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.