Down Time with My Family

It is sad to me that Christmas is over. While it is sad, I'm praying that my spirit can try and hold on to the thoughts and feelings this Christmas brought me a few days, weeks or months longer. I hadn't planned on taking down the Christmas tree because it was just so pretty and enjoyable to see in our house. Sitting around with not too much to do and no where to go, I decided, however, that it would be a good time to go ahead and take down the Christmas tree and all the arrangements and pack them all nicely away. If I hadn't of done it, I would surely be stressed one evening after work, after dinner, homework and transferring kids to and fro trying to fit in taking down all the Christmas things.

With the help of my whole family, just as the beautiful colors and arrangements went up, one by one they came down. Once we started things began to come back together very nicely. We rearranged the furniture a little bit and cleaned up a lot. That is one thing about having more time at home, it is so much easier to make the time clean out closets, cabinets, refrigerators, attics, garages, behind furniture, etc. I'm certain that my husband and children do not always enjoy having a lot of down time at home because I always find things to fill in the time.

I want to be sure that I take time to play with the kids and enjoy time just being still though. I think I did that this Christmas. We played several games together, colored pictures together, shopped, watched lots of movies, ate plenty of meals and goodies...we have had a great time. Why is it that it takes getting 3 or 4 days off in a row for families to force themselves to find time to slow down and be together or for people to find the time to do work around the house?! I feel a lot better when things are picked up and organized better. That is a whole other story...

Thank you Jesus for my time with my family today. Thank you for connecting us together and moving us to love and to help one another this weekend and over the holiday break. The break isn't quite over yet. Thank you for my rest.