Happy 4th Week of Advent! What an exciting week. This month of preparing has sure gone way too fast for me. Now, it's time to really prepare with our whole heart. The other day, I was in panic mode. I needed to run to several stores to get some last minute things, bake several dishes for upcoming potlucks, and to top it off, the house is a mess. A real mess. There is a fort in the middle of the school room, mounds of laundry and dog hair in every nook and cranny. I mean, WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING????
While in panic mode at this specific moment with my husband, I realized that this was not Christmas. This is what we want to avoid durin
g Advent. And it's hard. For me, really. Hard. I want everything perfect. Perfect tree. Perfect decorations. Perfect presents. Perfect delicacies. But then, at what cost? This would be no fun for my children, and clearly is not fun for me. Soooo, if you are losing it. Don't. Take a deep breath. Remember the Christ child. Hold your little ones tight. Help them see what Advent is. It is waiting and preparing-Joyfully. What does not get done. Doesn't. Laundry can wait, baking can be done together (albeit, maybe won't be how you would do it-but your kids will love the experience), and your tree is beautiful because you didn't fret about the small stuff and make your kids feel like they couldn't do anything right.
So Rejoice! Salvation is drawing near! Let your children see YOU Rejoice. Smile more. Let them have an extra cup of hot chocolate today and pile the whipped cream high. With sprinkles. You'll feel better, and so will your children. I promise.
