Lonely time of year

I went lunch and the mall with my Dad today. It is an annual Father Daughter thing we do, we have lunch and then shop for my Mom. I love hanging out with my Dad, we certainly do not get as much time together as my Mom and I do, so I cherish the little moments we have and enjoy listening to a refreshing perspective on a lot of my life's little challenges (ie: Jaxon and Josh). We went to Macy's for the first gift and the sales clerk who helped us was a little...different. Jeff always teases me that I start conversations with the oddest people, and maybe he is right, but I swear I don't start them, the conversations find me. So we are in a conversation with this woman, who is spilling a little too much about her life mostly through envying my Parents marriage of 37 years, my family and my kids ages and of course the fact that she is there working and we are there shopping. I didn't think much about this conversation and my Dad and I parted ways while I did a little more shopping. A few stops later I am in the ladies room at JCPenny's with a woman who was changing her baby. I mentioned in passing that her daughter was so cute and turned to walk out and was immediately stopped by an ongoing conversation I had apparently solicited. I found out that this woman's Mom had just left and she was with her baby alone, she wasn't all that sad about it because she loves her baby, but she missed her Saturday nights out to look for a man. We chatted for a bit and after a long pause on my end I wished her a Merry Christmas and headed out. I was on the way to my car and was stopped by a man who was looking for the entrance to the mall. I pointed him in the right direction and he asked if I knew where the Microsoft store was, I told him the route to take and then he asked me if I wanted to join him for some coffee. I was totally thrown off guard at first, I politely thanked him and declined.

On my drive home I was really amazed as to how many total strangers I had encountered during my Mall experience, and honestly, I felt really sad. I felt sad that these people clearly need someone to talk to, a friend, a spouse, a family member, someone to just make them feel special, needed and loved. It made me think about my life and how much my children need me and love me, how I have amazing friends to talk with and that love me and that I have a Husband who might not always like me but deep down I know he loves me.

So Thank you...anyone who is reading this, not sure anyone does, but THANK YOU for loving me and being there for me... AND next time someone starts talking to you randomly remember they may not have someone special like you do and help make them feel a little special if only for a minute. Merry Christmas!!! xoxoxo

Tis the Reason....

I love Christmas, I love the music, the smells the decorations the hustle bustle and I love having kids and watching them LOVE Christmas. I am however having trouble with my children believing that Santa is the one we celebrate and I know I do not do anything to help that. Don't get me wrong, we go to church, we read about Jesus, tell the story of Joseph and Mary, talk about Jesus birthday and NONE of this seems to trump the man in the red suit. Looking around my house I have Santa's and Snowmen EVERYWHERE, we have two Christmas tree's a Santa Train and a Lego Advent Calendar....and we do have Jesus in a Nativity Scene, but he is small and in the Living Room where we don't spend a lot of time.

I know decorating is not the problem, it is more how Jeff and I are living and teaching our children....but apparently we need some help. I love that Jaxon is going to a Christian PreK right now, he comes home and tells me the bible verse of the month and will talk about Jesus, well until we talk about Christmas and then his focus changes to presents and Santa. I know there are some Missions we could get involved with to teach our kids about the true meaning, but I am afraid they are too young and it just wouldn't sink in. For now, I will rely on our Church and friends to help out and possibly get a few more Jesus decorations for next year.