A Strange Christmas Season

I just can't seem to find my traction in this wonderful season of celebration.

A few weeks ago, right after we trimmed the tree, we went on vacation--a nine day vacation.

Nine days, four trips across time zones, two airline flights, 15 hours in a rented car, 4 nights on inflatable mattresses--3 times tearing 'em down, 2 times setting 'em up--unfamiliar food in restaurants, late nights, and...family dynamics.

All in all--exhausting.

But we did it for the girls. And we did it for the 5th commandment. And we did it so that someday, later, I will not need to worry and wonder, "What if..."

See, my parents aren't just unbelievers--they are unbelievers with believers' baggage. And they've given voice to their mindset that we've been relegated to the distinction of, "relative," as opposed to "family."

But I don't mean to paint the trip unpleasant, because it certainly wasn't. There were some really nice moments like when Dumpling found time to run around the backyard with Grandpa and a kickball...

And like finding out that the Titanic artifacts were on exhibit in Phoenix while we were there visiting the grandparents! Grandpa is very generous with his resources, and paid all our way into the museum. And he was so supportive of Fifi's interest that he bought her a book of Titanic facts in the museum gift shop. The best part though, was that he was there with us.

We were refreshed in our travels by the sweet, slow pace of togetherness offered at my mother-in-law's house in a suburb adjacent to beautiful Santa Barbara...

And it always made me smile to visit these three happy playmates on Mama Lee's back porch...

Here's their kind uncle trying in vain to extract a confession of Santa Claus from my girls as he gifts them some spending money. A little awkward, but we stood back and let it play itself out and everyone survived okay.

And then there was..well...every moment at Disneyland. Here we are arriving on Main Street.

Here, Cuddlebug is trying her best to run off the tracks at Autopia, and laughing mercilessly at my motion sickness.

Such concern. I'm moved.

I don't ride in the same teacup as the rest of them anymore. They like it fast and furious. And me? I like to metabolize my lunch.

Last time, Cuddlebug slept right through every trip to the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor...

Dumpling was in. her. element. at the Princess Coronation Fair...

Hey, there's no yawning at Disneyland!

We found a new favorite in the Toon Town rollercoaster...

And found decorative inspiration in Minnie's house...

We shopped...

We waited...

We watched...

We had fun. A lot of fun.

And then we had to leave the "happiest place on earth." But that's o.k., because we were headed back to Phoenix for a few more nights with the grandparents and the aunt that the young ones hardly know.

And there was hurt.

Because it hurts to see your parents getting older. And it hurts to be burdened with unwanted secrets.

And even though there was a lovely and successful effort to keep us comfortable and well fed, it hurts to be a sinner in a place where there is no grace to give.

It hurts to see others squander your precious time with their chores and personal strife, and it hurts more to find they've left...without so much as a goodbye to anyone.

But we tried. We tried to leave a place better than we found it.

And we tried to be a beacon of Jesus' love.

And now we're home, and there is certainly no place like it! But we're finding re-entry into our real life elusive. There has been no baking. Or caroling. We're scrambling to get gifts under the tree. We're struggling to get out of bed before noon, and to find our time in the Bible like we need to.

But there's still 3 days before Christmas, isn't there? And a whole lot can happen in 3 days, can't it?