Frolic and Play -- the Northwest Way

Day 361 of Photo Inspirations -- Frolic & Play - the Northwest Way
This Norman Rockwell painting shows a worn-out Santa on December 26th -- and if all that’s left of Christmas for us is much like that Santa -- frazzled, exhausted, a bulging credit card balance, and an over-full stomach, then we missed the true meaning of Christmas. I'll admit that after a full-of-fun-and-lots-of-activities week in Texas, that  just an hour and a half sleep before my flight to WA, and maybe about an hour on my flight, I was feeling a little like this Santa during the day yesterday.  LOL!

But, it was easy to get revived when this second photo inspiration, is what awaited me.  Such precious sights!  My flight arrived at 8 am in Seattle.  I was just in the nick of time to watch my kids opening their Christmas morning gifts.  They must have been good kids all year long because "Santa" was sure good to them all, but the hover board he left for them was the hit of the day.

I even tried it which was a hilarious sight. I was laughing too hard to get my balance and  I'm too respectful of my body so they're not having to take turns with me. Watching these kids, who after only a couple of minutes of getting acclimated to it, are breezing through the house like pros.  Another highlight of the day was seeing Star Wars -- this time in 3D.  It was the second time for me, but worth it -- I saw and heard things I hadn't noticed before.

Early today, Ryan and Shawntel left for their annual "honeymoon" trip -- one they've taken every year since they first married, and as tradition holds, Nana is here to take care of the boys (once upon a time, it was Papa and Nana, but since Papa's exit to heaven, I carry on this sweet tradition with my boys).

Back to my opening paragraph about Santa, and all of us, being worn out after a very busy time leading up to Christmas Day.  But, Christmas isn't just about that ONE MAIN EVENT.  And neither is all the waiting, planning,  organizing and preparing for OUR babies to be born, just about their ONE day of birth.  It's about that day and every day after that.  Jesus' birth-day was just the beginning of His incredible life.

We need to recall how we looked at our babies and how Mary, Jesus' mother, looked at her baby boy, her Son -- a Son like no other Son - the very Son of God - and she saw in his sweet, soft, precious face -- the Redeemer of all mankind.  A Redeemer who came to live on this earth to die - for our salvation and all mankind. Christmas is a part of the still unfolding story of God's love which began in the Garden of Eden and continues on from generation to generation, and in you and me as our own Christmas story is written of how God pursued us, loved us unconditionally and how His grace and unmerited favor kept us, gave us the courage to face tomorrow……and caused the peace, joy and love we experience at Christmas -- to stay alive in us each and every day.

As I frolic and play with my boys in the Northwestern way for the next week or so, and even when I return to my day-to-day walk with God, I'll be remembering all that Christmas was AND IS because "Joy to the World" came for our taking and experiencing EVERYDAY!