The "magic" of Christmas

    I can't believe its two days until Christmas.  I look forward to this time of year every year and when it finally gets here, it feels so frantic I never enjoy any of the "magic" of Christmas. When I was growing up, it was such a special time of year.  We watched Christmas movies, cranked down the air (we live in south florida) and drank hot chocolate.  We went around looking at everyones Christmas lights and made Christmas cookies, with egg-nogg. And left cookies out for Santa. So special...
    But since I've become an adult, a wife, and now a mother. It feels impossibly overwhelming. All the parties every weekend of the month.  Heck, just buying for my family is overwhelming. My husband has a married sister with 1 baby, and a married brother with 5 children. Then his parents are divorced so, that is buying for 2 completely different families who basically buy themselves anything they actually want. Then there is my family; my parents, and my little brother. And Finally my husband who is impossible to shop for because he works so much he doesn't have time to do anything else and he doesn't really like presents. And then there is my precious 2 year old Daughter.....I can get into trouble with her.....because I just want to give her the whole world lol.
     I sound a bit depressed I suppose. But it is frustrating. I feel like the real meaning of Christmas gets suffocated right out. By trying to make people happy! Do what is "appropriate" like  Christmas cards and thank you cards for example (those are my personal archenemies)! ...Trying not to look cheap and trying to show love for people through gifts. I try maybe a little harder than most to show it through giving really thoughtful gifts, since I'm a little awkward and not very good at expressing my feelings :/
     But I lose focus on the real reason we exchange gifts. It was because of God's sacrifice of sending His precious only Son. That alone was a miracle....Mary....the shepherds....the wise men...ancient prophecies coming to life. God sent Him as a baby, to live as we live and show us who God is and how He wants us to live our lives. Our example of the only perfection on earth. And Christmas is also supposed to be about showing our appreciation for Christ's ultimate sacrifice of dying a humiliating, painful death to give us the gift of Eternal Life!
     Christmas may not be about the "magic" of Christmas, but in a way I think it is. Because in the midst of a close family and special times together, I always felt God's presence and blessing over our time. Hopefully next year I will be able to come back to this blog and remind myself what its really all about. And maybe if someone else reads this feeling overwhelmed, I hope it will help you, like writing it helped me.    :)