A Merry Little Christmas

So...this Christmas was a little different than the ones past. No one seemed to get what they wanted, nothing seemed to be enough, nothing I did was appreciated and the boys were rude and hateful all day long.

As if.

Sorry. I know my being constantly happy with life and my kids has got to be boring and frustrating, so I thought I'd go a different route...only it wasn't true. :) Truth is, it was a great Christmas.

The Saturday before Christmas we attended the Christmas service for Fellowship. Casey had been working on the set for days and was very excited about all of us going. The music was great and, as usual, I cried with joy for being able to worship between my boys. I can really go through the tissues when the Spirit moves me. Sunday morning we attended The Potter's House, and what a service! I love going to The Potter's House, it's honestly like going home and I'm so happy to be able to take my kids to experience what church can be like. The distance is a pain in the butt...but it's worth the drive. There was an elderly lady sitting in front of us, decked out in fur coat and hat, that couldn't get enough hugs from my kids. It was pretty cool since they don't really have any grandparents that they see, it was nice for them to get that attention and affection from her. We all had a really great time.

Christmas eve was Charlie's birthday. My baby is now 17 years old. I don't know how that is possible, but he assures me it's true. He chose Walk Hard as his birthday movie and all I can say is, if it is even remotely possible, cross the theater, the road or the state line, but do what it takes to stay as far away from this film as possible. I believe I've witnessed how low someone will go to try to be funny...or to make money. The boys said they couldn't decide whether they liked it or not; they each said they'd laughed once or twice so they hated to write it off all together. Me...two laughs doesn't make a movie, besides, I didn't have those two laughs.

After the movie, a couple of his best buddies joined us at his favorite restaurant, Umeko's Sushi and Grill. I don't do sushi but they do have great kung pao shrimp, decently spicy when I ask for it to be triple spicy...but P.F. Changs is better. :)

Christmas morning I found a kid on each couch in the living room. Some things never change regardless of how old they get. I waited for them to get up...accidentally making a lot of noise in the kitchen...several times. No one was moving. Finally around 9'ish, after I'd made homemade cornbread (I've got to put the recipe up here, it's the best stuff ever) and had gone through a pot of coffee...when I couldn't take it anymore, I whispered in each of their ears that it was Christmas and time to GET UP! :)

First, the boys and I realize how blessed we are to have each other, and we know above all things that having love, trust and respect for one another is the best gift we can give as well as receive. Sounds corny, I know, but we discuss this. After what we've been through, we don't take it for granted. Though this was one of our 'least $$ spent' Christmas', it was one of our best. It was really good. The kids both got what they'd wanted; Charlie a tuner for his guitar and the (get ready for this) Snarling Dogs Bootzilla Bootsy Collins Signature Bass Wah with Fuzz Pedal and Casey new tires on his car. Done...with a few surprises under the tree. It was a wonderful Christmas. They'd each gotten me a candle (I don't know if I've ever shared that with y'all, but I love candles!) and Casey gave me a gift card to Border's Book Store and Charlie gave me a much needed car charger to a rather new phone. By mid afternoon, the house was full of kids, music and laughter. Good times.

It was great having four days off from work, but it was also great having a great job to go back to. Christmas, to me, was comprised of gifts of all the things I care about; we worshiped together, we gave each other much love and thanks and we were much blessed with Casey having made the Dean's List and my having a good job that I both enjoy and appreciate.

Christmas was very good at the Bratcher home.