Christmas medley

I've been MIA lately because we have been running the gauntlet of illnesses.  Yay.  It's not just stuffy noses or little coughs.  That stuff is easy!  These are the full out, fever-with-a-hacking-cough-throwing-up sick.  It seems to happen all at once and always in the winter.  Maybe I should keep this as a spring-summer-early fall type blog.  With three kids passing viruses around, the winter is too unpredictable.  

Anyhow.  Christmas preparations have been limited here.  We've baked a tray or two of cookies (when fevers were down and moods were up...), done a few cards and lined up a few other crafts that have yet to be tackled.  No real shopping has been done, except for children's tylenol.  (Possibly the perfect gift for all our parent friends?)  We have actually considered buying shares...  Mostly though we're making pots of soup, peeling oranges (they say the vitamin C is good...), cuddling up under blankets, and basically doing what we can to help our bodies fight this off.  

We were planning on spending this Christmas in Michigan at the Dormition.  Doesn't look like that will happen at this rate.  I am disappointed.  I am also sad that I haven't been able to do very much to prepare for Christmas.  I don't lament the shopping, truth be told.  It's the other stuff.  The baking, the cooking, the decorating, the festive making and crafting.  D told me that this year, we're going back to the roots of Christmas - the real deal.  Without all these distractions and fuss, we have no choice but to focus on Christ Himself.  That is a very beautiful and comforting thought.  

In fact, while our situation is not comparable in the least, these past few weeks have made me think profoundly on the terrible war going on in Syria.  Not the war itself, but the hundreds and thousands of Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.  And here I am wondering what to buy for D.  How's that for a dose of perspective...

On a less serious note, though not one to subtract from the previous sentiments I hope, I wanted to share this funny story.  I had put on a load of laundry in the washer and left to do another few chores.  When I came back, both my kids had pulled up their soft chairs in front of the washer and were staring with wide eyes at the load spinning and sudsing up with soap.  They were there for like 15 minutes!  It was honestly as if they were watching TV, except they were watching a washing machine!  Some kids enjoy video games.  Mine prefer a good round of dark clothes to capture their attention...