Time's Melting By

This week, the last of the Christmas snow's melting away and I'm struck by just how fast the days are going.  Since when can my youngest boy make the evening's fire or Violet read the kindergarten sight words?  The oldest is talking about college and there aren't enough days to teach all he still needs to know, all we want to give him.  The days race faster through the hour glass and each moment is precious.

Someone in this house is soon to turn 40.  It's not me.  But its got us both talking about hitting this milestone, what we've done and left undone and what we still ache to see realized in the years God gives us.  I read that your life can end quickly, like a bucket tipped over, or it can trickle out like a tiny bottom hole in wasted moments in the every day of life, the missed opportunities, the unset goals and the unseen visions.  Life is too priceless to miss.  The trees can be thick in the monotony of the must-dos, but the forest is magical if we have eyes to see.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning in all of its splendor...and this year, the snow was falling!  We awoke to an inch on the ground and the most fluffy flakes fluttering.  Picture perfect.  

We gather around the tree and ooh and ahh.  Then the kids empty their stockings, giggling at the treasures within.  We read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and then set homemade cinnamon rolls out to rise.  Together on that morning, we're reminded of just how many blessings we have...a place to live, clothes to wear, a family, presents in abundance, but more than all a reason to celebrate.  We have Jesus, the best gift ever and truly all we ever need.

Mia taught Violet all about how the presents are opened.  Cautious as always, Violet would open one and then crawl onto mom's lap to regroup.  It's still so easy for her to be overwhelmed.  How she LOVED her presents...

And Mia loved hers'...sadly, I can't get my hands on a picture of the girls with their new American girl dolls from Birdie and their matching outfits hand-sewn by Mimi.  They are too cute!

But perhaps the funnest to watch that morning was Gabe.  EVERY gift was met with, "This wrapping paper is so great!  I love it!"  He couldn't believe how many wonderful things were tucked inside them...nearly all themed for our Davy Crockett...an animal encyclopedia, CD's about creatures on the Galapagos islands, Bear Grylls' book for kids, but most loved...a real bow and arrow!

The cinnamon rolls bake, the coffee pot is refilled and the wrapping paper lays askew.  As the kids play, we marvel at how good God has been to us because we know...the best gifts don't come wrapped.