The Words of Christmas Cards

One aspect of Christmas I enjoy at my parents' house is reading all of their Christmas cards from friends.  These pieces of paper came in the mail and have original, personal sentences all over them telling of the past year in each person's life.  Love them.   I can appreciate the new, fun trend of a Christmas card just having pictures on them with a fun jingle of a sentence, like "happy holidays!".  The pictures are always adorable and the cards super fun and festive.  However, I feel like the tradition of writing Christmas cards is something of the past and I want to revive it!  This makes me sound old fashioned.  But there is something precious to me about reading first hand how someone's year was from their point of view.  A picture of smiling faces in color coordinated outfits does not capture the ups and downs, heartaches and celebrations, struggles and successes of 365 days.  My dad would create fun cards each year like crossword puzzles, quizzes, and poems to portray our year as a family.  Each year I would wait in anticipation to see what he created for our family card.  Although I have heard the argument that technology keeps you plugged in enough throughout the year that you don't need to read about someone's year, I beg to argue that technology should apply even more-so to pictures.  Or "a picture speaks a thousand words"... yes, BUT there are so many words unsaid that a picture cannot communicate.  No judgement to everyone who did a picture Christmas card; we did one last year.  I  am just a sucker for words.

So here is my version of our "would-be" Christmas card if stamps weren't so expensive and it was not already 2 days before Christmas...

Deck the halls with paint and pictures fa la la la la, la la la la
Fix the holes and old light fixtures fa la la la la, la la la la

Moving boxes, replacing floors fa la la, la la la, la la la
Make a new wreath for our door fa la la la, la la la la


Build a chicken coop out back fa la la la la, la la la la
Eggs and chicken poop we do not lack fa la la la, la la la la


Planting gardens, growing food fa la la, la la la, la la la

Urban farmers in a good mood fa la la la la, la la la la

Michelle and Lisa transform apartment fa la la la la, la la la la
Marions help in the yard department fa la la la la, la la la la

Loving the community living fa la la, la la la, la la la
It is daily so life-giving fa la la la la, la la la la


Take countless foster classes fa la la la la, la la la la
Inspections, paperwork by the masses fa la la la la, la la la la

Getting licensed, finally finished fa la la la, la la la, la la la
Excitement still has not diminished fa la la la la, la la la la 


Get a baby girl in our home fa la la la la, la la la la
My emotions are as solid as foam fa la la la la, la la la la

Learning, loving, adjusting to change fa la la, la la la, la la la
Unpredictable life is strange fa la la la la, la la la la


Trust our sovereign God forever fa la la la la, la la la la
Especially in this endeavor fa la la la la, la la la la

Saving, restoring for his glory fa la la, la la la, la la la
Praise him for our life story fa la la la la, la la la la


Or something like that.  We are thankful for this year and what the Lord has done.  When I think of all the adventures packed into our marriage so far, I almost have a panic attack of what is to come 10 years from now.  But thankfully I only have to think about today.  Today I have a loving husband and two precious children to love and care for.  So many blessings to dwell on this Christmas.  I hope you all can find beauty in the ashes and find hope of restoration in the darkest of places this season... for Christ has come to save the world.  Merry Christmas to all.