Ah…the holidays are over. I know most people, and I guess me
included, really don’t like the upcoming few months of winter. But there is
something a little peaceful about the holiday chaos being over and staying warm
and cozy inside while the world is snow-covered and sparkly outside. I had a
wonderful holiday season. With having moved recently we had fewer Christmas
parties/functions/potlucks to attend/bring gifts/make dishes to pass, which
decreased the busy-ness and stress that sometimes comes with this season. While
I truly do love and enjoy all of those events and have a blast celebrating with others, it can be a lot and can take focus on the true
meaning of Christmas. We got to go back to Wisconsin again and visit family,
which was amazing. My family grew a lot this year, we added my sister’s new
husband, my brother’s fiancé, my brother’s dog, and of course, Oscar. (More people for this girl to drag into playing games with!) The more the merrier! And of course
Andy’s family and our extended families, so all was fun and refreshing and good
for the soul. I love you all!
It has majorly been on my heart and mind (as I’m sure is
true for many others as well) the last two years how far our focus can be from
what Christmas is all about. So many wonderful things happen—time with family
and friends, wonderful food, generous and thoughtful gifts…that these things
can seem like THE POINT of the holidays, which is so far from the truth. Christ
the Lord’s birth has changed the world for eternity, and that is what I feel I
fail to truly celebrate and focus my heart and mind on year after year. I have
been pondering being more intentional during the Advent season for the last few
years, but have never quite gotten into it. Right now I am working on making an
Advent calendar, which I’m hoping will help with our focus for next year. I
will also be praying and contemplating on how to simplify Christmas so the
important things become the focus. I think celebrating with family and friends
and sharing meals and gifts are wonderful things, don’t get me wrong. But I
just want my heart to first be focused on the miracle of my Lord’s birth.
So as Andy and I move into 2013 (does it take anyone else the whole month of January to get used to writing the new year for the date???), we join the rest of the
world in reevaluating our lives and priorities and make goals towards some sort
of improvement. For us, it's nothing big, and most are not even concrete goals, per say. Something about that
calendar turning marks a time for us to be able to hit some sort of a reset
button and try again. I know New Year’s resolutions are rarely kept up for very
long, and I think that’s okay. Even if we keep a resolution for just a few
weeks, but perhaps saw some sort of lasting (albeit small) change, then I think
that’s worth it. And I think it’s always good to challenge ourselves, while at
the same time, not expecting perfection out of our imperfect beings. And if I
become even a tiny bit more healthy, patient, generous, kind, or respectful, or
grow a little bit closer to God or take a small step in becoming who He created
me to be, then it’s totally worth it.
So Happy New Year to you all! (And Go Pack Go! First playoff game tonight!!!!!!!!!!)
Now for your viewing pleasure, a few photos...(I am NOT very diligent about photo taking...perhaps another 2013 resolution?)
{Stole this photo from Facebook. I would consider my family die-hard Packer fans}
{My brother and his lap dog Nona}
{Making our traditional Christmas breakfast for dinner}
{Oscar enjoying his Christmas gift from the Burtons}
{My crazy Vanevenhoven family playing a game we are much to old and big for}
{Another Facebook steal. And I promise Oscar is a real dog, even if he looks like a stuffed animal in this photo...he gets tired in the evening and stops using his muscles}
{And of course, Oscar, who we grow more attached to each day. This is him while working on training him to lay down. He's doing so good!}
