Testimonies & Thoughts

I was driving home after an exhausting day of errands. It was dark, but it was still early in the night. My cell phone rang, and it was a woman who I had started to have deeper conversations with. Making friends was very difficult during this time, because our family was under so much stress constantly and I was trying to balance all of our needs; including my need to reach out and not stay isolated.   "Rachelle, I am headed to your house to drop off some Target Gift Cards we got your family for Christmas. Are you home?" she asked. "No, but Scott is and I am only five minutes away. I am heading there right now."  I was so excited to be there to receive her gift. It was so thoughtful. "OK. I cannot stay, but I will at least drop them off." I restated that I was literally around the corner, and that I would be there in just a few minutes. I practically begged her to wait for me, so I could at least say hello and thank her face to face. I ...

Before I explain the Spiritual catalyst that finally prompted us to completely stop celebrating Christmas, I want to tell a few more bittersweet examples of how my Christmas experiences, after my husband's accident, were changing my mindset about the entire holiday. [ If you have not already, Read Part 1 of this post Here ] Shortly after he was discharged from his two-month stay in the hospital, I received three calls from representatives who informed me that our family had been "chosen" to be the recipients (AKA "the project family") of Christmas gifts and donations from a local organization that helps keep teens off drugs, a group of kind teachers from the new school our second grader had started attending, and there was a group of attorneys. On one hand, this sounds amazing!  He we were completely displaced from our home, in a completely new city, had no income source at all other than our dependence on donations that were fortunately coming in, and we ...

Christmas is five days away, and I don't have any presents bought for our kids, we don't have a Christmas Tree up, and there is no big family Christmas get together to look forward to. I did at least buy a Winter Wreath (Semi-Christmas Holiday looking) for our front door and decorated our living space with a red tablecloth and red throw blanket. Photo Courtesy of My Daughter, KaraJR The kids did get to attend all their group Christmas parties (I am trying to build community and meaningful relationships around them and these are all put on by their school or groups they are involved with, so we walked through the motions of these events for the relationship benefits.): Elementary Music Performance High School Christmas Concert Fifth Grade Class Party 4 H Christmas Party PLA Christmas Party (4H Leadership) Junior Church Group Christmas Party Ninth Church Group Christmas Party Junior Class Christmas Party So, why am I the seemingly modern "Bah Humbu...