Hay, Camels, Sheep, Donkey........

DeeWayne loves to sort and organize.  Our Christmas things are all packed in those plastic tubs and labeled for easy finding for the three or four days that it usually takes us to decorate for the holidays.  One of the tubs is labelled, "Christmas - FRAGILE".  his year we realized that our Christmas is FRAGILE - and not just the ceramic nativity in the plastic tub....the whole thing......the season is fragile.  It is easily damaged by our attempts to create a Merry Christmas.  So, we are carefully moving through the month.  We are choosing which activities / traditions / habits to keep and which to toss.  It is way harder than you would think. 

Here's how the last few days have gone.......Last Sunday we went to a Bethlehem bazaar at a neighborhood church.  We took granddaughters Caden and Evelyn.  It was wonderful.  The girls made Bible-time crafts and the "real" baby Jesus made a breath-taking Nativity.  The girls' favorite part - real camel, donkey, calf, sheep, goat, chicken, dove, rabbit, etc.  These animals were so calm I wondered if they had been into the eggnog.  The kids were able to pet them all...over...and over....and over....of course, so did I.  It was a great evening with the girls. This activity a KEEPER.

I had a business trip planned to Nashville.  Perfect time for DeeWayne to join me and enjoy the holiday decorations and visit an old friend.  Somewhere between home and Nashville I got sick.  I mean really sick.  Weird, sudden, and catch you off guard sick.  Even the front desk clerk did not have to ask.  Yep, I was sick.  The next day I had to find someone to see me, give me Rx, and reassure me that I would not die.  I was diagnosed with acute asthma attack brought on by exposure to camels and other manger animals.  Caught up in the fun, I forgot that all animals make me itch and wheeze.

Second day of trip, I was slightly better.  Still had to interrupt a meeting to lie down and check my blood pressure.  This can cause a certain amount of embarrassment when you are trying to appear composed and professional.   Later I decided to try inhaling some steam in the bathroom.  Started the shower on full force hot water. Left bathroom to get something.  Returned. Door locked from inside.  The bathroom door is locked and the shower is running at full force.  Is the stopper in? How would I know?  "Hello, front desk, I have a situation."

DeeWayne went to get the car and the valet returned saying it would not crank. A while later, we are finally headed home.  About half way there, DeeWayne suggested that I drive....."I'm not feeling so good."  were his last words before the chills set in. 

Activity: Holiday season business trip with spouse. FAIL. Do not repeat this activity.  Holiday buster for sure.  WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!!!!  We are living this season with intention.  Let's take another look at the trip through Sudie's glasses (will explain later).

On arrival to Nashville, the clerk knew I was sick.  She had hot tea delivered to the room.  The NP who treated me was on the same property as the hotel.  The Rx was delivered to the hotel by a friendly drugstore guy at no extra charge.  When I got sick in the meeting, I was treated respectfully and kindly.  The bathroom situation was a close call, but nothing flooded.  A waiter named Ambrose told me salted grapes make you feel better and brought me some.  The car cranked when DeeWayne performed the Jesse maneuver (another thing to explain later). .  And, after a NyQuil night in our own bed, we are both feeling better.  I have decided DeeWayne was suffering from a few long days of "Whining wife trapped in one room syndrome."  This morning, Rachel delivered homemade something and enough tomato soup to get us through the weekend. 

ACTIVITY: Focus on blessings instead of problems. KEEPER.  It is disgustingly easy to dwell on the aggravations and ignore the wonders of God's provision for us EVERY DAY. 

DISCLAIMER:  Forget about the concealed names thing.  Too confusing to my brain.  You're in my life, you might be in print.  Also, forget about the daily post promise.  The ONLY thing I do every day is brush my teeth. I'll do the best I can.

The next Christmas decision...."TO TREE, OR NOT TO TREE?"

Here we go.........

Welcome to our very first BLOG!

If you are visiting this page, chances are you have been invited to join Brenda and DeeWayne as we BLOG our way through this Christmas season.  This blog was born out of our desire to take the chaos and exhaustion out of our Christmas and to keep the joy, peace, and celebration of Christ's birth the center of our holiday. 

We did not enter this project without some hesitation.....and this blog is a way to keep us honest and on track.  After all, you are watching!  We hope that we will get some answers to the following questions:

1. How do we change our holiday habits to create the holiday we talk about but seldom experience?

2. If it is not about the presents,  then what is it about?

3. What is important to us about Christmas and how do we make time for those things?

Because we have not asked permission, we will change the names of family and friends to protect the innocent......you will probably figure some of them out.......you might even recognize yourself as you read about how you are part of our Christmas season!

Brenda will be doing most of the typing, but the postings will be a joint effort.  So, HERE WE GO, December 2, 2012, the first day of our Christmas season celebrated with intention.  We are glad that you are joining us on this journey!  We will try to post daily, so visit often.  And don't hesitate to share ideas or thoughts.  We value your help as we strive to make this a holiday pleasing to our Savior!