Something about Christmastime...

No matter how busy the season gets...I still 'get into it'....the wonder...the magic...of Christmas. Ever since I was a little girl, I believed that miraculous things happened at Christmas...just look at the gift that God gave us...His only son. It's 'Christ'mas that makes us remember and celebrate it...even though the shadow of Calvary stretches out to us from the distant horizon. The miracle of Christ's birth isn't just in the praise songs and bible readings around Christmas...it's in the hearts of family, friends and strangers. It lights us up and makes us shine.

The same can be said about the miracle of Hannukah...the celebration of light...the light that against all odds kept burning. Hanukkah reminds us that the impossible is always possible...with God. That truth is enough to make anyone giddy. Around this time of year, bills take a back seat, family takes a front seat and joy rides shotgun. It's easy to get caught up in the magic of the season...to feel like your four years old all over again. Especially when you see the lights of the decorations reflected in your child's eyes. The stunned expression on their faces when they behold the Christmas Tree...towering above them with the Nativity underneath, lights, special keepsake ornaments and a sparkling, white Bethlehem star topping it all off. There's something so magical about the joy this time of year brings.

What a blessing it is to share my love for the Christmas season with my children! Our little family had an awesome Christmas! Getting together with the extended family was definitely a highlight! Marcus and Annaliese love their cousins and love playing with them. Their cousins are just as crazy about them, too. Now that we're here and not in Arizona, we really appreciated being able to see everyone.

This year our extended family did krist-kind gifts. We all put the names of our children in a hat and picked. I picked one, and the hubby picked one. It worked out very well because every child got a gift, but we all saved some money and there wasn't the massive 'opening' of tons of gifts that lasted for hours. Gift opening time was short and sweet. I felt there was less of an emphasis on gifts and more on spending the holiday with family. Gifts are a big part of Christmas, but I don't want the kids getting gorged on them. I want them to grow up knowing why we celebrate Christmas and that Jesus is the greatest gift of all. Right now though, all they know is that there's a lot more going on in the house...pretty things that they can't touch...lights everywhere and constant baking in the kitchen. I tell them the story of Christ's birth, show them pictures, sing the songs...I don't know if I'm making a dent yet...but sooner or later I know they're gonna get it.

Marcus received an Elmo Live doll (thank you, Gramma!) He plays with Elmo so much that now Elmo needs rehabilitation. Marcus sits there and pokes Elmo's belly and foot...wondering why he's not responding. He looks up at me and says, "Melmo?" I just smile and tell him that he's resting and he'll be up soon (if this weather doesn't warm up so that I can go get some more batteries he may be resting a bit longer...hang in there, Melmo!).

Annaliese got a Disney Princess stroller and a tiny white teddy bear that she has adopted as her 'baby'. She takes it everywhere. She puts it in her stroller and pushes it around. She covers it with her little blankie. She's tried to feed it macoroni and cheese (and I had to sneak it away from her so that I could wash it). One time I even caught her giving her 'baby' a good dressing down (I don't know what the little bear did but it must have been naughty...judging by the stern look on my daughter's face and the way she pointed her finger at it).

The kids are growing in leaps and bounds. Marcus is already growing out of things I bought him last month. He's having a growth spurt. He's saying more and more every day. He's insistant on doing everything himself. Annaliese is following in her big brother's foot steps...but still 'clings' to Mama quite often...much to her Mama's delight...(I admit it, I'm guilty).

Christmas this year for me has been more spiritual. Which is very good. I've been praying a lot lately...for family and other things...mostly for answers. When I didn't receive answers, I began to think that perhaps God is just not ready to answer me yet...and I trust in His timing. But then, this evening I realized He had answered my prayers.

He's given me something very valuable. I'll explain.

Tonight, I was deep in thought while relaxing on the couch after dinner. I was dragged out of my thoughts by Marcus. He had climbed up next to me with his silent 'Melmo' doll. He looked up at me with those soulful brown eyes of his, smiled, leaned in, gave me a kiss and snuggled into my side. Whatever I had been thinking about flew out of my head in that moment. I put my arms around my precious son, cuddled him close and told him I loved him very much. Marcus just kept laying there...for a full fifteen minutes. Then, almost too soon it seemed, cuddle time was over and it was time for him to get down and play with his Elmo phone (another gift from Santa). I watched him go and thanked God for that frozen moment in time. I hug and kiss and cuddle my children all the time, but Marcus is a very independent child...so he cuddles me back but is always in a rush to dash off to the next activity. I knew that this tiny moment we shared was a precious gift.

Christine, can you hear Me? This is God answering your prayers...I'm giving you a special gift here...use it well...enjoy it...savor it...cherish it.

I'd have to say that the greatest gift I got this Christmas was time.

