I am SO excited about going home for Christmas. I can't wait. This week is the real countdown for me. We don't get into San Antonio until Tuesday, because we have to stop over in Dallas for doctor visits and interviews, but still - the weather should be nice, and we'll back in familiar stomping grounds eating chicken fried steak, bbq and mexican food. The good thing about traveling at Christmas is that it forces you to get done early, so you can enjoy the time with family. I've completed my online shopping (that's not to say that Bill has). I've complete the Christmas crafts for church, did my last week of Sunday School. I handed out teachers' gifts today. Now, I can fully appreciate the company dinner I'm going to with my husband tonight, the American ladies gift exchange and Brendan's school play on Thursday.
The bad thing about traveling at Christmas is, well, the traveling (think Planes, Trains and Automobiles). You have to pack a good sense of humor - but you can't take it on the plane! With the new restrictions, they have managed to suck all the fun out of it. I can't take any liquids on the plane, so I where my glasses the whole trip and my lips dry until they crack, and I can't get enough water in those little plastic cups, no matter how many times I ask the nice flight attendant.
Amidst all this planning, preparing and organizing, I have been blessed to spend time with Brendan before bed reading about the birth of Jesus in the four gospels while he puts the pieces of his advent calendar together, and tucks them away again. I've also been studying the Last Supper, death and resurrection stories from John with Xplore (my Sunday School group). It is so obvious that this is not the big event. This little baby came with a purpose. Jesus came to die and rise again. It gives Christmas a whole new perspective. And while I love this time of year, I'm enjoying it even more knowing that this is only one chapter of the story. The climax is yet to come - and it's a good on!
