Packages. My Christmas Letter to You!

Well here we are today on the only day where I let my kids eat green and red holiday Skittles before breakfast.  I also wanted to see how many would be brave enough to post a picture of their living rooms after presents were shredded open. It looks as though I appear to be the only one. As big of a mess as it looks, I'm not one of these parents who goes crazy with shopping each year. It only seems as such because there are seven of us.
    The kids were happy, none the less, with dollar tree items, a few nicer things they had requested from Santa and all of us received new socks with, once again, good intentions of not ending up in the ever growing so quickly misfit bag. I have tried to keep everyone fairly up to date on all of our family happenings this year to include, a summer vacation, a visit to my place of heritage and anything having to do with volleyball. However, there were other things not mentioned that happened this year that I found to be memorable and even perhaps, presents that cannot be wrapped.

Rebecca, 15:

Has autism and made the Honor Roll after the first semester of her sophomore year.
Took me to see "Mocking Jay" and "Spiderman."
Got baptised.

Madeline, 14:

Let me borrow her cowboy boots, earbuds and hair straightener.
Had meaningful conversations with me instead of her iphone even if she didn't feel like it.
Cleaned her room. Twice!

Emma, 9:

Trips to the pottery studio with me on Saturdays.
Became best buddies with her older sister whom she used to fight with.
Still wants to sit on my lap at age 9.

Laurel, 6 :

Climbs in bed with me on Saturday mornings.
Puts her dirty cups and plates in the sink on her own.
Brought home a good conduct grade after being nice to the boys for a change.

Deidre, 3:

Sings the song "Let it Go" for us.
Discovered what the green frog on the bathroom floor was all about.
Didn't choke on a hot dog.

I, for one, celebrated a 20th wedding anniversary, saw an old friend that I had not seen since high school and found my college graduation tassel that I had been looking for. I didn't make a Christmas list this year but if I had, I can now say that I have received everything on it.

On this night of hope and salvation
One child lies embraced in a dream
Where each man regardless of station
On this night can now be redeemed

All rejoice
Raise your voices
Raise your voices
All rejoice, Anno Domine -Trans Siberian Orchestra


Merry Christmas!
Mike, Sam and the Fair Fab Five                            

Space Heater

Each morning after the kids are gone and the house is quiet, I go to my room and begin what I consider to be the most important part of my day. I have a rocking chair, a cup of coffee and a space heater. As a cold natured person, the space heater keeps me warm as my mind begins to sort out all the details of my very colorful world for that day. However, I don't stay in the rocking chair for long before I get on my knees.

It takes about an hour to pray through everything. A lot of it is the same as it was yesterday since I have the same kids, work and marriage I had yesterday. However, there are certain times throughout the day I don't always consider beyond the space heater where divine intervention is needed. I have a lot to be thankful for but when it comes to prayer, there are some things of which I'm not afraid to ask.

Mail

As I walk to the mail box each day, I sometimes feel a twinge of nerves as there is always a chance for an unexpected bill or a violation notification from our HOA. As a result, going to the mail box can change the course for the entire day. However, good things can also come from checking the mail. I always welcome the inexpected check from the insurance company or the 5$ coupon to Publix. Either way, prayer is needed as I walk to my mail box.

Deer

For work purposes, I am in my car a lot. Years ago, I ran over a frog on a country road going to teach. I felt really bad about it. Even in my denial, I checked the road very carefully the next day in the off chance that I may have dodged it but unfortunatly, there he was flat on the road. It was my first roadkill. Some days later, on that same road lie a deer and a teacher friend of mine on her way to work sobbing on the road's shoulder. Her car was damaged and we all spent the day trying to comfort her. From this day forward, I prayed that that would never happen to me and so far it hasn't.

Ian

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the UK. I have been there twice and plan to return in 2016 (if not sooner). But in the mean time, I still study maps, cook fish and chips and educate myself more about the culture anyway I can. One afternoon while feeling bold and daring I replied to a tweet by one of my favorite bloggers. It was kind of like daring myself to squeeze the ketchup bottle all over the shy kid across the table in the cafeteria. This blogger got a good dose of my ketchup all the way across the pond through cyberworld. He's a complete stranger and I had the nerve to tell him God loves him after a sarcastic comment that was religious in nature. His reply: "@samantha_fair I doubt a fictitious character from a fairy story loves anyone." On my knees by the heater, I pray for him everyday.



A few other things come to mind such as when the key to my music room gets stuck, when I lose my glasses, that God would bless our entrance before we walk into the house when our teenagers have been in charge for a couple of hours, and that I will never get Bell's Palsy.

I run the space heater a lot and have for several years now. Like most of our appliances it should have worn out by now but hasn't.

  .......I pray about that too.


1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.