There is a whole in the living room where the tree once was. An empty spot on the mantle where Joseph, Mary and the purifying Emanuel was. We woke up and it was the first thing Lils noticed. Then she said somehting in her nasally sweet/sad voice that made me think: "Iguess it is just back to normal life-Christmas is over." But will it be? I flashed back to yesterday's conversation with Carol about the undone advent calander and "nerfblaster" "nintnedo dsi" filled week. Such a shame. Such a waste. They fight over their presents and hord them. Many times they sit left alone unplayed with for the fear of having to share. It makes me think-what have I done? I have encouraged the love of things that moth and rust and thieves destroy. For fear that it will not be my own and someone will "mis-use" or "break" it-I have also hid gifts left alone unused. This was the first Christmas that Dan and I missed the kids with the video camera. LONG story-but the camera was not ready when the kids woke up and we missed capturing it on camera. We missed their excitement of the mental Christmas list disappearing as they got each present. I was sad about it but I am not sad now. Things are good alone but they are not good when they are all we want. Oh how I wish we all could get it. So, hopefully it is not back to normal life. Like Pastor Alfred Young said on Christmas Eve-Have you unwrapped the gift? Mercy, Grace, Love and Everlasting Peace was given that day. I long to have that on my everyday list so that I can glorify Him and Love His people. I want to be satisfied. Why not have a advent calander year round? I want my list to contain the wants of the fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, kindess, long-suffering, paitence, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. This rainbow we saw coming into Christmas Eve service-It was a full rainbow that was so close Dan could not fit it into the frame of the camera. Amazing.

Apparently the vocal Voelkel's have less to say and more to DO!

AHHHHH.... I remembered that I have a blog and how much I like to blog-but time has not been my friend. I could list many excuses but i choose to press on and not look back! Let's see alot has happened since August 27th-Hayes is 3, Lily is 5 and Camille is 6 months - Greg is a giant highschooler and I am a room mom. Yes me. Never Again. Room moms are organized, thoughtful, and have clean cars. People who know me would not describe me as any of those things. And the funny thing is I am okay with it! I am happily enjoying our new book club with some fabulosly real ladies, lovin' my chubby baby Camille, secretly thinking I am getting paid back in full all of things my parents dealt with via Hayes and am excited that Lily is turning into such a lady. Greg is still in Baton Rouge and I miss him terribly. He graces us with his presence occasionally, fericiuosly eating everything in his path. Handsome young man. I sent out my Christmas cards today, yes it is the 16th of December. Dan kindly pointed out that Greg is shirtless. It is strange. I was in a rush. Hopefully next year's card will make up for it! If we would have taken a true family picture Hayes would have been in his superman tshirt, athletic shorts, crocs and baseball cap - instead he is wearing a coordinated outifit and he is staring daggers through the camera lense. Camille is loooking down, lily ahs a fake smile and I need to shed my winter layer of stored fat. Pressing forward..... that will be my 2010 motto!