Dear Hope Chest friends,

        Yesterday was one of THOSE days. Between the noises, messes, childish attitudes, bickering, backtalking and minor mishaps, I had certainly had some meltdown moments. I wasn't doing my very best staying on top of things with the kids or the house. Add in a few mishaps totally out of MY control, and the stress added up, which in turn triggered a case of "the blues." By the time evening rolled around, I had our television -- which had been turned on one too many times by young kids -- perched precariously in our double stroller heading down the front walkway toward the van, banished from the house until after Christmas. I sure was tempted to let it roll down the lawn into the street and a sure demise (just kidding!), but at that moment, my husband, who had just arrived home, appeared on the sidewalk down near the curb, looking at me curiously. He had heard me ranting and raving while I was still the house! Have I knocked myself down off of the Super Mommy pedestal yet? Yup!

        One thing that helped yesterday was the encouragement of three sweet ladies, Candace (an old friend I bumped into at Big Lots), Laura (an friend from Maryland whom I haven't seen in 13 years, but who had gotten my web address from a mutual friend) and Ann Mary (who stopped by later in the evening and describes herself as "all mirth and no matter"). Thank you, ladies! You saved my day! Do we ever know how much the gift of encouragement is worth? No, because it's priceless!

        Another thing that helped was pulling out an old photo album (to find Laura's picture) and seeing all of those cute pictures of our big kids when they were little. What a blast from the past! Ah, nostalgia... They sure do grow up fast!

        Anyway, all of this made me think of an old Christmas article I wrote for the Hope Chest several years ago, which I'm including below. (Yes, there's the nostalgia again!) Enjoy!

P.S. Does it seem that I've been writing a lot about stress and depression and coping lately? I know that some of you need THESE real life words of encouragement more than much of the cheerier stuff that is filling your inboxes.

        Set down the tinsel and holly for just a minute! In this merry Christmas season, are you just plain tired? Are things getting a little much for you? Are your naughty-or-nice children wearing you down by bickering and scheming? Are you worried about how to pay for all of the holiday treats and gifts? Do you wonder how you’ll get those awful carpets clean before your party? Are your academics getting lost in the hustle and bustle? Is your schedule so packed that there’s not a quiet moment to savor the Savior? Are you dismayed? God rest ye! Comfort and joy to you!

        Christ our Savior, has come to rescue us from Satan's power. He is Jesus ("God saves") and Immanual ("God with us"). He has come to give us abundant life, but Satan, who appears as an angel of light, is a tricky thief who wants to rob us of peace and joy. His power is not just found in the occult or in the "red light district" across town. It doesn't just sneak into our living rooms via TV or CD or WWW. As Jesus says in Mark 7, it's not what goes into you that makes you unclean -- it's what comes out of your heart and mouth! In our house, this is most apparent in moments of selfishness, ingratitude, impatience and unkindness. In the fact of these joy-robbers, I often get dismayed, then frustrated, then bitter! I am powerless to save myself or my children from these snares. God rest me! Christ has come ot set us free from this as we look to him for strength -- moment by moment -- every season of the year. I could nag and fret until I was blue in the face, and not accomplish a single change, but I can pray, I can praise God, and I can watch him work miracles!
        O, tidings of comfort and joy!

God rest ye merry home school moms <-- (and everyone else)

Let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas day!

To save us all from Satan’s power

When we had gone astray.

O, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!

O, tidings of comfort and joy!