We both had strep throat right after Thanksgiving. Did I mention that? It really put me behind. But, we are having such a fun December. We had our first snow a few weeks back and Daniel was so excited. I woke him up for school saying, 'Look Daniel, it snowed!' He jumps out of bed and runs to the window. 'Mom, where's Santa?' (I guess he thought snow and santa went together) He insisted on wearing his mittens to eat breakfast. He was really excited - too bad we only had a dusting!
We have been telling Daniel the Christmas story. I got a kid's nativity at the book store and we look at the figures and talk through the basics. He definitely knows it's Jesus' birthday. I don't really know what he thinks is going to happen on Christmas. We don't talk about it much because I don't want to focus on the presents but it's everywhere. My eyes have really been opened to how much our culture focuses on presents - from the commercials on TV to the fact that everyone he sees asks him, 'What's Santa going to bring you for Christmas?'. I have been telling him that the reason we give presents on Christmas is because the Wise Men brought presents to Jesus. I don't know if he is making the connection.
We decided that we would tell him Santa fills his stocking, but all of the presents on Christmas morning are going to be from mom and pop. We are still a bit uncomfortable with encouraging the whole Santa thing but he already knew about Santa when he came to us, you see Santa everywhere, and we don't want him to feel left out. But, we want the presents to be from us. We felt that it would be hard to explain why Santa never brought him a present before and now all of a sudden he gets presents. So, Santa will fill the stocking with mostly candy and small items (that's what he got from Santa at the orphanage - candy) and the gifts (not too many, but enough) will be from mom and pop. I am so excited to see his reaction on Christmas! It is going to be such fun! I have really tried not to over do it in the gift department. It's so hard! I just want to get him everything and totally spoil him. Yeah, he is due a little spoiling but we don't want to ruin him! It's a fine line!
One Sunday Pop was sick and didn't go to church so I thought it was a good opportunity to introduce him to the joy of giving so I told him we were going to get a Christmas present for Pop and it would be a surprise! We went to the mall after church and picked out something great. I really talked it up that it was going to be a surprise so we can't tell pop. It's a secret until Christmas. We came home and found a great hiding place. A few hours after we were home, I popped my head into the bedroom to see how pop was feeling. He said, 'Apparently you got me a watch and it's a secret.' WHAT?? That little stinker marched right in there and told him immediately! I went to him and asked, 'what happened? I thought we were going to surprise pop?' He laughed and said, 'Mom, I'm silly!' OK - lesson learned for mom. Apparently 5 years old is too young for a secret. Oh well!
We wish you - all of our blog friends - a very Merry Christmas! As we work with Daniel on focusing on the true meaning of Christmas we hope that you can experience Christ in a fresh new way this year. I am reminded of a line in a song:
"His ways are higher, His ways are better - though sometimes strange. What could be stranger than God in a manger?"
We praise you Lord for your strange to us, but oh so brilliant ways! Thank you for sending your Son in a way that would make him approachable to anyone, from all walks of life. Thank you for sending Him in such a strange way that we would know it can only be a miracle from you. Thank you for moving in our lives and building our family in such a strange and beautiful way. I can't imagine a child that could be more perfect for us than Daniel Anatoly. It's been a strange, painful and surprising road. We are so humbled and blessed!
Merry Christmas!
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