WOW!! Christmas Eve is only 1 week away!

Well, it is hard to believe that Christmas Eve is just 1 week away. Do I have all my shopping done yet? NO!!!! We have a few more to buy for our gift exchange with my family, 1 more for Mara and stocking stuffers for Mara and Mariana and I have to find something for Michael. Other than that, pretty much ready. We still have a few cookies to make. We made chocolate chip cookies yesterday. I had my junior baker helping me out. Mara just loves to help me in the kitchen as much as she can. I think she just enjoys liking the beaters or the spoon after I am done with it but I enjoy her "help". We are just making the basic cookies: chocolate chip, cut-outs and, of course, BUCKEYES, which are my FAVORITE!!!
I just haven't figured out where the last year has gone! This year seemed like it went by quicker than any other year that I can remember. I guess it is because I am getting older. Why is it that once September hits, December is here before you know it? Is it because of the cold? Or could it be that there are so many holidays from in the later part of the year? I mean, October comes with Halloween, then November with Thanksgiving then Decemeber with Christmas and New Year's Eve. I believe that because of the hustle and bustle of upcoming events to look forward to, the last quarter of the year just flies by before you know it. Mariana will be 9 months old next Friday!! That just amazes me!!!!!!! I am not looking forward to her turning 1 in a little of 3 months. I am not ready but are any moms really ready for their babies to grow up? It is just baffling at how the older you get, the faster time goes by.
Well, that is all I have to say tonight. If I don't post again before the new year, MAY YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Stay warm and cozy in the house and be careful on the roads if the snow continues to fall!!!

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J~E~S~U~S!!

Well, it is hard to believe that there is only 16 days left until Christmas! The Christmas Season really gets me to thinking about the true meaning of life. This season makes me remember more of why we are here: JESUS! That is right! He was born into this cruel world to make it a better place for us. He lived a PERFECT life where we can never do that. We can strive to be perfect, but let's face it, we will never be able to. GOD IS PERFECT! Anyway, the Christmas Season always brings up the topic of santa claus. The one question that I don't like is: when people ask my children, Mara mostly since she is going on 3: Are you ready for santa to come to your house? Santa doesn't come to our house. We celebrate Christmas for JESUS not santa. Yes, santa is a mysterious character, who somehow is able to deliver presents to millions of houses in one night? But what people fail to believe is that JESUS can do just that! He delivers the gift of new life through HIM to many people even in the same minute. Now why is it that santa gets all of this recognition when the reason we celebrate is because of Jesus' birth? Now if Jesus were taken out of this season, then there is no reason to celebrate Christmas, now is there? Jesus, many years ago, was born in a manger because there was no room for Him in any Inn. He was born to virgin Mary where she so willingly took on that role. Would you have so easily have given up your reputation to do that? Mary was definitely a special, humble woman, who didn't even think about what others would think. She was obedient! She went along with the whole thing that God has ordained. WOW!! Makes you wonder, how did she get chosen? She was chosen because of her sweet spirit. She was chosen because she was a virgin, if she weren't a virgin, it would not be the most miraculous thing that has ever happened. She gave up her body to have something happen that would never happen to another person. WOW!! It makes me sit back in awe of how this Christmas Season started with the only miracle that no one else would ever be able to experience. What saddens me the most is that people think that the most miraculous thing is this fat guy dressed in a red suit can go down a chimney and give presents to everyone who believes in him, all in one night. That is not a miracle! It is a myth that this world has gotten so accustumed to. That is why we, as a couple, decided that we would never let Christmas be about santa and getting lots of presents. We decided that Jesus would be our focus at Christmastime. We also have chose not to go all out to buy lots of gifts for our children. They will always recieve just 3 gifts from us, their parents. They will also buy each other gifts. Mike and I heard a sermon about how we celebrate Christmas because of Jesus' Birth so why do we recieve more than Jesus recieved? So we figured that we would not go beyond the 3 gifts. We wil also do the stockings just because the stockings are fun to do with buying these little things that are just cute to get. So I go back to the original thought, people kind of give a look when we tell them that we are not doing santa. Why? because santa has become the focus and not Jesus. I have heard the remarks, you are gonna take away from the mystery of Christmas if you don't do santa. THERE IS NO MYSTERY TO CHRISTMAS!!!! JESUS WAS BORN INTO THIS WORLD TO EVENTUALLY DIE JUST TO SAVE US!!!!!! That is not a mystery. People need to keep JESUS in this SEASON! Sorry for the "sermon" but I just needed to let out a little frustration with how worldly this Christmas Season has become. Let's get back to the basics of life: JESUS and ALL of HIS many WONDERS!!

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