Amidst the hustle and bustle of what we tend to call Christmas, we are doing a lot of things differently this year. For instance...this is the first Christmas since, I can't remember, that we will wake up in our own house. We have decided that this is a simple solution to having two kids that like to reek havok! Home is always a safe place to do so.
Another thing we have done is "really limit" the amount we spend on
Christmas. There are a couple of reasons but they are based from one. Our goal has been and will continue to be keeping Jesus' birthday the focal point of the season. We desire to understand this and for our kids to understand this. So this year God has really allowed us to do that by keeping our finances very limited. Now, before you start getting concerned about that...DON'T! God has surrounded us with friends and family that have GENEROUSLY gifted us in numerous ways. The boys and us will not even come close to suffering!Also, in the past, I have always surprised Stacey with something. This year, in the mood of doing things differently, I did not. I simply stated to her...here are your options. I could take the limited amount I have to spend on you and buy you something fun and nice or we could go to the store together and pick you out something you really want. Now, I know the dangers of this and before you allow yourselves to think this was the easy way out...WRONG! I HATE SHOPPING!!! To me this was a far greater sacrifice! Why? Well Brad Stine (Christian comedian) would say it this way..."when guys go to the store to get a shirt, they come back with...a shirt!" Can you imagine that! If I were getting Stacey a gift I would figure it out in advance and at the store it would be in and out. No hassle, no guessing...straight to the point and done! She however, enjoys the "shopping experience" AKA the HUNT! So I went shopping...with two little boys...and a GIRL! That is sacrifice!
Now for those of you still not convinced that I put forth any effort (because that is what's really important right?!?!) the story is not over. Tonight was gift wrapping night and we went to town on the gifts. Well, Stacey wrapped the boys and I wrapped hers. T
his was a legitimate effort! Why? Becuase we didn't have any wrapping paper and I just don't think bags are fun! I had to get creative...so I did. Here is effort! What you see is a 16x20 gift (I'm not telling what it is...but if you ask Stacey, she will let you know after she opens it) that is wrapped with streamers! That's right...I took streamers that we had, leftover from Jayden's birthday party I think, and turned them into wrapping paper. Now that is creative!
his was a legitimate effort! Why? Becuase we didn't have any wrapping paper and I just don't think bags are fun! I had to get creative...so I did. Here is effort! What you see is a 16x20 gift (I'm not telling what it is...but if you ask Stacey, she will let you know after she opens it) that is wrapped with streamers! That's right...I took streamers that we had, leftover from Jayden's birthday party I think, and turned them into wrapping paper. Now that is creative!This truly has been a fun night. Hanging out with our church family at a candlelight service, coming home to hang out with the boys and then wrapping gifts. I have mentioned the effort put forth tonight several times. There is a reason for this. In the Sisk family we are not caught up in monetary "stuff"...at least we try not to be. We do try to put our hearts into the things that we do. We believe that if you are going to do something, you ought to try to do it right (thanks dad). More importantly scripture says, "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men." (Col. 3:23) Of course Jesus exemplified this. He gave everything for us and a significant part of this was being willing to come to earth and become flesh. What a great leader, what a magnificant love, what an awesome Lord!
In the morning our efforts will go toward establishing a tradition. We will get up and sing happy birthday to our Master. Then we will read the recorded history of our Savior's birth. We will discuss the greatest gift of all and then, with great appreciation, we will open the gifts that have been given from us and from many others that prayerfully exalt our Jesus.
Merry Christmas to all of you who read this and our prayer is that you too are exalting the Savior today!
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