Just a Stable

I should be cleaning this messy apartment instead of blogging, but my cleaning gene just hasn't kicked in yet...so it's virtually useless in trying because I'll keep finding things to keep me distracted. So, I figured I'd just make myself useful and post a blog instead! The towels will eventually get folded and the dishes will eventually get put away. At least, they better! I leave for "home" in two days and Florida in five! And I would love nothing better than to come home to a nice, fresh, clean house when I get back in January. There is just so much to do between now and then!

One thing I really want to get done is post pictures of my latest DIY projects. I've made homemade Christmas ornaments as Christmas gifts as well as sugar body scrubs. Pinterest-inspired, of course. So I thought I might dedicate my next two posts to information about those little projects. I'm very proud of them. I've even had offers for people to buy the scrubs off me! Oh, and I made the cutest little wreath. Well, it's almost like a wreath~it's a snowman made of wreaths! So I'll make that a third future post. :)

I swear, if I had more time I'd devote it to making crafts & projects and selling them on Etsy. But my life is consumed with student recruiting, resolving student issues, class preparation, and teaching. My job seriously is a 24-hour job. The only way I can get away from it is to turn the cell phone off and/or disable email from coming to my phone. It's a non-stop flow of emails and telephone calls. I've had calls as late as 12:30am! Obviously I was asleep and didn't answer, but still, it's exhausting. I keep telling myself one day I'll have time to do all the things I want to do with my time--the crafts and the decorating and all that fun stuff...one day. Until that day, I will have to settle with the occasional Christmas or birthday gift and be content. At least then I can assure myself that I won't get burnt out on it and not enjoy it anymore. Right? Right. There's an upside to every down!

All the peacefulness of the season is starting to dissipate for me and the madness is starting to ensue. I have a total of 4 gifts wrapped. Five left to put finishing touches on...maybe I'll do that tonight instead of clean? ha. Then about 20 or so to get wrapped and put under my tree for a few days before boxing them up and taking them to MC with me. But even while the madness ensues, all I really need to do is stop for a moment, take a look at the pretty little abstract angel that adorns the top of my beautifully lit Christmas tree, and remind myself of the wonderful reason for this beautiful season. The Savior of my life, Jesus Christ. Born in a stable because there just wasn't room in the inn.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is hearing one of the men in my family read the Christmas story before we open gifts...usually my dad. "And it came to pass that in those days...." The beginning words of Luke, Chapter 2, Verse 1. Those words signify the beginning of the Christmas story. It means that it's time for us to settle down in our chairs (or the floor), get comfortable surrounded by the ones who mean the most, and listen to the simple story of the birth of Jesus. That moment is and always will be so precious to me. I hope that as you are hustling and bustling around...buying those last minute Christmas gifts, attending that Christmas pageant that you almost forgot about, traveling near and far to visit family...whatever it may be...my hope and prayer is that you stop and remember that's it's not about Santa Claus and his elves and it's not about the gifts we give or receive....it's about the divine, Jesus Christ, born of Mary, entering this world on the floor of a barn.

Source

"Just a stable. A simple stable. Soon a star will shine and angel choirs will sing. Just a stable. A simple stable. And God has chosen it tonight to shelter a KING." 

Keep that in mind as you go about your busy days that leave you weary and frustrated. It could always be worse and when it can't, it's gotta get better!