Looking Ahead

It isn't even Thanksgiving yet and I am already looking ahead to Christmas. It is, by far, my favoriate of all holidays. Seeing our neighbor's houses all lit up, listening to Bing Crosby and Harry Connick, Jr.... mmmmmmmmm. I love it. Give me some warm cider and a quilt and my life is complete. ;)

Of course, I don't often slow down for that long - not enough to really enjoy it. But, it sounds good and it's something I can strive for. I am, by nature, a body in motion. It is actually very hard for me to relax... to sit still... to just ... BE.

Back to my thoughts on Christmas...

My daughters and I are going to do something a little different this Christmas. Instead of putting every ornament we own on the tree and praising God that it doesn't fall over, we are going to make all of our ornaments and garland this year. I have actually started to hand-crochet a red garland and my youngest, Kaley, is going to work on another chain. We are going to make ornaments out of yarn, dough, gingerbread, paper and anything else we can put our hands on.

I want to feel the hope and joy that IS Christmas. I want to touch my children with time, love, warmth and simplicity. I want to give them happiness and the wonder of creativity.

Each year, when we decorate our tree, I play Christmas music. We sing along and add our ornaments, reflecting on which one came from where and who gave us what... Each year ties us closer together just as it reminds us of our ties to the past. We have several strings of garland from my Dad's mom (the girls' great-grandmother). I have ornaments that my aunt gave me when I was a child.

There should be more meaning in the things we do every day. We exist, but we often do not LIVE. When we can tie our actions to specific goals, such as improving relationships, enhancing our minds, doing for others... then we become more real, more alive.

This Christmas, when we put the ornaments on the tree, we won't be thinking so much of the past as we will the "here and now". But we will be building memories for the future. We will always remember this Christmas as the "homemade tree holiday".

I look forward to looking back.

~Carla

Family Vacation in Branson, MO

If you have never taken a family vacation in Branson, MO, you need to consider making plans now for a fun-filled trip to one of the craziest and most enjoyable places in the midwest. Our family just returned from an action-packed trip - so much so that we need a vacation from our vacation.

One of the highlights is Silver Dollar City. We went on roller coasters, ate food that we'd never fix at home (funnel cakes) and went on rides that got us wetter than if we had simply taken a bath with our clothes on. It was wonderful - especially for our children. Our oldest daughter turned 16 while at the amusement park during the trip and our youngest is 8 years old, so no matter how old your children are, they will have a great time.

The best part, in my opinion, is that it is a park filled with family fun and family values. You don't hear foul language. If someone bumps into you, they apologize. The experiences your children are exposed to are wholesome. It's a delight.

Take your next vacation in a place you'll remember forever as one of the best vacations you ever took.