Time with my husband. Time with my daughter. Time with my son. Time to savor. Time to enjoy the most important thing in my life...my family.

My prayer for all of you this Christmas is that you're able to savor the special moments with the ones you love the most...that the magical joy those moments give you lasts for another 364 days.

A Merry, Blessed Christmas to everyone.

- The Mamasaurus

Are We There Yet?

Goodness it's been a long time! My last full post was back in June. Well, there's lots of reasons for that. 1) Settling into our Arizona life took time and 2) Settling in our New Jersey life is taking longer.

Yes, that's right. You read it right.

For those who do not know, we have moved back to the North East. Why? Too much sun? Too much dust? Not enough to do out west? No. No and no. Arizona was beautiful and I will always look at our pictures of our short life there with feelings of nostalgia, but it just was not for us. We left family there too, who are heart broken, just like the family we left here when we moved. We will miss our family and friends (gosh so many friends!) in Arizona very much.

This path that we're traversing, the hubby, the kids and I, has come full circle.

The Hubbasaurus often says, "Sometimes we have to go backwards to go forwards". I think that perfectly describes our move back east. Did we make a mistake by going to AZ? I don't think so. We learned so much. We could not have done that had we stayed here. But after the lessons were learned, it made more sense to come back.

Our kids are troopers. Lord knows, our little family has been through the wringer these past five months. We actually drove back across the country. Two adults, two toddlers, three cats in a minivan. Even a camper would have been cramped after ten hours...try forty-five hours.

Yep. It wasn't pretty...but our family is strong. We made it.

We got to see the country! How many times do you get to do that? I must say though, all along I kept wishing for those ruby red shoes Dorothy had.

It would take us a long time to find home, however. We thought we had secured a rental for NJ back in AZ before we left. We signed a lease and everything. When we got to NJ we saw the rental...it wasn't fit for human inhabitants! I cried my eyes out that night. We had told no one that we were back because we wanted to surprise everyone on Halloween. Sort of like: "Trick or Treat...we're baaaack!". We finally broke down and told the hubby's sister who lived in the area. She was shocked, to say the least, and she put us up for two days. We wound up staying with family for a full week before finally finding a new rental. Looking back, I don't know how we got through it all...definitely by the grace of God. Well, we're here now and things are starting to settle down...just in time for the busiest time of the year...heh heh heh...oh well.

One thing remains very true. Family is always there. Yes, they may be annoying at times...they may make you want to scream a times. At times, they may say hurtful things that should not have been said, or worse, with-held something that should have been. They can drain you and lift you up all in the same day. We can allow these idiosyncracies to kill us this holiday season or we can that them roll off our shoulders and go on with life.

Most people dread the holidays because of all the things I mentioned above. I passed a Mom at Shop Rite the other day that said to her child, "I can't wait for the holidays to be over!". How sad...and yet...I've shared this thought, too. I used to love the holidays...what happened? I know a special family that has lost someone very dear, who face the holidays with heavy hearts but are determined to feel the joy and celebrate the season. These are the people I draw my courage from. In the end, you are the master of your own will. Will you celebrate the season...or will you survive it? The choice is yours...in every situation, in any family. The choice is STILL yours. What will you do with your holidays this year?

One of the biggest lessons we learned while in Arizona is that happiness is not a location, it's not how much money you have in the bank, how many trips you've taken, how many prized possessions you own...

Happiness very simply is having what you need and wanting what you have. I'd rather be joyful than happy any day. Happiness doesn't last. Joy comes from God. Joy is a choice in any situation. When you understand that...nothing can shake your God-given joy.

I choose joy.

Joy is my daughter's laughter...I can hear it ringing in my ears long after she's gone to sleep. It's my son's smile and the way he runs to me to give me a hug. Hearing, "I love you", from my hubby. My hubby's great smile and his wicked sense of humor...sitting here at my desk...I can recall many times when he's made me laugh so hard, I cried. Watching my daughter give her Daddy a kiss...and then seeing the look on his face as his heart melts. The looks on all the faces of our families when they saw us and realized we were back. The old friends I've regained contact with...the new friends I'm making here...the endless chances to experience joy tomorrow and the day after and the day after that...

See what I mean? Joy. Three letters, very big word. I think when you choose joy, you truly live your life during the holiday season...not just survive it. This is what that special family does that has lost someone very dear to them. It is what I will do this holiday season....what will you choose?

On my 'Things that I am Thankful For this Thanksgiving" are three things that explain everything: the gift of love, the gift of clarity and the gift of joy.

Love has always been a big part of my life. I've always been loved and have loved others. Clarity reminded me of this special gift. The result was joy.

Lord, bless us all with eyes that see and hearts that are grateful...because then, we will all be rich.

A Blessed Thanksgiving filled with the joy of life to you all...

-The Mamasaurus