Here’s what I’m learning: It doesn’t matter that they’re all growing up. It doesn’t matter that they are all boys who are no longer interested in making cute Christmas crafts. It doesn’t matter that there won’t be shiny new blocks or tricycles under the Christmas tree anymore. Even without little ones, there’s still something magical about the Christmas season.
I love Christmas with my family during this fun new season we’re in that involves voices changing, acquiring drivers licenses, and growing taller than the Christmas tree. But hah! I figured out how to beat the system: I got a taller tree this year. Seven feet five inches, so there. :)
Having teens and pre-teens simply means that our Christmas season can be even more meaningful. It means that we can play games around the fireplace that all six of us now enjoy. It means that the boys themselves are coming up with ways to serve others that involve little or no help from me. It means there won’t be many more years of Christmases like these at our house before boys start leaving home but I refuse to think of that (if I can help it).
I’m so excited that Christmas time is here and that my family is enjoying celebrating it together. Let the family traditions and time of making memories begin!
Now your turn. Share what you’re thankful for! Leave a comment on this post letting us know how God is working in your life. If you’ve written a blog post about what you’re thankful for, leave the link in the comments so we can visit your blog to read about it. We love sharing and reading about God’s blessings!
Tehila says
The Lord is teaching me so much about appreciating all that He has given me, and I have blogged about learning to be a good steward of it all at: http://www.womenabiding.com/one-condition-to-obtaining-true-riches/
Midsouthmoma says
I’m thankful that God is showing me that I am doing at least little something right as a mom. You can read about how my son had really blessed my heart here: http://www.midsouthmoma.com/2013/12/words-from-my-6-year-old.html#.Up1scyebC5I
Jill Roper says
I just love your spirit Laura. I am not quite in the holiday mood as of yet. I feel like I am still stuck in October when I left for Haiti. I am so thankful today. You can read what I am thankful for at my blog. http://gratituesday.blogspot.com/
Joanna Sigman says
So thankful for my godly husband and the way he loves and serves his family!
Amy says
Great attitude! I can’t imagine my kids being that big – and it’s not that far away!
I wrote about how the “little things” can make all the difference. You can read about it here: http://anestintherocks.blogspot.com/2013/12/gratituesday-its-little-things.html
alicia says
Laura, thank you. Your thankfulness for the season of motherhood you are in encourages me. Our kids are still young…2, 4, 6, 8. With another coming in the spring! I’ll skip the details of the challenges as I know you are familiar. (: But, thank you, just thank you. Today, I will treasure that our tree decor will change 14 times. That I get all the snuggles I can take. That we can sit close on the couch & do schoolwork with Christmas music playing. And not least of all, that nap/resttime is still very much a daily occurrence around here! Many return blessings to you!
Doris says
Laura, we have two boys and a girl, the boys are now men and married and the young woman is soon to graduate nursing school! I am so thankful that you will enjoy every minute you have with them, and when they marry and move away,after 3-6 months of honeymooning, they’ll be back in the fold for holiday merrymaking! What helps is to celebrate the event, not the date, so you may have a Christmas day party on…Dec 28th? I am so very thankful that my daughter in laws both have family in our state and they are lovely, loving, and loveable! GOD IS GOOD!
Charlotte Moore says
I am grateful for the birth of JESUS. Even though HE was not born in December as so many think, HE was born. HE IS THE REASON FOR ALL SEASONS.
We are BLESSED!!!
judy says
I am thankful for all the young mothers I see bringing up their children in the way they should go. Laura, I especially want to thank you; your blog has enriched my life, and I feel the love of Jesus Christ that is in you and your family. Many, many blessings to you and your family during this Christmas season and continuing throughout eternity in Christ Jesus.
Lydia @ Not Afraid of the Snow says
My family gets together and bakes before Christmas. What fun memories this makes!
http://notafraidofthesnow.blogspot.com/2013/12/family-baking-day.html
Lisa says
I’m grateful for the family that the Lord has blessed me with. I’m thankful that my husband and I can teach our kids the true reason for the season.
