A Joyful Christmas

Christmas was wonderful! Evan, Jill, the kids & I left late Wednesday afternoon for Nova Scotia. In a daring attempt, we decided to drive through the night, and arrived home exhausted & happy at four o’clock Thursday morning. I’ve never driven that late or that long, and in the last two hours found myself wishing that I could just drive my car into the roadside ditch, because then I’d be able to close my eyes! It sure was worth it, though, when we woke up already home on Thursday!

On Friday we went in to see Grandpa & Grandma. The kids did really well, and I think that G & G really enjoyed watching the next generation of Joneses. Dad had the brilliant idea that after the kids went to on Christmas Eve, the adults should open their presents, and that Christmas morning would be filled with watching Jed & Chloe open gifts, and then opening stockings. The five of us adults had a fabulous time sitting around the living room, watching each other’s happiness as gifts were opened. Darren and Sara had sent up a video of their kids, so we all watched that, and it was like they were there as well.

Christmas morning was the traditional bedlam of wrapping paper and screams of delight. Jed is at such a fun age to watch, and he truly enjoyed everything that was going on. Chloe was gratifyingly one & a half, and her face would light up as each new thing was unwrapped. She’d then waddle off to find something else. Tucker happily sat on laps and bestowed smiles on all who took the time to look his way.

Each time I would check my email I would get notes from friends who were reveling in the joy of family and more than that, the realization of what an incredible gift God gave us in the form of His Son. Earlier this season I heard on the radio that at Christmas time we tend to focus too much on Jesus coming as a baby, and not enough on the reason that He came, to redeem us all. Throughout this season I’ve been trying to focus on my gratitude of all that Jesus did, not just in being willing to come as a child, but being willing to go through all that He did in order to bring me home with Him, in God’s perfect time. What a gift!