Truth be told, the Christmas "vacation" was challenging. No matter how I try to put it or go through it in my mind, there are no better words to describe it. Christmas always seems to hit me in a rush EVEN THOUGH i prepare for it by shopping on black Friday, arrange "fun charts", organize "job charts" and create incentives. Now, I'm not saying that I don't enjoy the break altogether, I'm just saying that overall, it isn't usually what I would envision it to be. Honestly, the first week was a week of catch up because my Christmas cards were not all out (and still aren't, and truthfully does anyone care?!) and I was bound to get them to everyone on my list (which seems to be a computer challenge each and every year) and my stress levels were high since the decorating was still in swing. Part of this was because we had decided to buy a tree and couldn't due to Steve's overwhelming work schedule. So instead of the anticipated "great experience" of picking a tree together as a family and chopping it down, we ended up pulling out the back up plan fake tree from the attic (thank you Bryon) a week before Christmas and decorating it for family home evening that night, since Christmas was fast approaching on Saturday. In my "emergency mode" I must say I wasn't feeling the true spirit of the season and was looking forward to it ending with great anticipation where I should have been looking forward to it. Since the older boys had the week off, Steve decided to take advantage of the opportunity to have them babysit Thursday so we could make a trip to Portland to go to the temple. As the week progressed and I got increasingly overwhelmed and scroogey, I told Steve I didn't think it was a good time to take an extra 6 hours out of my week. Steve was fine with my decision and let me know that regardless of my choice, he still needed to go and was still planning on it if I should change my mind. It was nice to be aware of my options and helped me feel free. Thursday morning, I found myself praying that I could make the right choice. I didn't remember this prayer until the following day, however, after I realized how I had made the right choice in what ended up being a wonderful temple trip and that desired feeling of peace and joy had finally entered my heart for the first time in weeks. Just in time for Christmas. My testimony of the power of prayer and the peace that comes through properly prioritizing our time was strenghthened. While on our 2 hour trip home, I was reminded of a recent & favorite general conference address given by President Uchtdorf that reminds us to slow down and think about the things that are more important in our lives. "Of things that matter most". After this trip, I was able to have a wonderful Christmas and make it through the following week of refereeing, entertaining, negotiating, and maid service with more enthusiasm. Finally I felt as if I didn't want the break to end (until Sunday when the children were so unmanageably wrestless that I was ready to hand them off to anyone else for awhile and get my house in order).
Now we are enjoying our visit from Grandma and Grandpa Alger as we look forward to Michael's baptism this Saturday. I'm grateful for the many blessings in my life.
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