Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas friends! I didn't do a great job of blogging or taking pictures of Christmas this year. Here are a few from all of our Christmases:

Wrenley with her cousins Peyton and River at the Garrett Christmas.

Wrenley at her school Christmas party.

Maggie Mae, the Christmas dog

Ready for our church Christmas program!

Just a little angel, casually waiting.

Four generations of strong women.

Grammy with Savvy and Wrenley.

They are best friend cousins💓

Wrenley got a little crazy with her stickers.

They have been missing each other since school has been out.

My family with Grammy (and Toby)

My Grammy with all of her kids/spouses minus one.

One of the only pictures I took at my parents.

Trey got a pair of Ugg slippers. 

Wrenley got a new baby and stroller from Nanny and Pop

On Christmas Eve we traveled to have Christmas with Carl's family. They are about an hour and a half away. We took Carlie and Wrenley with us because Caleb was on shift. I think we watched the little mermaid 2.5 times because I forgot to put more movies in the car!

Wrenley with her cousins, Carter and Cooper

The weather was in the mid 70's so the kids were able to go outside and play.

There were 3 other little girls there Wrenley was drawn to the boys!

All of the cousins

When we made it back to our house Carl had to get busy putting Wrenley's Barbie house together.

All is calm, not for long!

Our Annual Christmas Pancake Breakfast

She played all morning long :)

Carlie, Caleb, and Wrenley left around 12:30 or 1 to go to Caleb's parents. I remember saying when they left, "whew, I made it". Because while we had a great Christmas, I felt like I was just going through the motions. I just had a hard time finding my Christmas spirit. And as a believer in Christ, that really bothered me. As Christians, we often feel an unspoken pressure to be overflowing with joy at Christmas. After all, it's all about Jesus. So when the feelings don't match the season, it can create guilt on top of exhaustion or grief.

Here's a gentle truth: the first Christmas wasn't emotionally easy or festive for the people living it. Mary was overwhelmed and uncertain. Joseph was confused and afraid. Isreal was weary from waiting (hundreds of years of silence). Jesus was born not into sparkle, but into humility, disruption, and darkness. And yet, that is exactly where God showed up. Sometimes the Christmas spirit doesn't look like cheer. Sometimes it looks like showing up anyway. Whispering a prayer instead of singing loudly; choosing faith over feelings.

You don't have to feel joyful to honor Christ. You don't have to be festive to be faithful.  You don't have to manufacture wonder--Jesus already came. The Christmas message isn't "feel happy." It's God with us--even when we're tired, numb, grieving or simply worn thin.

Sometimes Christmas is loud joy. Sometimes it's quiet trust. Both are holy. 

Much Love,

Beth