It’s no secret that I basically like everything to be pretty all the time.  One of the reasons for my Martha Stewart nick name.  It’s okay…I’m fine with it…I’ve come to terms…after all I am much more like Martha…though God is working on transforming my heart to be more like Mary!  This time of year I LOVE to decorate for Christmas…it is certainly one of my favorite things!

I’m not one of those people who decorates slowly…I’m in it for the long haul.  The day after Thanksgiving is transformation day baby!  My husband leaves in the morning from fall and comes home to Christmas…which is usually when the Martha comments come.  Wire ribbon bows…Christmas bulbs everywhere in anything that will stand still…garland and lights…poinsettias…nativities…snowmen…winter dishes (a slightly smaller obsession than shoes but a collection nonetheless)…and of course the tree.  This year I was so excited to be able to decorate for the first time our completed basement to which I actually had room for everything!

One area we don’t decorate much (yet) is outside.  This year we only have 2 small wreaths on our house.  Many of our neighbors adorn their homes with lights however…one neighbor in particular who goes ALL out…so driving down our street is like candy cane lane at night.  It’s so fun!  Daddy is admittedly sort of a Grinch when it comes to outdoor lighting so we’re hoping for next year.  I can see his point…I mean the electric meter running constantly and “all that work” for just a few short weeks…but when we remember the reason we do it…isn’t He worth it?

I’ve had the “is it worth it” attitude before…especially when I was pregnant for Jackson.  The thought of climbing and pulling boxes out and going up the stairs a hundred times from the basement and standing on chairs and ladders with about 30 extra pounds on board was not sounding very fun.  My mom and sister generously helped me put up and take down everything that year and I am very thankful they did.  I needed that reminder that YES it is worth all of the work for just a few short weeks.  We should take an entire month to celebrate the birth of our King!  He is a VERY big deal!

I love to see how people decorate for Christmas and take time to acknowledge how special this time of year is. While these homes are but temporary and our eyes have never seen anything like the beauty that awaits in heaven, Jesus is worth our every effort to make things beautiful for Him on this earth.  He is the most beautiful gift we could ever receive and decorating is just one small way we can show our thankfulness to God for sending Him that first Christmas day.  What is your favorite part about decorating for Christmas?

One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.  Psalm 27:4