Growing Attached...

I thoroughly enjoyed the worship service at church today. The pastor started a new series, and his sermon today motivated me to get past the distractions of the season and just sit and enjoy the Lord's presence. I've never heard a sermon preached on Mary and Martha during the Christmas season, but how extremely fitting! Jesus visited these sisters with his disciples. Martha was busy making preparations while Mary just sat at Jesus' feet and enjoyed listening to Him teach...enjoyed just being in His presence. Martha became frustrated that she was the only one working away while Mary just got to sit there and do "nothing!" I chuckled during the service because I could picture my mom, her sisters, my Grannie Dot, my mother-in-laws, all working away in the kitchen, cleaning the house from top to bottom, making preparations for the holiday season. I couldn't help but wonder if they ever looked at the rest of us and got frustrated that we all did "nothing" to help prepare! (Sorry for all those years mom......:)) Martha actually asked Jesus to force Mary to get up and do some work. Of course the Lord said no and that Mary had chosen the better of the two activities -- just sitting and enjoying the presence of the Lord.

I was encouraged to act like Mary this holiday season. I'm going to sit at my Savior's feet and just enjoy Him. Not just during this season, but every season! Of course we will still have the parties, the baking, the cooking, the cleaning, the wrapping, the traditions, etc. But in all of those activities, I can still focus on Him while doing them!

I was surprised to find myself crying today during the service. Not during communion. Not during worship. Not during the sermon or invitation. Following the praise and worship and during the meet/greet time, the worship band started playing a rousing familiar Christmas carol - Manheim Steamroller's "Carol of the Bells." I sat there with tears streaming down my face. I hoped no one saw me crying because I knew they would wonder why in the world I was crying to such a hard core rock carol. At first I couldn't figure out why I was crying! Then I realized that I was honestly just feeling a bit homesick! Sometimes I feel so guilty for my feelings, because THIS is my home. This chair that I'm sitting in in this lovely living room in a townhouse in Florida, with my husband sleeping on the couch beside me and my two sweet kids tucked warmly in their beds. THIS is my home. Why do I feel homesick?! Every now and then when these feelings plague me, I think back to a blog I wrote about how relational of a person I am. I love being around people who love me and my family. I love exchanging gifts at this time of year with my crazy big family, traveling to everyone's houses, sharing hugs and meals. It truly is my favorite time of the year! And while I know that I belong with my family, I still miss the rest of our family!

[caption id="attachment_801" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cayman got tired of Charis trying to grab the DVD player, so he gathered all kinds of toys and plopped them all on her lap!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_802" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="She was KONKED out once all the party guests left!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_803" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cayman, on the other hand, was still bouncing off the walls."][/caption]

Tonight, we went to Lili's house for the Chick-fil-A Christmas party. Lili is the marketing director at the store. We had a fantastic time, especially Cayman who was THE entertainment of the evening. He didn't take a nap today, so I had no idea what to expect from him tonight. I was pleasantly surprised. He was a little wild, but not rude/disrespectful like he tends to act when he's taken no nap. And Charis did great too - she ate half of my breadstick tonight at supper (the long ones from Olive Garden!) I don't think anyone at Chick-fil-A had really thought about the fact that we're apart from our family this holiday season. But during his thank yous to his employees, Ian made a special point to thank me for "putting up with him" during this time in our lives and how he knew that his long hours away from the family were difficult at times. (He always says stuff like that, but I'm not just "putting up with him," I'm enjoying living life with him and I wouldn't have it any other way!) But I was especially touched when he mentioned how tough he knew it was on me to be apart from our family this Christmas. He had no idea about my emotional breakdown during "Carol of the Bells" this morning. So I think just knowing that he knows me inside and out just really touched me tonight! He knows my feelings sometimes without me even having to tell him. I love that about him. I truly am glad that I am here. With my family. In our home. And every now and then, I am glad that we will get to experience Christmas as a little family. I am glad that we have been able to meet some really fantastic people down here in Florida that we are attaching ourselves to. They don't know it; we haven't told them. But they have become our family away from family.

I guess they'll know when we show up on their doorstep on Christmas morning ready for some monkey bread and scrambled eggs and bacon.