Merry Christmass

This year we've had to adapt a few of our Christmas traditions. My mom has to remind us constantly that "everyone needs to be flexible".

Courtney has to come home a few days late and Ashley can't come home at all. My dad will also be out of town the week after Christmas, so we're waiting to celebrate until January 2. With 40 percent of the original CAWDS missing, as well as Santa's number one helper (aka my dad), upholding traditions is bound to be a shaky process.

However, regardless of how many practices have been amended, there are two things I can count on when it comes to Christmas Eve...
  1. Brandon, Duke and Sam will always misbehave at church. For example, one year they stole one of my heels off my feet and passed it down the row. The strangers in our row really appreciated having to touch my shoe.
  2. Sam will always laugh when any song says "ass" even though they're clearly referring to a donkey in the manger.
I'm happy to say that even though we were missing nine of our usual attendees, we still upheld standard church protocol. Tomorrow when our presents remain wrapped under the tree and our stockings continue to hang on the mantel, I'll find solace in this.

And as much as I love our traditions, making new ones each year is just as wonderful. It's the beauty of having a family that is rapidly growing (welcome Griff!). Besides, the ability to evolve is the ability to survive, and when we're doing it together it's much more fun simply surviving. It's the ability to share joy, love one another, and laugh at the word "ass" in church.

love

I received this email and thought you could all assist in this sweet boy's dream. Spread the holiday love...

My long time childhood friend has a very special 7 year old son (Nathan) that is losing his battle with brain cancer and the family has made the decision to not pursue further treatment. This will be his last Christmas and he has one wish ~ to collect a million Christmas cards. Spoken like a true 7 year old boy. Though he may not collect a million, a lot to him will seem like a million. If you would like help make Nathan’s Christmas wish come true, please consider sending a card. I know this will mean a lot to him, as well as his family. Thanks and many blessing to you all. Stephanie J Nathan Elfrink 2415 Taylor Blair Road West Jefferson, OH 43162

It's the inside that counts...mostly.

My friend Megan has made it very clear that she believes I should wear lipgloss. When we were roommates, as we'd be walking out the door, she'd habitually say, "Do you want to use my lipgloss?" Or, not so subtly, "What are you going to put on your lips?"

But I rarely gave in. I just don't like things (other than Carmex and Burt's Bees) on my lips.

Today, though, I was tempted to buy the mark Belle of the Ball lip balm.

Embarrassingly, it's not because of the product. It's the packaging.

Those little shiny containers are so enticing. How fun it would be to get lip balm out of those? I found myself captivated as I read about the product in Glamour. I immediately wanted to get online and buy them. I mean, they're only $5 each.
Luckily, in a rare moment, logic overcame my emotion. I started laughing - though I should have been crying - for me, buying something because of the packaging is commonplace.

The most irresistible for me are the face washes. There is something so tempting about putting a face soap that is contained in such a simple, clean bottle, on my face. If the bottle is that appealing it must work.

I am a marketing department's dream.

Is it so wrong, though?

It's OK to find certain people attractive and therefore want to date them more. And it's accepted (though not proverbially) that we all judge books by the covers. That which is more attractive is inevitably more enticing...

Much to my chagrin, when it comes to the exterior of Christmas, I am utterly hopeless.

AKA I can't wrap gifts to save my life. Not even boxes!

Last year (my first Christmas with Jim) after I'd wrapped his gifts, my friend Katie came over and unwrapped and rewrapped all of them.

They were that bad.

I think she feared that he'd see my failed attempt and conclude that I had no domesticity, thus no real future as a potential mate...

So glad she had my back.

It's since been made clear to Jim, though, that my gift wrapping skills are lacking. Fortunately, when it comes to the gifts, it's the inside that counts. I think I'll try to remember that next time I'm tempted by a new face wash...