you all a most blessed Christmas as we dwell on the birth of Christ, the truly perfect Gift.