Reflections on a Different Christmas

It's not like we didn't know that this Christmas season would be different, but little by little we're realizing just how different. This year we're "home" in Lee's Summit for Christmas, but our "home" (as in where we live and where all our stuff resides) is in San Salvador. We're so thankful for Steve and Terisa Guenther, our great friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, who have opened up their home to us. We're even sleeping on furniture that was once in our master bedroom. Today while Terisa is working, I'm doing my/our holiday baking in her kitchen--Snickerdoodles and cake truffles (chocolate and strawberry.) I've got to find time to fit in a pumpkin and pecan pie, as well.

We've had so much celebrating and eating already. Sunday night we reconnected with friends from years ago, Tuesday I went to breakfast with a co-worker from the school district. Stephen visited his parents in West Plains on Tuesday/Wednesday, while I found time for a bit of shopping and lunch with another dear friend. Last night we celebrated David's (Stephen's brother) 59th birthday! Three of the four brothers were able to be there, as well as cousins, Jon and Aaron. Our calendar for the rest of our time here is equally full--there are so many people we want to see and, frankly, there aren't enough meals to share one with everyone; we are, however, doing our best and I'm sure my waistline will reflect our success more than I would like.

Some, if not all, of our old Christmas traditions are falling by the wayside . . . . . we don't have a Christmas tree, what wrapping paper we use doesn't seem as important, there won't be a Santa cookie baking competition between brothers, I doubt we make it to Christmas in the Park on Christmas eve, but . . . . we will be spending quality time with family and friends, playing games and laughing, sharing stories and eating snacks. I've decided that it's okay for this Christmas to be "different" in all the ways that don't matter, as long as it's the "same" in the one way that does matter--celebrating the birth of the most important baby in history and our only Savior. I pray that the simplicity of this "different" Christmas will help us appreciate the perfect gift of God's only son!