The Perfect Christmas

Every year, I have this image of this perfect Christmas. My hopes are high for a complete change from prior years....this one will be meaningful and "stress-free". I will:
1. Get my shopping done before Thanksgiving
2. Have my Christmas cards ready to go on Dec. 1st with a nice personal note and a loving family picture
3. Everything will be pre-baked and waiting to be defrosted
4. I will have every little gift determined with a specialness to it that speaks of a personal touch and thoughtfulness
5. Every present wrapped with decorative bows and pizazz
6. The Christmas music will be playing in the background
7. The fire will be blazing
8. The decorations will be tasteful and gorgeous
9. My family will all be "dressed to the nines" without any complaining or whining
10. The season will be a reflection of Christ with great spiritual forethought and giving
11. The cookies will be on a plate, with neighbors stopping by for cocoa and conversation to a house of peace and tranquility....a place of calm and dignity...a harbor from the storm..... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! My house is the storm. I want to have family tradition....well the tradition in our family is one of yelling, being fussy, stress, and all around grouchiness. But I have reached an all time high (or low as the case may be). Let me explain.....

Tuesday, I had a Jenny Craig appointment. I asked Jenna if she would like me to pick her up at school after work and take her with me or have her older brother watch her....that was a "no brainer"....
So I worked an unbelievable amount of packages for the postal service(gee, I wonder why???) and raced home from work. I didn't even get a shower.....no time. I did a pit check and dabbed on a little more deodorant. I called the school and asked to have Jenna dismissed at 2:40 p.m. I waited in the car til 2:45 p.m. and then walked in to the lobby of the school. She was running late and still gathering her things. My fifty minute drive was now forced into a 40 minute drive.

On the way over, my daughter was obviously happy as she turned up the Christmas carols on the radio at every song. "OOOhhhh, I like this one." After every one, I turned the song down lower. I barely kept myself from biting my tongue in two, but I never said a word.

Driving like a maniac, I was still five minutes late to my Jenny Craig appointment. I left Jenna in the front of the store, while I went back to get "Horror of all Horrors" weighed-in. In three weeks time, I had gained 4 pounds..... I knew it was coming, but not FOUR of them. I had been to a wedding, sampled all the Christmas presents from my customers, drank like a fish, and wondered why I gained. Still, the shock of seeing my back pedaling upset me.

Then it was off to Wal-mart to finish off the Christmas shopping. I literally had two people run in to me with their carts. The parking lot was like the Grand Prix. I yelled my outrage at several Dale Earnhardts and Jeff Gordons.

In rebellion to my earlier appointment, I stopped off at KFC (the antipathy of Jenny Craig) and bought a piece of fried chicken and a large diet Coke, before I started being good tomorrow. Jenna looked at me and said in a chiding tone, "Your going to gain another pound...." I gave her the "stinky eye", even though my conscious was screaming the same line.

On the way home, I knew it was bad when my daughter looks at me with all seriousness and asks, "Mom, do I need to enroll you in an Anger Management class?"

I was speechless for a second as I glanced at her face and realised she was serious. Where does she get this stuff??? Only out of the mouth of babes.........it was a sign from God that I needed to lighten up. She was being more the parent and I was being the angry little child throwing the temper tantrum.

I broke out into laughter, til I almost peed my pants. I looked in that innocent little face. Her tense little body and face immediately started to relax. I had no idea I was throwing off those waves of tension. I realised I had reached an all time high (or low as I stated earlier) in my dealings with the Christmas season.

Maybe some day I will have the perfect Christmas....but then, wouldn't that be too perfect, and definitely not my family. I realised I love my family and Christmas is in the heart....not in my "perfect little world" mind of mine...Thank the good Lord.