He is Greater.....John 3:30 says He must become greater, I must become less"

We are at the end of the 2014 Christmas holiday.  It was awesome....concerts and programs and parties and presents....lots of time with family and lots of good food.  We are so blessed.  The family we did not see blessed us with cards and gifts by mail....and we cannot match all that we have received.  We cannot pay-back or re-gift.  We can just receive and say thank you......and know that sometime soon it can be our turn to give. More than the gifts, I hope my family understands the investment in family and in spiritual growth.....and for me......to know that Jesus trusts me with this much is overwhelming. I have a few days left of Dressember.  I'm ready to be done and wear pants again in the winter.  I will continue to know that girls are trapped in human trafficking....and will do what I can to fight that, long after I stop wearing dresses.  My heart is always with Sarah's Covenant Homes of India....and yesterday they took in twin newborn ...

There was a perfect moment today that I hope I don't forget.  All of our children were in the family room, sitting on the floor and lounging on chairs.  They were putting together the train track for Josiah and talking and working together and even the dogs were milling about and part of the action and the lights on the tree were sparkling and the candles were glowing and smelling wonderful...... I could almost forget the dozen times I snapped or snarled at someone today, and the millionth time I bent down to pick something up off the floor.....or the hours spent in the kitchen over holiday food....etc.  Being the mom at Christmas is hard work.  The shopping and wrapping and planning and cooking and pleasing and cleaning and hoping and praying and purposing it to be a meaningful day.....so as I reflect on this Christmas day, 2014.....there is much I feel bad about.  I'm not a very patient mom.....and when someone starts to fall apart I tend to follow them.......

'Twas 14 minutes til Christmas and all through this house....only the dogs were stirring and hopefully no mouse.  The stockings wait to be hung with care until I know Josiah is asleep because there is a missing tooth brush....and some gift cards.....and I think they are in my bedroom where Roger is trying to get the over-stimulated toddler to sleep..... The dogs were cooped up too long without human contact while we went to candle light church service and then to nana and papa for dinner and gifts......so they are really, really wild now.  I think they are waiting up for santa claus.....and should I tell them he isn't coming.....or not?  They just went out the dog door to check..... Precious went down to sleep with the big kids.  They tried to take josiah as well but he wasn't having any part of that tonight.....too much holiday hullabaloo....he wants familiar and comforting (aka my bed). Oh.....if I only knew he was sleeping....I could hunt up that toothbrush...

'Twas the day before Christmas and all the the house, the children and puppies were wreaking havoc and choas in the excitement and anticipation of holiday celebrations.......and dad was at the office trying hard to be productive.....and mama was at the coffee shop appearing to be charting but really eavesdropping on conversations all around! As I get older, the people in coffee shops who are half my age seem to have it all figured out.  They have all the answers, and abundant confidence in their philosophy......and I remember that once I was that girl as well. Self-righteous indignation at the stupidity of so many things, and the obtuse way of looking at the world that was so inept.....etc, etc. Age and time and life experience are great teachers if one positions him or herself in a place of humility and learning.  As life goes on I know less and less and have fewer answers to all of the problems of the world.  With each year I am blessed to look closer in the pres...