Patience?

I had always thought of myself as a patient person.  I did not mind waiting in lines, at stop lights or taking turns.  I was not a yeller or quick to anger.  

And then I had kids.  Specifically three kids.  Not sure if it is the number or the fact that the older ones are at unique stages of development that really irk me at times.  Seriously how long do I have to humor my 4.5 year olds desire to be Yoshi and talk with that whiny voice of his?  I want to encourage his imagination and let him be who he wants to be, but that voice is seriously like nails on a chalkboard at this point.  The Little One is still hitting me and thinking it is very funny when I tell him that it is not okay to hit.  And Hockey Boy is constantly obsessed with fairness and telling me how I never let him or I always or something.  All while ignoring what that I just told him to put his shoes on and get in the car.  

I am losing whatever patience I had.  I feel like I was born with a tank of patience and I am going on fumes that often results in blips of me shouting for everyone to just stop.  Not moments of greatness on my part.  

I guess I believed that I could just be patient.  I am finding that is no longer true.  What I need to remember is that God is the fountain of all patience and can fill my tanks if I let him.  If I can figure out how to do that, especially before I lose it.  

Post Christmas Blues

Anyone else feeling the post Christmas blues?  It started when I ordered my usual Starbucks Eggnog latte two days after Christmas and they were already done with eggnog for the year.  That sort of crushed me because I was still very much in the Christmas spirit.  Tonight I went to buy some more of those delicious Mint M & Ms that come out I guess only at Christmas time.  And my grocery store which had hooked me and got me addicted to begin with was out.  I was so desperate I tried two other stores.  All out.  And it is only December 28th.  Oh and in their place were Valentine pink and red M & Ms.  Really people.  Already.

I always hear people complain about the Christmas displays, music and merchandise starting earlier and earlier each year.  I personally love it.  I sort of think of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years as one big holiday season full of Christmas music, eggnog lattes, twinkling lights and all the sugar cookies you can eat.  But this year I am terribly annoyed that the stores and eateries that get us all hooked on Christmas earlier and earlier each year are now cutting us off earlier and earlier.  I still have a full week of kids home on Christmas break but according to the stores I should be gearing up for Valentines Day.  Not gonna happen. 

Tonight I made more sugar cookie dough and tomorrow I am pulling out more Christmas movies to watch while I make trees, snowmen, star and gingerbread men cookies.  I am off to drink some eggnog!

"I Need a Silent Night"

I love Amy Grant's Christmas albums so this year I checked iTunes to see if she had anything new.  Now this song probably is not actually new, just new to me but I loved it and wanted to share some of the lyrics.   

"I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears

Faster and faster every year

Did my own mother keep this pace 

Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow

Watching three channels on their tv

Look at us now rushing around

Trying to buy Christmas peace"

Written by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant

We have tried to keep Christmas simple this year and are enjoying a quiet Christmas Eve without rushing around with last minute things.  So glad we did...

Presents

So we decided last night to put all the presents from family under the Christmas tree.  They had been accumulating in our closet over the last month as packages arrived from our families far away.  Each time the brown truck would stop at our house the boys would get so excited.  Unfortunately for them most of the time it was Amazon delivering my cereal order or a new carton of paper towels.  But intermixed with the boring Amazon boxes came packages with beautifully wrapped presents from across the country.  So last night we opened all the boxes and packages and arranged them under the tree.  I had my doubts about this because I did not think our Little One could handle so many presents and not being able to open them.  But my husband wanted to let them see and feel the gifts.  Maybe even shake a few and try to figure out what they are.  So this morning I sit and listen to my boys excitedly talking to each other, pointing out a gift or shaking a box from Grandma.  They are filled with anticipation.  The fun kind that makes you wake up early with a smile on your face.  Ready to jump out of bed and face the day.  And this anticipation is contagious!  So now I sit here with a smile on my face filled with joy listening to my boys being kids.  

Oh and so far we have only had one present unwrapped by the Little One.  I think his brother Yoshi who gave him the gift sort of instigated the unwrapping  hoping that Little One would get away with it and they could all play with the new car.  And just think of all the patience and delayed gratification they will learn between now and tomorrow!