Saturday Cuteness Fix and a Christmas Wish

I am having a hard time remembering that it is only Saturday! Between our recent time change and the long weekend, my brain is quite scattered. Yet, we march on. I am not even going to discuss the

un-human hour I woke this morning because by now, you all got it. This house wakes early

and I am starting to become accustomed to the fact that this is life around here!

No need to bore you all.

I do have some fun pictures from the wee hours of the morning, however! Isaiah fell asleep in his Jumperoo after an hour or and I let him sleep. He seemed to be breathing much better upright

and I NEVER EVER wake a sleeping baby!

Aren't his chipmunk cheeks so cute? I snapped probably a dozen of these pics in different angles because he looked so sweet. Michael became a bit jealous of all the attention

and wanted his picture taken as well:

He did not want to look straight at me because that is his way of telling me he is not happy with me!

Once the fog started lifting from our heads, Michael was ready to go! He brought me a can of tuna and placed it into my hand, waiting for me to read the entire can. Nutritional information and all. I find it fascinating that at his age, he is so interested in the alphabet and words. He must know what EVERYTHING says, from books to shampoo bottles. I have began to show him how to write letters because he likes holding my hand and having me trace them in books. We'll see where that goes!

So Christmas season is officially in full swing. I do consider this Christmas season and am teaching my children to do the same because this is a home that serves our Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ and we will be observing His birthday on December 25.

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is something that I celebrate every day. Yet, there is something so sweet and tender about the Christmas season to me. To look at my baby and think that Jesus Himself was once that tiny and how Mary must have felt when she held Him...to think of all the promises that His birth resembles...I just really love this time of year.

I can do without the snow, however so that can just go ahead and not come. :)

In the past few weeks, I have noticed much debate in other people's posts regarding the terms "Happy Holidays" and "Merry Christmas". I have been giving this subject much thought lately, more so than in previous years, although I do not know why. Perhaps it is because of the talk of calling the

White House Christmas trees "holiday trees" or maybe it is all the Facebook posts. I have also noticed these posts are getting meaner and meaner by the day. If I were not Christian and saw some of these messages "supporting" Christmas, I surely would not be quick to run to any alter calls any time soon! Some of these messages are just terrible. All caps, saying things like "DON'T TAKE MY HOLIDAY" "LEAVE THE COUNTRY IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT", etc., etc.

First, please remember this: NO ONE can take your faith from you. NO ONE can take Christ from you, no matter what laws are passed or what a tree is called. If you are starting to feel like you are losing your faith, then you need to GET INTO THE WORD. This is something that you and the Lord need to work out and no one on Facebook is to blame.

Second, please remember that each of us are to be spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that every ear may hear. If you are snarling at a cashier a Kohl's because she said "Happy Holidays", you are not spreading the Gospel. If you are in a Wal-Mart taking part in trampling a worker to death so you can get your children a flat screen TV for Christmas, you CERTAINLY are not helping to spread His Word. When someone writes "Happy Holidays" on your Facebook wall, are you hitting the caps lock button and ready to tell them a thing or two?

If you are doing these things, then let me gently tell you this: you are just as far removed from Christmas as those who do not believe. You are not helping to plant any seeds for His kingdom by carrying yourself in that manner. Christmas is not about knowing God and keeping Him to yourself. This is a time of reflection, celebration, and thanksgiving. The next time someone says "Happy Holidays", there are a few things you can say. If you simply find yourself unable to be nice, a simple "thank you" is better than representing the rest of us in a poor manner. You could ask the person what holiday they celebrate and get to know them a little.

What God would really love for Christmas is for His children to get a long and treat each other with love (hmmm...parents, can you relate?). So, this season, lets join our Jewish friends in their Festival of Light and "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

If someone tells you Happy Holidays, one of the most powerful responses you can give them is this:

"Immanuel"!

God Is With Us.