Sandra @ Sandra's Ark says
I’m so thankful that God gave us a great opportunity to share about his love with many children last month
http://sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-clown-called-dario.html
Angie says
I don’t have ‘little ones’ anymore either. My boys are 12 and 17. My Christmas tree is standing bare in my living room, waiting for the 17 year old to be available to help decorate it as he’s so busy these days. :)
I’m thankful for so much. Yesterday, a co-worker mentioned a family in need. My co-worker had listed online a table she wanted to sell. She was contacted by a lady asking if she would take less than the asking price. This lady wanted to give it to a family at her church, whose home had just burned down. The family lost everything. They have two girls, age 3 and 8 months. My co-worker offered the table for the family for free. The lady told my co-worker she would stop by our office today and pick the table up, on the way back from her cancer treatment…her cancer treatment. :(
I’ve had a 20 inch color tv in my mud room for almost a year. My boys were given a 32 inch tv for their video games in January and we planned to donate the 20 inch to Goodwill. Strangely, I’d never gotten around to it. My co-worker called the lady collecting donations and she said the family would love the tv.
Last night, my wonderful husband loaded the heavy tv (model before flat screens) into my car. I made sure the remote control was with it. I found a like new skillet and two matching egg turners (like new) that we barely use and also put those in my car.
My co-worker loaded her vehicle with the table and also some blankets and towels she didn’t need. We weren’t sure what time this lady would be coming by our office.
I was leaving for lunch and my co-worker said I could put the tv and other items in her vehicle in case the lady came while I was gone. I pulled my car up to my co-worker’s vehicle and saw an unfamiliar car in our lot with a lady sitting in it. I had a hunch this might be the lady collecting donations. I got out of my car and this lady got out of hers. I confirmed that she was taking the donations. She seemed shaky and weak. She told me she had just came from her cancer treatment and this wasn’t the best day. I told her I was so sorry and she smiled and said that’s okay.
I moved the tv and other items from my car and into hers. She thanked me many times and told me how she is so grateful to the Lord for everything she has, how her heart is so heavy for this family who lost everything they owned during the Holidays. She is leading the effort at their church to collect items. She headed into our office to talk to my co-worker and I drove to lunch with tears in my eyes. On the way back from her cancer treatment, this lady’s main concern was not for herself, but for others. Was it only this morning I was complaining about a bad day, a heavy work load and a moody teenager? Shame on me!
I’m thankful for this lady, whose name I don’t even know, who is helping a family in need. I’m thankful that the Lord showed me today just how blessed and fortunate I am. Yes, I always know this…sometimes, I just forget to remember. :(
judy says
Thank you for sharing this.
Rene says
I love Christmas time. My grandmother, who passed away about 7 years ago, loved Christmas so much, she would listen to Christmas music in the middle of the summer. When I was young, I just thought that Grandma was quirky or a silly old lady. But now that I’m older and a mother, I get it. Christmas reminds us of what we should be thinking about all the time throughout the year. My grandma had a grateful heart every day, all year long. She had the Christmas spirit all year long. I have it only at Christmas time. Every year, I vow that I will remember what i learned at Christmas and carry it with me all year. But every year, I forget, and, slowly, as the year slips past, I go back to my ungrateful ways. Perhaps, if I listen to the songs of Christmas as my grandma did all year, perhaps then I’ll remember what Christmas really means.
My blog post about giving thanks is reneprys.wordpress.com/2013/12. Hope you enjoy it!
Nancy says
Very nice post. I have been trying to stay off the computer of late, and get things done this season, but every once in a while I succumb and your blog is one of the few I try to catch up on:). Like you, my kids are no longer little (oldest 21, away at college and youngest 13). The tree isn’t put out yet, no one has had the time yet, but hopefully soon I can get the 13 year old, 6 ft. tall kid to help me out!! I make myself listen to Christmas music and hope I get in the spirit soon. My Father passed in August of last year, and I can’t stop thinking of him, and missing him. He loved Christmas. We would drive around the city looking at all the lights, and then make hot cocoa at home. Take care. God Bless.