This Season

We don't have our Christmas tree up.

I haven't done any Christmas shopping.

I didn't make an advent calendar for the kids.

Our lights aren't on the house.

And I already feel hurried this season, but that's okay with me, because another rushed day means another day down, another day completed in this season of deployment. 

I decided at the last minute to not take the kids to see Santa this year. The weight on my heart of TJ missing that first-time experience was heavier than not taking them. So we'll just wait until next year. They're still young enough that they won't be missing out, since they've never been.

I mailed TJ's Christmas package last week, so I hope he gets it in time for Christmas. He said their Thanksgiving was pretty good and they were fed very well! He ran his last race this weekend with a heavy pack on his back. It's very cold there and I can see his breath when we FaceTime while he's outdoors. Our church took up a collection of winter coats and shoes to send to the locals where he is; as much as we call that place The Sand Box or any other name, people actually call that place home, and it was nice to be able to bless them in that way {deployment upside}. 

The kids are doing well at home. 

Lilly is enjoying all of her alone time with me while Caleb is at school. She loves to run errands and never whines when we have to make another stop. She's the girliest girl and wore her fairy princess costume from Halloween every day last week. She's branching out on what she eats, and she's doing a bit more talking and a bit less two-year-old-yelling. She's even showing me her sweet side. Last week, after the umpteenth time she had called for me after I had put her to bed, I went in and said "What is it, girl? Take out your binkie to talk, I don't know what you're saying!" she took out her binkie, sat up and said "mama kiss?" And gave me the biggest bestest smacker. 

Caleb is doing well being back at school after nine days off for Thanksgiving. He always has to readjust when his schedule changes. He's keeping steady with no naps, but it makes for very long evenings. When he's tired he has an extremely hard time communicating and just yells everything. It sure doesn't help when everyone needs me all at the same time for a different thing in a different room of the house. But he sleeps so well at night, I'm so thankful. He aced his math chapter test and he won the Top Dog Award for the month of November! Free meal at the Lazy Dog! Oh and have I mentioned he's a champion potty-pooper! Can I get an AMEN?!

The kids are having fun playing together. They create new ways to put grey hairs on my head, like jumping off of furniture and running around chancing each other with giant spools of ribbon. They still use me to communicate with each other, but I'm happy they're interacting at all! 

Even though this season feels a bit absent, I've been blessed with some of the loveliest people surrounding me with warmth and love. Not to mention my two little babes who make sure every day is an exciting adventure. Just trying to focus now on the beauty and miracle of Christ, of his presence and peace.

*love you Tj