What a month!!!

How does the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas fly by so quickly???  We even had extra time this year due to Thanksgiving being earlier in the month and I still don't know where the time went...

Some things have been different this season. 

This is the first year I've had 2 youth groups, so we brought the 2 groups together for a Christmas party.  This was the first time we had an activity with these two groups and the first time I tried a Christmas party with more than one group.  It was fun and the 2 groups intermingled very well.  I was proud of them and think they really enjoyed the evening.  However, I think it was a good example of quantity over quality.  39 youth attended and I'm not sure I even got to speak to each of them personally.  At one point I turned to Kyle and asked if he could clone me!  I just couldn't be everywhere I wanted to at once.

I was surprised how much calmer Christmas was when we delivered the toys to families in our communities.  I thought it would be more difficult, but the whole process had very little stress.  Really, the only stress I noticed was when we saw a tiny pile of toys and a long list of names, but the Lord provided and we had gifts for all of our kids and youth!  The process went smoothly and provided for many good visits with parents in their homes.  I agree that doing it this way was a much better setting for ministry than the traditional toy stores.  We had a wonderful turnout of volunteers the last night of deliveries.  I know they came to share the love of Jesus and minister to residents in the apartments - which they did! - but in the process they also ministered to me.  It means so much to have extra people out in my community sharing Christ!

Now it's only December 21st and we are finished!  Tomorrow I will load my cat in the car (which he hates) and drive to my parents' house.  I cannot remember spending a Christmas Eve at home.  I've always been working or traveling.  I'm really looking forward to having a couple days before Christmas to prepare for the rest of the family to arrive rather than rushing in a the last second.  I've been missing my family more than usual this month.  I'm grateful for some extra time to spend with them.

Merry Christmas!