Merry Christmas!

Well, Dusty kindly reminded me today that my two weeks is up. (And then added that whatever would be written after such a sabbatical should be especially good.) I don't know that I will measure up, or in reality that I ever have... but my kids give me great stuff to share, and I've been tucking the encounters away... so I'll jump back in. I was able to take a needed break from updating, but I had to keep checking everyone else's posts. I love this realm!!... and the connections it provides. What a blessing! Hope you all had a merry Christmas!

Christmas morning was wonderful. To be honest, I had been caught up in the seasonal stress that I didn't need to be, and was dreading it. I never thought I'd feel that way, but I felt like what I was giving wasn't going to be that good and I still had gone over budget to do it! Details and busy-ness had worn me down, and I'm embarrassed to say, but I was just tired and had lost the spirit of the season in all the details.

But with the early morning came the whispers and the quiet running down the hall. Whispers turned to gasps of excitement and raised voices exclaiming Santa HAD come! We were summoned out of bed, and urged to hurry through breakfast. (Who needs food on such a morning!? Really?) Priceless urgings...:-)

So we exchanged gifts, but after just a couple, Eli sat down calmly, and looking thoughtful, began to speak to all of us. Now talking is not unusual in our house, but his tone caught our attention and slowly everyone stopped what they were doing and all eyes were on him.

"You know, I've decided that this year, I am about the giving.
I mean, in the past, it's been all about getting stuff. And it's not that I don't like getting stuff, because I do.
But I think I'm learning that Christmas really isn't about the getting, but the giving. It's what it's all about.
So this year, I want to be about giving. I don't want to ask for any presents or say I want mine next, but I will wait until someone tells me to go get one, and I want to pass out presents to everyone else. Because that is what Christmas is about."

I can't remember all else he said, but it was enough that when he got done, he had sucked the air out of the room and my mom and Jason had tears in their eyes. I can't make up moments like that. But they humble me and make me so thankful for how God works in that little boy's heart already.

Of course, he has a humorous side too. Julia got an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. When Eli saw it, was fascinated because he had seen one at his school collected for a toy drive.

"Oh wow! They had one of those at my school for the poor kids. I guess an oven's a good thing. Except that they'd just be able to eat desert. But maybe they'd like that best anyway."

He was so sincere in thinking through it all that we couldn't help but smile.

I'm still working on posting some info from the Autism and Asperger's Conference I went to, and in true "Angie Fashion" will have some books to give away soon... But I'm getting caught up... and have missed blogworld!


Merry Christmas!