Mistletoe

Six more days!  The elf is right:  time is growing short until the big day.  We've been hustling a bit around here, just getting things all prepared and ready to go.  Today was the last day of school for Madison this year.  Tomorrow starts her vacation time, I think seventeen or so days long.  That's a long time when you start to add it up.

What to do with seventeen or so days?  How about you try out the new mistletoe?

Yes, this is that special mistletoe from Oregon, from another young girl named Madison.  We have it hung over the entrance to the kitchen (from the garage).  Madison sort of lurks there and whispers for people to come closer.  Closer.  Closer!  Smooch!

Guess what we did tonight?  Yes, that's right, we made our annual gingerbread house.  Madison was really looking forward to this one - Mommy suggested we create a thatch roof with frosted mini-wheats, and Madison came up with the rest of the decorations.  She's especially proud of the heart-shape over the door.

We get to sleep in tomorrow!  It's funny the things that get you excited, but there it is.  Of course, the other thing to get excited about is all this sugar.  We kept munching and munching and snacking on bits and pieces of this house.  It is a tasty house!

Before closing out (and going to bed), here's our devotional entry for today.  Amazingly, I've been able to keep this going all month.  Yay, me!

DECEMBER 19 - "Prep and Landing"

Wayne and Lanny have job to do, one that's totally tinsel! Their task: preparing the way for Santa. They're elves, and they go to each house, setting things up for the big guy to deliver Christmas magic!

But Wayne has been getting a bit tired lately. He's bored, even. He's been so focused on a promotion and doing something new, that he forgets about the most important thing: the children he's blessing each Christmas. He wants to be recognized, and given some credit for all he's done so far – and that isn't happening. It takes a near disaster to wake him up, and change his focus. But in the end, Wayne gets it: Christmas is about delivering to others.

Some time ago, there was another who prepared the way. His name was John the Baptist, and his calling in life was to let everyone know that Jesus was coming. Unlike Wayne, he kept his focus where it should be: helping others. And he wasn't looking for a big promotion either: when Jesus showed up, John felt unworthy. But Jesus saw John the Baptist, and told others this remarkable thing: "Among those born of women, there is none greater than John."

Like Wayne, John the Baptist prepared the way. Unlike Wayne, John never lost his focus on what's most important: giving of himself to others. This Christmas, what are you yourself doing to welcome Jesus into this world? Prepare the way, and keep your focus right: this Christmas can be totally tinsel!