This year was a different Christmas for us. We didn't get to incorporate very many Christmas traditions like we normally do since all of our belongings are in storage. I think it was a bit harder for me than for the Hootie Hoos, so I guess I did a good job keeping my emotions under control. I missed Chris and I pulling out our Christmas tree, lights and decorations. Staying up decorating the tree, but waiting to put the star on top once all the Hooties could be there. I missed changing out the Hooties' pictures on their stocking holders. I missed seeing the stocking hanging from the mantle. I missed reading all of our Christmas books (The Legend of the Christmas Stocking, The Legend of the Candy Cane, The Legend of the Christmas Tree, etc.) and doing crafts with the Hootie Hoos. I missed having our advent wreath and teaching the Hooties about hope, love, joy and peace. I missed lighting the Christ candle on Christmas Eve and letting it burn all day on Christmas. I missed having our 12 Days of Christmas box that we start on the day after Christmas to learn about the Christian meaning for each gift given. We have had to be creative this year. Instead of having our stockings we used pillow cases. I tried to make it special by getting an ornament that represented each Hootie. Josiah got a dolphin since he is SO interested in dolphins. Sophie got a UNC polar bear since she LOVES polar bears. The UNC part fit perfectly since we are living in NC. Kyrie got a tiger since she is a BIG Daniel Tiger fan. Tobias got a lion since he went crazy for it while we were shopping for ornaments! We wanted to do the 12 Days of Christmas with the Hooties, so I have found some crafts and coloring pages to do with the Hooties. Even though we don't have our book, we are still taking time each day to go over each verse of the song with them and teaching them about each gift given.
Through this season, the Lord has been teaching me that I don't need all of these things to make CHRISTmas special for the Hootie Hoos. I have learned that traditions are good, but if they become more important than worshiping the One who came, then I don't have my priorities in the right order. So, next year when we are settled into our new place, I look forward to continuing our traditions, but I know my heart will be in a different place than it was last year when we celebrated CHRISTmas.
Here are a few pictures from our CHRISTmas morning:
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| Our Christmas pillow stockings |
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| Opening their stockings |
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| SUPER excited to get these...she has talked non-stop about them since she saw them in the store |
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| Excited about Legos...even more excited that it was a train! |
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| He is getting so big! |
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| Waiting to open presents |
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| Love this Hootie... |
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| ...and this one... |
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| ...and this one... |
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| ...and this one! |
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| He was SO excited to see this car in the store...and even more excited to play with it |
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| Opening baby accessories...so excited to have a crib, car seat, etc. to use while taking care of her babies |
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| Opening up his Ziggle from Pa T and Lin-Lin |
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| Opening up her construction outfit that she has wanted since seeing in the store. |
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