What I really wanted for Christmas

I’ve been wanting the Joy of Christmas real badly this year. I actually wanted it for a long time. Why? Well, it’s actually quite simple, although it’s a deep theological truth. The first article of the Westminster Catechism states, that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Okay, now I know why I’m on earth, but what does that have to do with the Joy of Christmas? Patience, I’m getting there.
Not too long ago I discovered, mainly through the works of John Piper and Jonathan Edwards, that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. You see what I’m getting at?! By wanting to enjoy Christmas, I, the old Bah humbug, was actually going to fulfil my duty of glorifying God. So, I went out of my way, to find the Joy of Christmas.
I watched “Songs of Praise”, something that I usually don’t do to myself. But desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose? Those sappy songs somehow caught me off guard. Okay, I admit it; they did make my eyes water a bit. But really, those weren’t the emotions I was looking for.
Ever since Thanksgiving we’ve been listening to our Christmas music, all 15 hours of it, repeatedly. I realise, that they all sing the same songs, more or less. But by now I feel as if I had enough of that genre for at least another year.
What else did I do in my pursuit of joy? I spent a whole day shopping online, only to find out, that some of the stuff would not be delivered in time. So, we still had to go and brace the crowds on the worst shopping day of the year. Yeah, that did create strong emotions in me. But not the ones I was looking for.
I’ve seen the eyes of our children, when they opened their presents on Christmas morning. I enjoyed that a lot. But than I thought of all those children that didn’t get anything this year, and I realised, that stuff can never deliver the Joy of Christmas.

I’m sure, by now you want to tell me to look to the child in the manger. Somebody told me not long ago, that: “Happiness is situational. Joy is positional.” So. I tried to position myself closer to Jesus. But to be honest, I haven’t gotten real excited yet. I’m sure it’s not his fault. I think my soul is hardened by decades of well-meaning yet unhelpful Christmas traditions. I know the story. I’ve read it. I’ve seen it acted out by children. I’ve heard it over and over again (it’s most numbing when it comes out of tiny speakers in big shopping malls). No genuine joy has laid hold of me this season. In fact, as far as I can see, it is outside my power to obtain. How can I get a desire that I don’t have and I can’t create?

Some weeks ago I started to read the book “When I Don’t Desire GOD”. John Piper stuck a cord in me: “Now there was only one hope, the sovereign grace of God. God would have to transform my heart to do what a heart cannot make itself do, namely, want what it ought to want. Only God can make the depraved heart desire God.”

I know what I am continue reading this year. You should check it out for yourself and go to Piper’s website where you can download FREE e-books! (By the way, I’m not paid for this advertisement.) Maybe we can both discover the real Joy of Christmas, incase you were also searching for it. That would personally be my favorite gift this year.

Roger's podcast

Fiona takling

Here we are with only just over 3 weeks to go here in Germany. We, as usual, have put off many things and now have loads to do. Ugh! Oh well...

We had a really nice half term holiday. We got to visit a number of friends and sleep in. We also had great weather most of the time which was a major plus. We are now really cold and had to break out the heavy coats--which I was hoping we wouldn't have to do before we leave here.

Elena had her birthday and Fiona's is next week. She's of course extremely excited. She tells everyone she wants a new Barbie, a computer, a digital camera and an MP3 player! Nothing complicated about her. Unfortunately, she won't get these. However, I'm sure she'll enjoy the day despite that. One thing she gets to do is put her new earrings in.

Well, today ended up being quite a day. We had beautiful weather and at lunch, Oma said she wondered when the girls would get their ears pierced. They had all wanted to have it done but we hadn't gotten round to it. At about 3pm, the girls, Helga and Kathy left for the shop. Fiona went first and was really brave. Elena knew what was to come since she had had hers done once before but they had gotten infected and grown back. We thought Sydney wouldn't want to have hers done after seeing the other 2 but had already made up her mind and wouldn't be moved! Now we have to remember to turn them every day and put the antiseptic on them so we can have a house full of earrings!!

Wow! It's been 3/4 of a year since our first (and last) posting. Sad, but true. Loads has happened since then so I'll give a quick rundown.

Our studies went well, on the whole. It wasn't easy but we could see our progress. It was nice to go to the store and not stand there looking dumb when asked a question. We could even carry on small conversations--of sorts--with parents of other kids, etc.

It was again hard to leave another place. One would think we'd get used to it as often as we've done it, but it doesn't work that way. We seem to leave little bits of our hearts wherever we go.

There are many highlights of our last few months. One was in April when Rob and Sheila, Laurel and Sean along with Nana Dorthy, came to visit us. We had a great time seeing the sights of Paris, Nice and Monaco together. (Sounds rather exotic, eh?)

Other highlights were our trip back to England for the month of July. It was great to see everyone and even to stay in our old flat! It was just too bad they didn't get their order thru for less rain!

Now we are in Germany. Elena and Fiona are in yet another new school and Sydney is in another new kindergarten. They like it so far. It wasn't as intimidating as starting school in France was because they can speak and understand German already. They have made friends and even get to ride the bus every day. Sydney in particular likes this as it somehow makes her feel more independent.

Elena turn 9 on Sunday! It's hard to believe. She will have a sleep over with a few friends--we'll see how much they all sleep! I'm sure they'll have a good time, I just hope we do too!

Christmas in Germany

We had a wonderful time in Germany, celebrating Christmas with Roger's parents and sister Helga. The girls received mountains of presents. The parents must have been naughty throughout 2006, because we didn't get near as many presents as they did. ;-)

Just after the celebrations were over, Roger took our car back to Leeds. We have to sell the thing since it has the steering wheel on the wrong side and no insurance cover for France anymore. Roger drove, together with Friedhelm, an old friend, on the 27th and came back the next day via Manchester airport. We're thankful, that we've got the vehicle safely back on the island were it will soon be sold.

In the meantime we purchased another one in Germany (with the steering wheel on the correct side). This one is a VW Passat. Its two years older than our old van, much smaller but with better gas milage. It was very encouraging the way we got it. It cost 400 Euros more than we had budgeted. However, we went ahead and agreed to purchase it, trusting that the money would be there by the time we had to pay. The night before the purchase we had received 300 Euros when our girls offered their Christmas money to make up for the rest. Overwhelmed by their generosity, we accepted their offer. Since the children gave so much toward the purchase they got to choose the name for the wheels. We're now driving "Madame Blueberry".

Now we're back in France (we arrived on Friday the 5th of January). School starts again tomorrow. We'll let you know how we're getting on, thinking in French again.