And That's a Wrap...

So, I was tempted to name this post "I'm in Love, I'm in Love and I Don't Care Who Knows It"" for several reasons.  A) I love ELF.  It's one of our favorite Christmas movies, and that just so happens to be one of my favorite lines. 
B) Because it's true. 

But I didn't name this post that for several reasons.  A) I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. 
B) It may be just a tad too strong a phrase to use in regards to pajama pants.  But I'm telling you, peeps, I am currently sporting the BEST ever pajama pants in the history of pajama pants.  Kudos to Old Navy for fabricating something so fleecy and cuddly and cutesy...with a "tall" option for those of us who need it...and in snow leopard print to top it all off.  Genius.  Doesn't get much better, folks.  Not at all.  I really do think I'm in love.

But alas, this post is not in existence for my pajama pants alone.  For there was much more to this day than my snow leopard print sleepwear.  Much, much more.

For starters, I was able to wrap up some various thoughts and feelings of mine over the course of a 2 hour phone call with one of my mentors from Chicago.  It was one of those calls that enables a broader perspective to take place of the narrow one.  A call that encouraged and blessed and just flat out helped me in so many ways.  It was a slightly early Christmas gift: gifts of time, affirmation, confirmation and a bit of laughter thrown in for good measure.  I am very blessed.

I wrapped up my baking for the week.  Despite the millions of cookies, cupcakes and batches of caramel corn marked off the list, there were more recipes calling my name.  The aroma of the popularly classic Chex Mix (with my own seasonings...just can't deal with that little spice packet deal-io) filled the kitchen this morning.  And this evening we were all drooling over a new aroma...Candy Cane Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with a coffee crust.  Talk about heaven.  Did I mention my new favorite pajama pants have a stretchy waist?  Pass the pan, please...

I am close to wrapping up the listening of necessary Christmas albums.  Today, we managed to get through some of our favorites.  Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Glee, Mannheim Steamroller, Harry Connick Jr, Casting Crowns, Third Day...yet it seems like I'm missing some.  We'll be sure to include them as we travel to and fro.

I wrapped up the wrapping, of course.  Though it does seem to me that it's a bit ridiculous to wrap gifts you know the kids will be unwrapping in a matter of a few hours.  But tradition is tradition, and so each stocking gift was wrapped regardless of the turn-around time for opening them.

And there are other things which indicated some sort of closure today...Christmas Eve traditions of new jammies for the kids and watching the Garfield Christmas special I watched when I was a kid.  The phrase "one more sleep 'til Christmas" permeating the bedtime routine.  "Silent Night" being sung to some very sleepy children with very droopy eyelids.  The day is almost over.  Tomorrow will be here soon.

Tomorrow.  Christmas.  Jesus' Birthday.  Much excitement.  Deeply rooted meaning.  The celebration of an event that changed the past, present and future in one fell swoop.  We do our best to commemorate that event.  Giving gifts.  Spending time with loved ones.  Special services and programs.  Extra acts of kindness and service.  A bit more concentration on what the life of Jesus means for all of us.  All good things.  Yet they are things that dare not be included in the "wrapping it up" of the season.  We cannot afford to forget these things on December 26th with the intent on just picking them back up when it's convenient sometime around Thanksgiving of the following year.

God's gift to us is ongoing.  Yes, He gave us His Son.  But just look at Jesus' name...look at all the things He gave us in that one gift...

Prince of Peace.
Wonderful Counselor.
Emmanuel, God With Us.
Light of the World
Bread of Life
Physician
King of Kinds
Messiah
Alpha and Omega
Bridegroom
Savior
Lord
Son of God and Son of Man
Good Shepherd
Redeemer
Man of Sorrows

and one of my personal favorites...

I AM.  As if God was saying, "Look...I've already said it all.  I've done it all.  I've tried my best to explain who this Son of mine, this Jesus, is.  So let me just wrap it up...let's just go with I AM."

I love it.

There is not one thing that we need that God is not.  He is everything.  Everyday.  My response to that reality should also be everyday.  Not just at Christmas and Easter.  Not just when things are going swell.  Not just when things seem they can't get any worse.  God is my everything, everyday.  And so I will do my best to serve Him with all I have to offer, everyday.

And that's what I remember as I wrap up today...as I wrap up my interaction with the ole blog for a bit so that I can visit family and play host to out of town guests and relax with my kiddos...as I wrap up the anticipation part of Christmas and move on to the day itself.  I remember that God doesn't just give  me everything I need, He actually is  everything I need.  Every single day.  I remember that His Son, Jesus, came to this earth so that I could experience a personal relationship with Him on a daily basis, not just an at arms length religion when I find it convenient.  I remember that no matter what the circumstances are in my life, Jesus is Emmanuel...God with us.  God in us.  God for us.  I pray that you, too, will remember those things as you go about your business and your busyness.  He's too important to be overlooked.   

And that's a wrap...

Merry Christmas.  I hope you have the most meaningful one yet...and try not to let your envy of my snow leopard pajama pants ruin it for you.  :)