Christmas Joy

Today was just about perfect!

It started with my delightful children being patient while Daddy read Luke 2.

Then they enjoyed passing out presents and watching one another receive. Really! They weren't too anxious to get on with ripping open their own -- they were sincerely interested in what everyone else was opening and took turns with grace. Sweet!

Then our cousins and aunts and uncles came over to share the Christmas Casserole, and my children shared toys and played and gifted and laughed and made happy memories with extended family. I didn't have that opportunity much growing up, so it always strikes me as a beautiful thing when cousins interact, but especially when they do so pleasantly.

Then it was time to head over to the other side of the extended family for more joyful bonding experiences. Seriously -- today was a blessed day of loving one another, like a little piece of heaven on earth.

How grateful I am for such an amazing extended family! For everyone's willingness to just get along despite our idiosyncrasies. We're well aware that we're not perfect, but we love each other anyways because we're committed to loving each other and putting each other's happiness so high on each other's priority-lists that we all know our happiness will be taken care of, so we can relax and relish in selfLESSness and not bend to the lows of selfISHness.

Sitcoms nowadays make it look like holidays are great, *except* for the part about getting together with the dreaded in-laws. Well, my Christmas was merry mainly *because* of my fabulous in-laws! I'm so grateful for them and for their good example over the years. It's rubbed off even on my side of the extended family!

Don't get me started...

My son had an excellent idea today: invite his cousin, Ellie, over to play!

I phoned Ellie's mom (my husband's brother's wife, Becky) and made the arrangements -- and what a fun afternoon we had... because when Ellie comes to play, Becky and I get to "play" in the mommy way -- we chat!

Guess what? I'm sure you can't tell by the fact that I blog, but here's a little secret about me: I like to chat.

I breathe best in the oxygen of good conversation and deep discussion and witty banter and thoughtful verbalization on a variety of subjects!

The problem is, sometimes I have a hard time shutting my mouth and letting the other person give their two cents... especially if the other person has asked a question and shown a sincere interest in my answer, long-winded though it may be.

Well... Becky brought up homeschooling... and I hope she doesn't regret it!

I don't homeschool all of my children full-time at this point. But that doesn't mean I don't love it. In fact, as I shpeeled off to the willing listener, I realized how much I love it...

I love how adventurous it is! (Homeschooling is a misnomer, because we rarely stay home. Maybe carschool or museumschool or fieldtripschool would be better titles!)

I love how my kids really, truly absorb as we participate in a wide array of activities. Their interest-led learning turns them into little stinkin' smartie-pants...  and I love that!

I love how I go to bed exhausted after a full day of taking advantage of learning opportunities, and learning a lot myself -- homeschooling schools me!

So, Becky, I'm sorry I spouted off and that it was so hard to stop me. I'm glad you agreed to take the book even if it was just as a way to tame the wild beast of me! And if you do decide to homeschool, I hope you'll come over often and let our kids play, and let us chat!