Christmas Magic

Have you seen the magic of Christmas this year?  It is all around us, just waiting to be found.  We just returned from a 4-day family trip to Cannon Beach and I saw it there.  What a rare blessing to have all six of our children together in one place.  My parents and my brother, who rarely travel due to their age and health issues, were able to spend a night with us at the home we rented and their faces reflected how much they needed the Christmas magic that was there. The everyday worries were replaced by magic of being in the presence of the ones who know you best, share your history and walk beside you in the everyday journey. We walked on the beach, shopped, played games together, and of course, ate sinfully delicious food.

The magic is everywhere if you choose to see it.  We learned that our children met secretly last weekend for a photo session so they could present the pictures as gift to us.  When the "big girls" invited Josh, Levi and Angie for a sleepover, we thought they just wanted to spend time together:)  Kaeley, who is an amazing photographer, took the pictures and even managed to get in them herself.  If you are a parent of children, who all grow up way too fast, you know how precious this gift of Christmas magic is to us.  Priceless.  Here are a few of my favorites:

The Christmas magic is everywhere.  It is in the people around us.  This week, our school had a number of cancellations due to the weather.  Angie's kindergarten class missed their field trip to see Santa at the Castle and the disappointment was felt all over town.  Leave it to Ms. Stafford to make sure the kids did not miss their date with Santa.  The class was supposed to make-up the visit on Friday and (wouldn't you know?) school was cancelled again.  Ms. Stafford worked her magic and we received a phone call that the visit was on if parents could get their kids to the Castle.  Could you ever feel the magic in that room!  Angie was thrilled to see her "school friends" as she calls them and to tell Santa what she would like for Christmas.  She won the Bingo game, making the day complete.  Christmas magic is alive-you just have to look for it.

I have not forgotten the real reason to celebrate the Christmas season.  Jesus came to save us as a tiny infant.  He humbled Himself so we could see and believe.  The miracle of His birth is beyond my human understanding but I trust His perfect plan without question.  I believe the Christmas magic that is all around is a sign of His perfect love for us.  An opportunity to set aside our everyday worries for a moment and focus on all that is good and right.  Look around you and see if you agree.