So I have been feeling like a Scrooge this holiday season. Work has been....less than comfortable with all the construction and dirt and stress. Annabeth is adorable as ever, but she could care less that it is Christmas and with finals and whatnot we haven't really had time to do anything as a family. I get to go home to Joseph for Christmas this year, which should make me really excited but at the moment a four hour drive and packing and scheduling when we get there is just making me stressed. I couldn't even qualify as a Grinch, because until last night I did not even want to be bothered with the fact that Christmas was coming. I just wanted time to get the simple daily tasks I needed to accomplished without the hustle and bustle of parties and decorating and shopping.
Then last night or friends Colin and Jita asked us to come Christmas Caroling with them and another family. We read the story of Luke before we went out caroling. There is just something about the sound of children's voices reading the scriptures that makes them seem so much more powerful to me. The kids from the other family were so excited and enthusiastic about taking treats around to the neighborhood. But after the first house or two, rather than try to visit people Jita knew from church, we just started going to whatever home had their lights on.
There was something about seeing the shock on people's faces, one group we visited even said they had never had carolers before. Everyone was so excited to be sung to and receive some cookies. I think sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own little world that I forget how easy it really is to reach out so strangers. I have a terrible habit of over complicating everything.
I'm not saying this very well but the point is, caroling to complete strangers helped me to catch the spirit of Christmas finally. It reminded me that Christmas is not about stuff, or cookies or parties, it is about spreading joy.
I know this isn't a very good pic, it's just off my phone but our camera battery went dead. Annabeth LOVED caroling just as much as she loved the Musical at the high school and singing in church. She went crazy bouncing up and down and squeaking while we sang in her own little cooing version of the songs.
And then I watched this video this morning. I couldn't help wanting to post it. Why do we make life so complicated, when it is meant to be so simple?
