Santa Claus

Hi boys!

It is less than 6 weeks until Charlie's arrival and things are getting really big in my stomach area. I can often see my stomach move from the outside and it makes it hard to keep doing what I am doing. Charlie- I cannot wait to meet you and see your face. However- I am not ready for you yet around here and have been enjoying our time together as it is now. You are so nice and quiet now. The next 6 weeks will be very busy for our house as we decorate for Christmas, buy what few presents we can afford for other family members (sorry Jack- you are not going to even notice that we don't give you anything) and moving furniture around, washing things etc to prepare for what lies ahead.

Jack- you are finally asleep upstairs for a short nap after talking and playing in your crib for almost two hours instead of going to sleep!!! You are so cute beyond words it is ridiculous. Today I made a kissing sound to you with my mouth and you copied me back and squinted your eyes- I pretty much died.

We are having Thanksgiving meal today because last week we traveled to Arizona to be with our families and we never got to eat the traditional meal. At my parent's house, we had Mexican as they were going to have the meal on Saturday and at the Murphree's, they had already had it when we got there. Plus- thanks to Charlie's location next to my stomach, I am currently not eating dinner so that I don't throw up when I lay down for bed.

Anyway- the title of my entry today is not an accident. Your dad and I had a conversation this morning about how to deal with the Santa Claus debacle. The reason for the Christmas season is not the Santa Claus image created by Coca Cola in the 1930's based loosely on a man who was named Nicholas and was an exceptional Christian known for his generosity and anonymous giving hundreds of years ago. I don't know how exactly we are going to do it yet- but we are going to endeavor for you to know that Christmas is about the gift of Jesus' birth- period. That many things happen at this time that are very nice and fun- but they are not the reason that any gifts are given or lights are put up. It is because Jesus came here to give us the best gift of all. Maybe I wrote to you about this last year- I don't remember. But it's definitely a topic that warrants repetition.

So here is the plan that we are going to begin working on so far based on a class that I went to today as part of a motherhood series and focused on Christmas traditions. We are going to read the book about the real Saint Nicholas every year on December 6th because he was real and he was a good example of God's style of generosity. Then- we are going to use his example to give you some money that you will need to use to bless someone else. Then, we are going to make sure the rest of the month focuses on the fact that Christmas is about Christ.

Dad is worried that you will have a tough moments as a child when you are the kids who don't "believe" in Santa. I understand that and hope that it is not that bad. But I am far more interested in you being men who know how to go the right way instead of the way that everyone else is going. The pastor who spoke today said it best for me when he said, " Alot of people today are interested in their kids growing up to be happy. I want my kids to be far more than just happy- but strong, adults whose lives are rooted in God's word and love."