Dec. 21st

Holiday.  I really hate that word. I refuse to tell people "happy holidays".  I refuse to buy cards that say "have a good holiday" or "hope your holiday is merry".  I feel very strongly about this.  And I get it.  I honestly get that there are people who don't believe in Jesus, who don't celebrate His birth, who celebrate Hannukah (am not sure how to spell that) or santa or whatever else there is this month.  But to me, this holiday is a celebration of Christ's birth.  His birth.  That is why Christmas is here.  That is my belief and I feel I have the right to tell people "Merry Christmas".
So Merry Christmas to all of you!

Dec. 20th

I was sitting at church today which just so happens to meet in a school cafeteria and I noticed some pictures on the wall that kids had colored in.  They were pictures of santa, christmas trees with presents underneath, and teddy bears.  For some reason it really struck me how empty it all was.  Christmas without Christ.  What is the point?  Presents? pine trees to cut down and put in your house and decorate? It is all meaningless if you take Jesus out of the picture.  So empty and sad.  I can't even imagine.  That was how I celebrated Christmas the first 8 years of my life.  I do remember it and yet still can't imagine it.  I also remember the let down, you know after all the presents are unwrapped and you look around and there is nothing else.  That's it.  Because you have built up this great santa giving, present getting purpose and once it is over, it's over.  All the excitement is gone, all the build up.  Okay you get my point.
But now, now I have Jesus.  His birth, His life, His death even and most importantly, His resurrection.  I get that hope.  The hope that comes with Christmas.  The hope for something more than this life.  There is something more than this life.  This life that can be so hard and full of so many disappointments, this is not all there is.  And I am so glad for that hope.  That hope I can pass to my children.
So this week, with all the hustle and bustle of trying to get everything perfect, every present wrapped, every goody baked, every dustbunny dusted...I am not.  I am not going to let it get to me.  I am going to keep my focus on what brought us to this "holiday".  The birth of my Saviour.  Because, when He was born, everything changed.  My life changed because of His birthday.  My Christmas changed once I learned the truth.  And I am so thankful for that truth!

Dec. 20th

5 days until Christmas.  It's so hard to believe how quickly this month goes by.  Before we know it, it will be over.  The tree will be taken down, decorations put away, treats eaten, presents opened.
But the true reason for Christmas is eternal, never ending.  Jesus coming as a precious baby, our Savior is an amazing gift.  Something to remember and be thankful for every day of our lives.

Dec. 17th

Today was not a good keeping in the spirit of the season kind of day.  So am going to look at the brief bright sides in my day:
having impromptu "coffee" with a friend whom I haven't seen in awhile
wrapping presents (I do really love giving gifts)
watching Elf - for the first time.  Am not sure it will become a classic for me but pretty funny
hearing son sing songs about Jesus-this one is the best
having my kids actually play together without fighting-granted they played loudly which I really wasn't up for  
    but at least they were getting along
That's it.  All I got for today.
Maybe tomorrow will be brighter:-)

Dec. 16th

You know one of the things I love most about working?  Especially on wednesdays when my husband is home with the kids?  Is coming in the door and having all the kids so excited to see me and hug me and tell me about their days.  That is something that is usually reserved for husbands.  Let me tell you, it feels great.
I know this is another post sort of about work, but once again it is late and I am tired.  I am also grateful at this moment for my bed and the fact that I don't have to work tomorrow.  So maybe I will get to sleep in a little.

Dec. 15th

I can hardly believe it is the middle of December already. 
So yesterday I sort of went off on a tangent.  I started talking about being thankful for my job and then got a little defensive.  I am working on that. 
I am going to go back to the subject of my job though because I didn't really get to the point I was trying to make yesterday.  That happens when I am tired.  So here goes try number 2.
I am grateful for a career that God has blessed me with that I enjoy.  I have seen lots of people go to work every day not liking what they do.  For whatever reason they got into the job they have, whether it was for the money, or lack of education or lack of other job availability.  When I was in high school thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I had to pick a job that I would like.  My dad is an architect.  He became an architect b/c it was a smarter decision money-wise than being an art teacher.  But it wasn't a wiser decision than being happy.  I knew I would never pick a job just for the money.  Because if you are going to spend thousands of hours of your life doing something you should enjoy doing it. 
I am grateful that I got to this place.  It was hard getting to be a physical therapist.  It is hard right now trying to get an extra certification.  But God helped me and is helping me all the way.  Someday, maybe I will even own a clinic.  I don't know what path He has for me.  But I know to trust Him with it.  And I am truly grateful that He put something on my heart to do that I enjoy.

Dec. 14th

Being a working mom has its advantages and disadvantages.  There is a big movement for women to stay home.  I get that.  I do think it is important for kids to be raised by their parents and not in daycare all the time.  But I also know that God gives us a calling.  Some women are born to be stay at home moms.  It comes naturally.  They love volunteering at their kids' school or home schooling, doing craft projects, taking them places, all that stuff that goes along being with your kids 24/7.  Then there are women, like me.  I do feel like I was born to be a mom.  But I also feel I was born to be a physical therapist.  I often get a look from Christians when they find out I work.  Like they feel sorry for me b/c we can't make ends meet and I have to work.  But that is not necessarily the case.  God put that calling on my heart in high school and it stuck with me through thick and thin.  It took 2 years for me to get into graduate school.  The second time I applied, I only got on a waiting list and I was literally like 124 on that list.  Pretty dismal odds.  I told my husband that I was giving up on school and we were going to have kids.  That was it.  I was done.  Then I got a call.  From the school, saying I was accepted and did I want to join their class of 2002?  It was truly a miracle for me.  Truly God's will.  Especially b/c it meant moving across the country to a place that was scary (Philly) and without knowing a soul. 
But I digress.  My point is, while I love being a mom.  I love being a PT.  It comes naturally to me most of the time.  When someone walks in my office, in pain, barely walking and I can provide immediate relief of their symptoms.  That is a good day.  A day I know what I am doing is right.  Yes, I am torn.  It is hard not being there for my kids every day.  But I know I am a better mom b/c of my job.  It might sound selfish and writing it/thinking it sometimes sounds selfish.  Yet, I know what it took for me to get to the place where I am.  It took God.  It took His gift.  It took His plan.  His courage.   I am pretty sure I never would have made it to this place alone.