Christmas Words

Oh Christmas time. It is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love the snow, the cozy warmth of home, cuddly blankets, fuzzy socks, baby snuggles, gingerbread houses, cookies, presents.... just EVERYTHING!

This Christmas was different for us. We did our own Christmas. For the first time since we've been married we just did our own thing and it was so so so wonderful!!! Our children woke up before the sun did to see what Santa had brought for them. They saw that he had eaten all of the cookies that they had decorated for him just the night before. They learned all about why Santa gives us gifts. About Jesus' birth and how He was the ultimate gift. Kourtney tried to get away with leaving her door open and light on so that she could hear Santa when he came in. And they were beyond thrilled with their presents and stockings! They stuffed their faces with candy all day long. We had a ham dinner on our fine china and even had some neighbors over to spend time with. We enjoyed some Nigerian Christmas food, compliments of our Nigerian neighbor.

While he was here I asked him what Christmas was like where he's from. And as he was telling me, something seemed to have hit me square in the face. They don't have Halloween over there, nor do they have Thanksgiving, but everyone has Christmas. Because Christmas is Christ. And Christ is for the whole world. I look at my sweet Joseph and know that he will do wonderful things. But young Mary looked at her baby boy and knew that he would CHANGE THE WORLD!!! How blessed we are that there was a mother strong enough and worthy enough to take on this task.

As I was shutting Kourtney's bedroom door after tucking her into bed tonight I turned around and said, "Kourtney, what is Christmas?" To which she responded, "Jesus' birthday". Earlier I had asked her, "Why does Santa bring us gifts?" To which she promptly answered, "Because Jesus was the biggest gift". I love her faith and knowledge. I love that even though Santa and presents have seemingly overthrown what Christmas really is we can know that if we just take a little time to teach our young ones what the spirit of Christmas is all about, they will learn, and they will cherish it.

Tonight my sweet Kloey reminded me once again what Christmas is all about. It is about family. My darling girl is more than 3 years old and has never really spoken. I have longed and longed for her to say "mommy". Something inside of me has NEEDED to hear it for such a long time. Kourtney said it when she was less than a year old. I know things are slower going with Klo. But it's been so long. We were watching a Christmas movie with her and this thought popped into my head, "ask her. Ask her to say 'mommy'". So, I did. She looked me right in the eye, smiled, and said "mommy". I gasped, looked at Jordan to confirm that it had not been my imagination, and when I saw his face I knew that I was right. My baby girl called me "mommy". My heart swelled with love, adoration, relief, and so many more emotions. There were so many that they spilled out of me in the form of tears! And I'm not gonna lie, Jordan teared up too.

This is Christmas. Christmas is family. Christmas is love and giving. Christmas is Christ.

MERRY CHRISTMAS