NOT Home for the Holidays

I really enjoy holidays and the activities that come along with them. Especially the Christmas holiday season.
                                                                                                                                                                                       Making gingerbread houses

Driving around looking at Christmas lights                                                                                                                                                                         Tacky Christmas sweater parties                                                                                                                                                                                              Dirty Santa                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Spending lots of time with family & friends                                                                                                                                                                                  Baking Christmas goodies & treats                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Decorating the house and putting up the Christmas tree

Even as I sit here making this list I can’t help but smile at the fun memories I have made doing these Christmas activities in the past. But as I think about how fun the Christmas season can be it makes me sad to not be sharing in these activities with my friends & family this year.

It makes me miss being home to grocery shop & bake sweets with my mom. It makes me miss planning the best outfit of the year for a tacky Christmas party with friends. It makes me miss not picking out matching pajamas for my family to wear on Christmas Eve.

I would be lying if I said missing out on my family Christmas didn’t make me sad.

But at the same time as sad as I am about being away from home for Christmas, I think about the reason I am not there. I think about the things I get to do instead. I think about the new traditions I get to start.

I picture the face of every single one of our sixteen kids. I picture the smiles on their faces when they get to sit down and color before school. I think about how clean & sharp they look showered and dressed for church. I think about the laughter I hear as kids are able to just be kids. I think about the loving hugs I get and give every day.

I think about the countless number of times Beboy has joked with me about stealing shampoo and we both just laugh. I think about the afternoon Neil John was mad at many of us yet let me sit and talk with him and told me he would come back to school the next day. I picture the way Angie comes walking up to me crying and falling into my arms, followed by her looking up at me and saying, “joking!”

I imagine the incredible futures that await each and every one of these kids. I imagine the day these kids realize just how much Jesus loves them and they decide to begin that relationship with Him.

And this, all of this makes being away from home for the Christmas season worth it!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!