My eyes are pink and puffy from crying. I actually did snot rocket in the sink….better that, than it dripping on the four juicy onions I was chopping. Christmas Eve dinner prep has been going for over a week. Baking, chopping, mixing, frosting, and shopping…again. Long lines, bustling people scrambling their kids, getting the last spot in the Commissary parking lot which was completely diagonally across the way from the entrance. This all happened after Annabelle screamed and shot horizontal tears when I tried to feed her avocado, her later reaching down as I was changing her poopy diaper and getting her hand wrapped in the mustard mush, and finally getting my freshly washed leg and jeans soaked from her next diaper which was not put on quite well enough. I actually drove around an entire base today so she could fall asleep and stop whining.
Im bushed. We are having some Marines over for Christmas Eve dinner and to spend the night to make Christmas morning fun and full. It should be a blast but Im in the throws of being a Martha and trying to get everything done and thought through thoroughly. Do I have enough food? When will they be here? Will Annabelle act up? Where is everyone going to sleep? Do I prep the games and movie? How much should I clean? Do I have enough towels? Man, do I have enough snacks? Yes, its Christmas and once again I get lost in the details. It’s the familiar struggle of working and yet resting. Will that ever get easier?
As I sit and type I am reminded of the blessing we have: a home, a Christmas tree with lights, friends, family, presents, a manger scene, food, and a church family around the world. We know that this time of year reminds us of God becoming a man. We can openly worship with other fellow friends of faith when so many can’t around the world. The Lord has opened our eyes to the truth of why Jesus came…that HE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one can come to the Father except through Him. So we hope to serve a few who can then serve a few and so forth. We pray that in this crazy time of prep and work we can show the gospel to these men and women away from home.
My swollen eyes have subsided and a smile is beginning in my belly. =0) Yes, it’s the gospel that brings me joy…but the Pats beating the Broncos wasn’t too bad either!
Merry Christmas Everyone!