A Day To Celebrate!

Today was delightful. We set aside all expectation of school work and went to see the new Charlotte's Web. Oh! So. wonderful. The computer animation (that was animation, wasn't it?) was so spectacular that when we watched Charlotte spin her web, I actually quietly praised the Lord for (1) creating such incredibly diverse and skillful creatures, and (2) allowing man the ability to capture, create and display these wonders through art.

Sitting in that darkened theater with my three sweet girls, thoroughly enjoying our play-day together blessed. my. soul. I can't wait to see it again. I would recommend it to anyone -- well, anyone who isn't too tight to overlook a half-a-handful of quick bathroom humor jokes. There was some animal flatulence followed by giggling. The movie doesn't camp there, and it was no big deal with these puppies of mine; even the easily-offended, proper young Fifi didn't seem too upset by it.

After the movie, I felt my blood sugar crashing (maybe the Milk Duds?), so we went to lunch at our favorite Asian restaurant right around the corner. Hmmm...how many pair of kid's chopsticks did Cuddlebug drop on the floor so that she could arrive at the last resort, a.k.a. the wooden chopsticks that she really wanted in the first place?

Before lunch, we stopped into Michael's craft store to pick up some red food coloring in hopes that red would be red, and not pink this year. Wouldn't you know? Holiday decor was 40-70% off there, so...we got a little distracted, but at those prices, we didn't do any real damage in buying a couple of table-top trees and mini ornaments.

When we returned home, it was time to frost and decorate the sugar cookies we baked -- at least the ones that made it. I remembered that it was pretty funny that the girls were standing at the oven door yesterday afternoon, cheering for any broken cookies because they knew it meant the reject pile, and reject piles are good for eating.

Note to self: It is good to remember that the decorated sugar cookies on the magazine covers are fabricated with lights and stylists, and were most certainly not assembled by 4, 6 or 11 year olds! (But neither did those food stylists have as good a time as did my girls!)

Once finished, we walked them around to the neighbors and sang the first two verses of Silent Night. We've been practicing it for a couple of weeks. Maybe we'll YouTube it on Sunday for the blog.

I especially like the 2nd verse of Silent Night when it states, "shepherds quake at the sight." I don't know why their perspective has always been my favorite. One might think a mother of three would best identify with Mary, but it's trying to step into the the shepherds' shoes that chokes me up every time when I read of them in Luke 2.

And as we practiced our lyrics in the car, it donned on me!

After hearing, reading and entertaining the arguments of so many Christians who find the celebration of Christmas offensive in some way, I found what I think is a scriptural support for marking His birth! It is good to mark this day!

So what if the apostles didn't? So what if it's not strictly commanded? So what if it wasn't the birth of Christ that saves us?

How does it matter between me and my Lord if it's not the exact right date, or even if the history behind the assigning of the date has pagan undertones? Pagan worship is nothing to me, because it is nothing. There is only One True God!

How beautiful was that night when The Angel of the Lord came down and proclaimed to the shepherds that something fantastic was happening! And then the host of heavenly angels joined him and sang of glory to God and peace on earth and goodwill toward men. The angel told the shepherds what to look for, and told them to GO!

"Haste, haste to give Him laud," says the hymn based on the scripture.

"Hurry! GO! Worship and celebrate! This is an incredible moment! This is GOOD NEWS!"

And so...I don't mind remembering it. And I'll do it freely -- with all prayer and supplication having been made. I will celebrate. And I will enjoy. Blessed Christmas.