Our presents have started to arrive from family and friends in the states.
I went to the post office last Friday after a week and had a whopping nine yellow slips in my box. Yellow slips are very important around here…they mean there is a package waiting for you to pick up! So, I took my handful of slips to the desk at the CMR window and asked for a cart to carry my packages out to the car.
I usually am only able to make it to the post office one day a week, on Fridays when the kids are in respite care. It’s just about near impossible for me to pick up packages with the girls and Will with me. They’re too small to help carry them and I only have so many hands to go around. The last time I attemped to manage this task with them in tow, I ended up having a big ole’ cry session in the car after we finally made it there with our mail.
This week, though, I was able to make it out again on Tuesday. I put the children in hourly child care so I could attend a luncheon with our spouses club. And I booked them to stay a little longer so I could run some errands after the luncheon. One of those errands was going by the post office again. I couldn’t believe that I had another huge handful of yellow slips in my box!
My bedroom has become over run with boxes. Seriously, this is what the corner of my bedroom looked like after bringing in all the packages yesterday afternoon.
Last night I began to open boxes and put out the packages that were alreday wrapped. I’m planning to begin wrapping and putting out even more after I run to the PX tomorrow for wrapping supplies.
The girls were so surprised to wake up with presents under the tree this morning!
MC immediately wanted to know who came to her house “last night”. I explained that they were presents that came in the mail from our family. And then had to explain to both of them that they could not open them yet, but that we had to wait until Christmas.
They have admired those wrapped gifts throughout the day, making various comments about them and warning Will that he cannot touch. It has been so much fun to see them get into the spirit of Christmas this year. Not only though being excited about their gifts and our visits with Santa, but also in learning the Christmas story.
Now when we begin to read the story of Christ’s birth and talk about it, when I get to the part of Mary having baby Jesus, EA responds with “Baby Jesus, yeah I know Him”. My prayer is that as they grow and experience the wonder and joy of Christmas they will come to truly KNOW Him.
LifeAtTheCircus says
Merry Christmas!! They all look so lovely under the tree!! I can def relate to the difficulties of going to the post office with 3 kiddos. It is on my top 10 list of places I avoid!!
Stephanie says
So much fun! I am hoping to get some things wrapped today so that the girls can have the same surprise after school today.
I haven’t done a very good job of talking about the Christmas story this year. I love to read the stories about you and yours and thier understanding of God and Jesus.
We are THAT family says
I would love those yellow slips too!
Your tree looks beautiful!
Tidymom says
I just got my tree up 2 days ago , and NO presents are wrapped! Your tree is so pretty with all the gifts under it as well!
Merry Christmas!
~Tidymom
Sally says
Your tree is beautiful, but more beautiful is the parenting job you’re doing. I love to hear when a mom shares the story of Jesus. Thanks for sharing your tree picture. Here’s mine.
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-tradition-decorating-tree.html
shannon says
Your tree looks so pretty. I love the popcorn garland. Have a great holiday!
Kerri says
Yellow cards — yahoo!! Last Christmas I helped in our base post office in Germany and LOVED being able to put yellow cards into mail boxes! I felt sad for people who didn’t any yellow cards, though. Packages are such an amazing boost to the away from home blues during the holidays. I enjoyed playing “Santa” via the US Post Office for the troops. What an honor!
Natalie says
Your tree looks wonderful, and how exciting for your little ones to have all those packages under their tree 🙂
Merry Christmas!