It’s a bitter 21 degrees. The roads are a mess with ice. And the kids are all home on my 14th consecutive day of single parenting. To say the least I went to bed a little apprehensive at the thought of being trapped inside with 3 bored children with my tank running low. I only have 9 more days until Christmas and despite my best efforts of starting my Christmas preparations on October 31 this year I’m not even done shopping. To add to my disorganization I’m not even sure who I have left to shop for much less wrapping and shipping. I haven’t mailed our Christmas cards. We still haven’t made cookies for our family. Our homemade gifts are halfway done and we’ve resorted to acknowledging Advent on Tuesdays instead of Sundays. The kids and I leave tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with my dad’s family and did I mention I’m not done shopping, we’re iced in, the kids have a snow day and I’ve been single parenting for 14 straight days???? *sigh I just need some time to myself to pull it all together and get this “to do list” knocked down a bit. I did not need kids today….
Are you going to let me get away with that??? SLAP ME! How incredibly selfish! After locating my Official Christmas To Do List I have noticed my goals at the very tip top part of the page written in bold letters.
1. INTENTIONALLY MAKE THIS A FUN SEASON OF SERVICE FOR AND TO THE KIDS.
2. MAKE TRADITIONS MEMORABLE NOT TEDIOUS.
3. KEEP CHRIST FIRST.
So as usual I’m backing this train up. Today is a gift from God to yes, regroup for the holidays, but to regroup for the kids. It’s also an opportunity to regain my focus on the kids and not what needs or seemingly needs to get done. Today is a day to move them away from the screens of tv and video games and get them to focus on what we need to do for others during this season. But the most important thing I have to do today is put Christ first so all those other priorities and “to do’s” will know their place.
The Rabid Mime 