Enjoy the Moment

I mentioned earlier that this year I am trying to let go of stress.  It is working.  Had I not made some major changes in the holidays, this year could have been more stressful than ever.

On top of the normal stuff....shopping, wrapping presents, baking, too many engagements....this year we are adding Physical Therapy 35 minutes from my house three times a week....AND a fun trip.

When going to my doctor for my routine physical I mentioned that I get cramps in my upper abdominal area when I turn funny or bend funny, he immediately was full of tons of questions.  I explained that the right side had done that for 29 years, since our daughter was born.  But the left side was more severe and had just started a few months ago.  To shorten the story....he sent me for an MRI to rule out the "bad stuff".  Then, he sent me for Physical Therapy to try to strengthen the muscles to prevent it from happening.  Not just ANY physical therapy.  He wanted me to go to a specific one in Hixson.  (It is only 35 minutes from home, but a little over an hour from my work.)  For two weeks, I go three times a week.  BINGO...there goes THAT day.  By the time I make a couple of stops and get home, there is very little time left in the day.

Our son and daughter-in-law that lived with us for a little over a year, gave us an early Christmas Present/Thank You Present "for allowing them to live with us for a year, etc.  On Dec. 21-23, we will be in Nashville.  They purchased us the Opryland Hotel Country Christmas Package:  Restless Heart dinner show; General Jackson holiday cruise, Rockettes, Ice show, Craft show, etc.  We are VERY excited to take this "Fun Trip". 

However....had we NOT chilled this year, we may have not so much enjoyed the trip.  Usually the last few days before Christmas is crunch-time.  NOT this year.  We are going to sit back and enjoy it.

Instead of cooking a big Christmas meal for my kids, we are going to grill steaks and have baked potatoes and salads.  Simple....and probably a welcome change after all of the casseroles, etc. 

Also...I am happy to report that the Physical Therapy that seemed so impossible at first, has allowed me to grab a couple of gifts each trip I make to Chattanooga..........and I have been VERY impressed and the doctors have been even more impressed with the results.

Let's enjoy the moment...........even if changes need to be made.

Last Minute Christmas Gift

If you are like me....there are ALWAYS those little gifts you need the last minute.  If you need a quick, simple gift......you may have already seen this or may have even made this before, but....thinking of Vicki.....I thought I would post it anyway as a reminder.

Print off the little story.....attack it to a bag of Christmas M & M's and BINGO....your instant gift.

DESSERTS Not STRESSED

Okay...I am trying my best to reverse the feeling of "stressed" this year and turning it into "desserts".  

Every year...about this time, I begin to get stressed.  There is soooo much to do and so little time.  This year, I am trying to take a different approach.  (Notice I typed TRYING and not I AM TAKING).

Roger and I, over the years have discussed what we were getting everyone for Christmas, but, in the end, it was always my job to follow through.  I was the one that shopped, wrapped, etc.  Last year, right before Christmas, Roger looked at me and said, "I know you always buy the presents, but have you ever stopped to think that MAYBE I would like to do more too?"  Well....one of my flaws or gifts (whichever way you want to interpret it) is I remember....

So, this year, after discussing suggestions, I have bought for our "girls" and he has for the "guys".  We have both taken the time to buy for the babies.

Wow.  A simple little task like that has taken tons of stress off me.  I have NO problems finding things for the girls, but the guys are always much harder for me.

Initially, I begin to stress....what IF he (being Roger) does not "get it done".  Then, I "Let it Go" and decided that Christmas would not end if the guys received gift cards at the end.  
And, guess what?   The guys will actually have presents too.

Not only have I let go of some duties...........this year, Roger and I have learned to say "NO" to some engagements.  

We always enjoy attending the Associational Pastor's Banquet, but this year we are double-booked and that is not possible.  

Our younger couples decided they wanted to enter a float into the Rockwood Christmas Parade, which fell on a night that did not work with our schedule.  I am PROUD to announce that Our Church had a BEAUTIFUL float.....an EXTRA LONG flat-bed trailer pulled by a large 18-wheeler......with lights, etc.  AND....the float was FULL of our church members, where they road and sang Christmas Carols and Praise Music...........all without US.  (I don't know about you, but when we first came to this church where there was 12 in Sunday School and 32 for preaching and if ANYTHING got done, we did it......................it makes my heart smile to see how not only has our church grown in numbers....grown together...they have grown in the Lord and everyone chimes in and is excited to work for the Lord.  Praise the Lord.)

The last several years I have been so stressed and our calendars have been so full that we do not even get our tree up until the last minute. 

The tree is up this year.  Most gifts have been purchased.  I am wrapping as I go.  We are having an early Christmas in Alabama with both "families and moms" on Dec. 13th. 

NOW....it looks like I am going to have time to actually sit back and enjoy some DESSERTS since I am not so STRESSED.

My advice to you is:

• Let it go.
• Delegate jobs
• Share responsibilities
• Remember............Christmas will happen REGARDLESS.
• Sit back and enjoy some desserts.  You can always loose the extra pounds in January when EVERYONE will be dieting.  Smile.
• JESUS IS THE REASON for the season and nothing else really matters.

Now....enjoy your holidays.  I sure plan to.  And, remember...stressed is desserts spelled backwards.

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas from the Britton's!!!

