First of all, the lasagna was amazing, if I do say so myself. :) The best part of the meal was having the kids in my space. I miss having a table to seat them around and a place for them to "be". Someday . . . soon I hope.
As the day quickly approaches for me to leave, I am having mixed emotions. I know that my time in Romania has the potential to truly impact me from the inside out. I look forward to the complete change in focus and to being shaken and awakened by Christ while I am in this vulnerable time away. While I have huge excitement to go, it does not come without some nostalgia in being gone for the holidays, away from my kids and family.
Christmas has always been "my holiday", and all the trappings that go along with it was something I embraced and owned with such joy. The shopping for way too extravagant gifts, the traditional food and schedule of events, the decorations, all of it. I know for certain that God has given me the gift of generosity, and that alot of joy is realized in this mom's heart in giving to her kids. Soooo......Tuesday evening is ours! We will celebrate the wonder of Christmas in a different but wonderful way. We will share and love and laugh and appreciate and ooh and ahh......the same way we always do. But I think we will also understand like never before that it is not about how big the tree is, or where the decorations hang, or how big the table is that we sit around. I feel contentment and peace in knowing that we will acknowledge and celebrate the birthday of the one and only King, and Christmas will be Christmas no matter what, no matter where, forever and always.
I love you kids . . . Can't wait for Tuesday.
