Finding the spirt of CHRISTmas.

For years I dreaded the Christmas season it always drove me nuts at how everyone was caught up in the commercial side of Christmas.

I felt the magic of Christmas was gone somehow.

I remember feeling sad Christmas season of 2003 my grandmother was dying and I just did not like how everyone was rushing around buying gifts hearing ho ho ho and seeing all the gilts of commercialized Christmas I just felt bugged.

a week before Christmas a girlfriend of mine asked if she could come over so I could show here how to make doll clothes for her daughters twin dolls I said sure.

After an hours lesson I realized that she  would never get them done in time for Christmas for her daughter so I offered to make doll clothes.

I felt a glimmer of the Christmas spirt as I finished the doll clothes Christmas eve morning.

In January 2004 I made a goal that I will find the magic of Christmas again.

I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to please help me.

In February I found out I was 2 months pregnant with Ben Shocked but Happy I thought boy Christmas will be exciting this year with a new baby.

I went thought the year had a sweet little baby boy Dale was promoted at work and life was grand.

As Fall approached I thought about how I was going to bring back the magic of Christmas in my life . I new service would be a big part of it.

For years we had picked a boy and a girl name of the angel tree and let the kids buy gifts for them. So we stuck with that tradion and added a whole family.

I also got some names of family's on the base that there husband or wife was deployed and planned special treats for them.

I was a little sad when I found out Dale would be gone from October until the first week 2 weeks of December.

I new I would have to do all that I planed on my own with my 7 little ones.

I was still excited and new this would be fun!

My in laws came out for thanksgiving that year and we decided to do all the black Friday sales together.

I will never forget this day as long as I live.

It was 4:30 Am I was the 96th person in line to get into the BX on Travis AFB.

Ben was sleeping away safe in his car seat and I was standing there with my in laws when I heard.

I hate Christmas time.

My heart sunk and I leterly felt tears spring into my eyes.

Inside I was screaming No! This is not the way I wanted to start the Christmas season. I soon began to hear a ton of people expressing what they hated about the Christmas season.

I new I had to put a stop to this I went into the middle of the crowed and a shouted at The top of my lungs I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

I love the smells of Christmas I love the feeling I get when my kids start making there Christmas list.

I love seeing all of Santa's helpers ring the bells.

I love the twinkling of Christmas lights.

I love how kind everyone is to each other.

I love knowing that we celebrating our saviors birth .

I love knowing that our solders still sever on Christmas day fighting foe our religious freedom to celebrate Christmas.

I love Christmas.

I finally stopped my shouting and realized the crowed was quit.

Then I heard clapping and cheering.

I walked back to my place in line a little shocked at what I had just done but felt the magic of Christmas.

My Father in law was wiping the tears from his eyes and said that was some speach.

I then heard I love Christmas Over and over and over the next half hour we stood in line.

I felt so happy People in line kept bringing me orange juice and Coffee (witch I don't drink) But was touched by there kindness.

I new they were caught up in the Spiert of CHRISTmas too.

Through out the morning all over town I kept having people tell me why they loved Christmas at first I did not understand why but then realized they had heard my speech.

I tell that year was one of the best Christmases I had ever had.

Dale came home from his TDY and we went to the childrens party at his work.

There was no one to play Santa so Dale did I loved that he did this and loved sitting on his lap telling his my Christmas wishes;)

The Christmas season kept getting better and better and I soon realized it was through service and my attitude that this was what CHRISTmas was about.

When January came along I thought again how can I keep the spirt of CHRISTmas going this year.

Four months later my answer was given a Christmas baby was in store for our family.

I always wanted a Christmas day baby and was thrilled that Christmas day was my due date.

I will tell you tomorrow My Christmas baby story.

Please feel free to tell me how you Keep The CHRISTmas spirt in your family.