Every year the complaints surface. We hate what Christmas has become. We are exhausted and overspent. We ate too much. Our kids won’t play with half of what they get before they break it or grow out of it. We don’t need any more socks and ties and underwear. (Unless you’re my husband who needs… Continue reading we need a little advent right this very minute
“So this is Christmas. And what have you done? Another year older. Gee, this ain’t fun!” Loosely adapted from some song I heard once on the radio. I said that 2012 was an awkward Christmas. It’s true. What I didn’t say is how 2013 was this crazy chaotic blessing of an occasion with sugar plum… Continue reading on step-Christmases and evil stepmoms
It was Christmas 2012. It was awkward. Can I say that now, four years later? Is it too soon? Oh well. I’m saying it. For those who remember us, Rob and I were getting married that year, Dec. 29th. We weren’t married yet. There were still last minute details. There were some questions to be… Continue reading Christmas is for broken families
Have you ever gotten a gift that just wasn’t really for you? Maybe it was from a distant relative who doesn’t know you at all and didn’t really bother to figure out something that you would actually use. Maybe it was something you already had or the exact same thing you got from them last… Continue reading when Christmas isn’t for you
Nothing says Christmas like the fresh pine tree in the living room. My girls, ages 3 and 19 months, are both perplexed by it and thrilled by it. The lights – well half the lights, because we ran out of lights and haven’t had a chance to buy more yet – are mesmerizing to their… Continue reading on newness and pine trees – an advent story
