Christmas wrap-up

Every year I start to plan for Christmas early in hope of actually relaxing and enjoying it instead of getting caught up in all the rush, and every year somewhere I get bogged down, and end up again rushed, frantic, and not enjoying Christmas the way that I want to. This year was no different. Back in September I started making lists and planning and yet I still ended up shopping right up until the day before Christmas Eve, and then there's the cookie guilt, I like to cook and bake and yet this year I did not make time to bake one batch of Christmas cookies...ugghhh
But there were some bright spots, mostly the fact that my seven year old took it upon herself to memorize Luke 2:8-14,( the same verse Linus quotes in Charlie Brown Christmas) and that she took great pride that it was right there word for word in Daddy's Bible, which she read from on Christmas Eve (even though she already knew it so she didn't really need to read it). There was also the sheer joy on both children's faces when they saw that Santa did indeed come. There was the fact that after all the presents were opened my daughter looked at me and said "why did Santa bring so much, I don't need this many toys." Maybe "Santa" got too caught up in the frantic rush and commercialism, but its good to know somebody in our house remembered what it is really all about...she's a pretty smart kid...
I'm trying to let go of my perfectionism and take the time to do the important things, so last night even though we were a few days late we baked a birthday cake for Jesus and sang to him, and I felt truly happy...