A Different Kind of Christmas

To say we have a lot going on in our family is an understatement.

I never knew that my vessel could be filled to overflowing and emptied.

At the same time.

An adoption and a reunification, gain and loss.

It is hard, this giving, the leaving, a forever promise.

But the emotions have me thinking about what I need Christmas to be about.

I was inspired by this post from Ann Voskamp on her blog: Holy Experience.

She said,"When we give to Christ in the hungry, He satisfies our own hunger pangs."

I want my kids to know Christ in the giving.

I want to know Christ in the hungry.

We bought gifts for those that have need.


Sunday night we went to a nearby town to see a living Nativity.
So simple yet profound. It was cold outside, but a warm glow was in my heart watching the Christmas story played out before my eyes. It didn't matter that the baby was plastic, or that the shepherds were small. It was humble and real.
After some hot chocolate and cookies followed by a Christmas message, we detoured on our way home to do a little caroling at a friend's house. They have a BIG tree. The girls were singing The Twelve Meals that Grandma Made At Christmas: 5 layered cake, 4 black eyed peas, 3 meat-a-balls, 2 scoops of rice, and a gi-ant brocc-o-li tree. Truly entertaining.
Ann Voskamp also wrote about what to do when all the gifts are for Him. There won't be any gifts under our tree this year, at least not the usual kind. Nothing for ourselves, only for others. I have been thinking about those 147 million orphans, Haiti, Africa, what we need and what we want.

Everyone seems to be on board.

I know there has been more time to focus on what is most important.

Our activities have drawn us closer to the One who knows our hearts,

to what Christmas is all about.