Savoring

This morning in my hurrying around the house, my eyes were drawn to our boys who were intently staring out the dining room window. Frozen like statues, it's extremely uncharacteristic of them, and so I decided it was in my best interest to investigate. ("Quiet" is never, ever a good thing with twins.)
"What are you guys looking at?" I inquired. "A sqwall," they replied. Sure enough, there was a chubby gray squirrel nervously gathering snacks from our lawn. We sat there together a while, watching this little guy.
And it got me to thinking.
The holiday season can be so busy. The hustle and bustle of decorating, food preparations, gift buying and giving. As a mom of five, I know all too well just how crazy it can get. The pressure of getting everything done, filling the calendar with various obligatory activities and events, coping with the highs and lows of excited, yet overtired children...it can make your head spin. In this last week of preparing for Christmas, I'm finding myself in that panic state, trying to accomplish all that "must" be done. As I hurried around the kitchen, I felt that anxious feeling rising to my throat once again...and then the "sqwall" happened. Watching my boys enjoying the simplicity of the moment, I was reminded to stop and savor. Reminded that my "musts" need to be redefined and expectations require alterations in order for life to be enjoyed fully. That even through the busyness of the holidays, taking time to stop and simply be and soak in all that life offers is where joy abounds.
Because in all truth...Christmas isn't just about cookies or parties, presents or decorations. Those should be the icing on the cake, not the stresses of the season. In making those things priority, we've forgotten the simplistic, beautiful story of a Baby born that would grow into a Man that would one day give us hope for a future and a reason to celebrate and soak in the present.
Here's to the last week of Christmas...to taking it slow and savoring it moment by moment.