(While looking through some old photos last week, I came across our Christmas pictures from last year. And since they somehow never made it into a blog post, I thought I'd add them here!)
When I think back on our Christmases as a family, they are all so unique. Some went exactly as planned, some were over the top, some less than minimal. But all of them were memorable in their own way.
There was the year we brought Jack home from Ukraine. We arrived at our house two days after Christmas and sweet friends from our church had a Christmas tree up and decorated for our new family! A few years later, we were awaiting the adoption of Max. And in an effort to keep life simple, we didn't even have a tree... just a stocking for Jack and his presents. The year before we left America was the first year I got really serious about making traditions and memories with the boys. That month was filled with advent stories, Gingerbread houses, crafts, and all things Christmas!
And then we moved to India. The first year- let's face it- I was homesick. I realized in December that I had not packed a single Christmas decoration. And despite trying to make all things merry and bright, it was just hard! I longed to sit at my mom's dining room table, admire my familiar Christmas decorations, and wait patiently on the sidewalk for the coming parade. None of those things occurred, and my heart just struggled.
But last year was different. It was time to get over the homesickness and make the best of being together as a family. I realized you can make memories no matter where you find yourself, and it CAN be done without all the commercialization of American culture. So we did it right. We decorated everything! And we didn't have one tree... we had TWO! We had homemade apple cider, Christmas movies, and tons of other things that made it special for us! And then the unexpected occurred.
Just three days before Christmas, Jason cut his hand pretty bad on an electric saw. On Christmas Eve we tried to get him on a flight to see a more qualified doctor in Delhi, but the flight was cancelled. The Christmas I had planned on was being ruined by guilt, worry, and the trauma of an accident! But in true Marlin fashion, we pulled it together. Jason helped lay out presents with one hand, still put batteries in all those toys, and even helped put together the Legos and race tracks!
The truth is that no Christmas will ever be the same. The location will change, the company will change, and the circumstances will change. But our purpose for celebrating can be steadfast. After all the different scenarios we've experienced along the way, I've now determined that no matter where we are, who is with us, and what is going on around us, our focus will remain the same:
And this year will be no different from the others. Our location will change once again. While we await the birth of the new babies, we will travel to Thailand and spend our last Christmas as a family of four on the beach. It'll be my first time to ever have my toes in sand on Christmas Day. I'm already dreaming of opening presents with the boys as the waves crash in and savoring the moments when it was just the two of them. And I pray that even amongst all the excitement of gifts, beaches, and beef, we rest in His story... and we find hope and joy for the coming year and what it may bring! Merry Christmas!
When I think back on our Christmases as a family, they are all so unique. Some went exactly as planned, some were over the top, some less than minimal. But all of them were memorable in their own way.
There was the year we brought Jack home from Ukraine. We arrived at our house two days after Christmas and sweet friends from our church had a Christmas tree up and decorated for our new family! A few years later, we were awaiting the adoption of Max. And in an effort to keep life simple, we didn't even have a tree... just a stocking for Jack and his presents. The year before we left America was the first year I got really serious about making traditions and memories with the boys. That month was filled with advent stories, Gingerbread houses, crafts, and all things Christmas!
And then we moved to India. The first year- let's face it- I was homesick. I realized in December that I had not packed a single Christmas decoration. And despite trying to make all things merry and bright, it was just hard! I longed to sit at my mom's dining room table, admire my familiar Christmas decorations, and wait patiently on the sidewalk for the coming parade. None of those things occurred, and my heart just struggled.
But last year was different. It was time to get over the homesickness and make the best of being together as a family. I realized you can make memories no matter where you find yourself, and it CAN be done without all the commercialization of American culture. So we did it right. We decorated everything! And we didn't have one tree... we had TWO! We had homemade apple cider, Christmas movies, and tons of other things that made it special for us! And then the unexpected occurred.
Just three days before Christmas, Jason cut his hand pretty bad on an electric saw. On Christmas Eve we tried to get him on a flight to see a more qualified doctor in Delhi, but the flight was cancelled. The Christmas I had planned on was being ruined by guilt, worry, and the trauma of an accident! But in true Marlin fashion, we pulled it together. Jason helped lay out presents with one hand, still put batteries in all those toys, and even helped put together the Legos and race tracks!
The truth is that no Christmas will ever be the same. The location will change, the company will change, and the circumstances will change. But our purpose for celebrating can be steadfast. After all the different scenarios we've experienced along the way, I've now determined that no matter where we are, who is with us, and what is going on around us, our focus will remain the same:
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:9-14
And this year will be no different from the others. Our location will change once again. While we await the birth of the new babies, we will travel to Thailand and spend our last Christmas as a family of four on the beach. It'll be my first time to ever have my toes in sand on Christmas Day. I'm already dreaming of opening presents with the boys as the waves crash in and savoring the moments when it was just the two of them. And I pray that even amongst all the excitement of gifts, beaches, and beef, we rest in His story... and we find hope and joy for the coming year and what it may bring! Merry Christmas!
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