Friday, December 31, 2010

Christmas Eve...

This year was our first year to attend our church's Christmas Eve service. Since we have never been to this particular service, we were unaware of a few key items. Like they actually do have the nursery available for our kids and about a million people show up to the service and arriving early is actually very necessary. However, we arrived late and brought all three kids with us to the very packed service. After running into our best friends---we are very blessed to have the Montoya family in our lives...not only are the parents our great friends, but their kids are best friends with our kids---on their way to joining the family choir for the service, we managed to make it into the service with no child crying or losing something that they brought. However, once the service started...things began to crumble. Spenser enjoyed the music, however, just couldn't handle that he had to be quiet and was not able to move around. Chloe started crying because she could not see her best friend, Lydia. Olivia started crying because it was time to eat....luckily she takes a bottle, so I was able to stay in the service and not leave to nurse her. However, Joul had to take Spenser out of the service and I was left by myself: I was feeding Olivia and trying to console a crying Chloe. Then I had to deal with the annoying teenagers behind me who were extremely disrespectful during the entire service. They began to mock the candlelight singing and their parents did nothing. It was very hard for me because I was not getting what I thought and had predetermined what I needed from the service. However, looking back I would not change a thing. This was my family...perfect or not....it was all mine. God had decided to bless me with three wonderful children and one amazing husband.

Although not everything runs smoothly all the time....I am thankful for the blessings in my life. I am thankful that my curious five year old has begun asking questions about what it means to believe in God. I am thankful that my "all boy" son has been talking and singing and loving his mommy. I am thankful that my pudgy baby girl enjoys her sleep and continues to give me sleep all night. I am thankful that my crazy husband loves me and supports me and makes me laugh. Because He lives....

God sent his Son they called him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know he holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He Lives

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days because He lives

And then one day I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he lives