Here is a picture of our "kid appealing" Snowman tree.  Time changes everything.  Smile.

The Perfect Christmas

I could blame Pinterest. I could say it was all Facebook's fault. The magazines Real Simple and Southern Living could be given at least part of the credit.

As I scroll through pretty pins and polished posts online or turn the glossy pages of perfected photographs in the printed publications, I think to myself, "I could do that, " and "Wouldn't it be great if my house, kids and husband looked like that?".

These thoughts start innocent enough. The next thing I know however, I am anything but joyous and peaceful.  My contentment is gone and bitterness comes creeping. Jealousy and insecurity take over.

My to-do list grows proportionally with the stress of trying to measure up to some fabricated view of no body's reality. My expectations of what the perfect Christmas ought to be, becomes skewed and unattainable.

Satan must laugh at me while I imagine my Heavenly Father patiently sighs as He calls me to His arms, gently telling me to be still.

No matter what I might try to do to make this the perfect Christmas, all my attempts will fall far short. I am imperfect. I cannot do or even fake my way to meet all my expectations. I can accept all this because of the fact that the perfect Christmas came 2000 years ago when my perfect Christ came to accept and save an imperfect me.

So I may lay off the Pinterest and the Facebook for awhile. The shiny magazines may just collect a little dust. I get into enough trouble with my silly expectations without their help. I don't want to be the butt of Satan's jokes. I am intentionally choosing to be still and celebrate the birth of my perfect Christ.

As a result, I know I will have the perfect Christmas.

Would It Still Be Christmas?

As I blogged earlier this week, I have really been fighting the feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed this December. I am daily taking on my self-assumed expectations of what I want this holiday season to look like. In my quiet times I am begging God to keep my Christ in Christmas this year.

Besides working, parenting and ministering this week (you know, my normal, everyday activities), I've been trying to prep for Christmas - shopping for and buying gifts and decorating our home, etc. Despite feeling two weeks behind, God has been faithful to keep me focused on Him and not my notorious to-do lists.

As I've thought through things and tried to prayerfully approach my responsibilities one-at-a-time, I have found myself with the same question on repeat in my head:

"Would it still be Christmas if ________?"

Would it still be Christmas if we only put up one tree this year instead of two?
Would it still be Christmas if I don't put out all the Nativity scenes?
Would it still be Christmas if we don't track down the toy that she said she wanted?
Would it still be Christmas if I don't mail out Christmas cards, or put lights outside or hand make the girls' teachers' gifts?

Each time I ask myself the question, the Holy Spirit gently whispers, "yes" into my heart.

Jesus will still be celebrated in my heart and in our home no matter if any or all of these things happen or not. My husband and I have that decisively clear in our priorities. These items will not take precedent over the true meaning of the holiday.

If I allow all these things to be so distracting to me, what message am I sending to my daughters? I do not want them to experience me overwhelmed and stressed by these frivolous details that they miss what Christmas really is. If that were to happen, then Christ wouldn't be in Christmas for us.

Even if by some Christmas miracle all my unrealistic, Martha Stewart expectations are met but I have failed to keep Him first, then it would not be Christmas at all - not for us, not for me. Christmas is so much more than that. My daughters need to see through my actions and attitudes what Christmas is all about. By God's grace, this will happen in how I approach my crazy lists and voices in my own head.

Regardless of how I approach this holiday season, it will be Christmas. Jesus' incarnation, Immanuel's arrival will be marked and celebrated. It will still be Christmas. Praise Him - it will be Christmas.

Christmas Influence

I can’t tell you how many times I have rewritten this little article.

Honestly, I am simply overwhelmed. December has begun and I feel so very, very behind. My mind is swimming with all the things I feel like I have to do. I feel the anxiety growing with each item I add to my ever-increasing to-do list.

My feelings have already gotten the best of me and I have the whole month ahead of me.

When I rose early this morning for my time alone with God, the advent devotional I read really convicted me. In all the preparations I feel like I must make for Christmas, I realized that I must prepare myself.

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the people for Jesus’ arrival. God had thousands of years of history in place before the time was “full” for His birth.

And like the lesson of every animated Christmas special or holiday movie ever made, Christmas is not about the wrappings, presents or decorations. As Christians we know that it is so much deeper than Hollywood puts forth.

I need to prepare myself to celebrate the coming of Christ. The gifts will get bought and wrapped. The baking may be done by Publix, but it will be done none-the-less. The house may not be as festively put together as I had envisioned. But, I will stop daily this month to reflect on what Christmas truly means to me personally.

As a momma, I am well aware that my tone, my mood, my outlook directly influences that of every member of our home, right down to the two Yorkies. I want my children to have a great Christmas. However, more importantly, I want them to remember how Christ’s arrival was celebrated. I know that this begins with me.

So with every decoration placed, gift desire discussed and holiday event prepped for, I am asking God that my feelings will reflect His arrival in my heart. As a result, I can let Him use this “happiest time of the year” to truly help my house keep Christ the center of Christmas.

As a minister's wife, I also know that my attitude is reflected in the ministry that my husband and I have as well. Christmas and how it is celebrated is influenced in my approach far beyond even the walls of my own home. It is a part of every conversation and event at our church as well. 

Would you pray for me that I will have a positive influence of Christmas in our ministry? Would you pray for me that I could do this in the Vinson home too? I will be praying for you!