Christmas is the time....

Christmas has got to be one of my favorite holidays. I love the decorations, the smells, the tastes, the excitement, the wonder...I could go on and on. I love remembering the birth of Christ and taking an entire season to focus on it.

I think I can safely call myself a frustrated perfectionist. In my minds eye I can see things as they should be, a beautiful table set for a perfect feast, a house tastefully decorated to be admired by all who see it. I get so wrapped up in all of these wonderful things that I become frustrated when they aren't exactly as I see them and I can't make them measure up to my own standards. The other day I was thinking these thoughts and chided myself for my ungrateful spirit and prayed for the grace to overcome this "funk".

I am reading a wonderful book, for the third time, called "Treasuring God in our Traditions". I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's not just a book for Christmas but for all year. She calls us to have a purpose for the things we do, the purpose is to point others to Christ. I am so excited for Morgan understand the time of advent and to understand the reason we can celebrate Christmas. I am thankful that she is young enough not to recognize my utter failure this year. No matter what else, I have a Savior that came to earth as a fragile baby. As a mother, I cannot imagine the emotions that Mary must have felt knowing what her precious Son would endure, for my sin.

I share this because I am sure that someone is in the same boat I am...passing every store that shouts at us what we need for the perfect season. I am purposing to refocus my thoughts to the blessing and joy that is mine because of the precious gift of Jesus.

Not "perfect"

Wow, so my goal of blogging has gone by the wayside, to say the VERY least! My heart is so full of blessing that I have to share and Facebook just didn't seem like the right outlet.

Over the past few months I have been feeling anxious and discontent for lack of a better word. Things in life aren't just as I would like them to be and for those of you who know me, that's hard for me. I am beyond blessed and have my needs provided for and a lot of my wants but things just aren't "perfect". In the recesses of my mind I was along thoughts to creep in like---
Maybe I should look into a job to pay for more of my wants, I was happier when I was working (totally not the case), I am a bad housewife anyway and on and on the list goes.

I know these thoughts are wrong and I should have spoken truth to myself but sadly did not. Spending time in the Word and reflecting helped me realize the lies I was believing. God has called me to this place at this time for a specific reason. Maybe I am not able to teach Morgan great truths and the age of 10 months but I can show her love and build a foundation for those truths. I can pray that her heart will be ready to hear the truths and that they will take hold in her young heart.

When I stopped focusing on what wasn't "perfect" in my mind I was able to see that there is really so many things to be thankful for. My sweet baby girl, everyday is a gift and I praise the Lord for entrusting her to us. I am so very thankful for a husband that shares my desire to have me be home during these crucial years in Morgans life. I am thankful to the Lord. He is so patient with me and tenderly leads me in the way that I should go.

I hope I haven't bored you all to tears but I wanted to share what God has been teaching me.