Another Christmas has come and gone, and at the risk of offending half the civilized world, I am glad it's over. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I love the music, the lights, the decorations....I even grew to love my pathetic fake Christmas tree. What I don't love is the rampant commercialization of such a special day. I don't love it when my kids start whining that so-and-so has more gifts under his tree than they do. I don't love it when a company offers me free shipping on orders of $49 or more, then when I proceed to checkout, deny me the special offer because I have ordered toys (who in the world orders TOYS for Christmas???). I won't mention any names, but that company's initials are Amazon.com. I'm getting off the subject here, but you know what I mean. I don't like the "Oh, I didn't know she was going to get me a gift! I better make a mad dash to the store on Christmas Eve and get her something in return!" Sound familiar? I don't like it when people try to stamp out the true spirit of Christmas. Oh, and let's not leave out the 15 pounds of fudge I have eaten in the last 3 weeks. Forget fruitcake....chocolate candy is the gift that keeps on giving, and I have the skin-tight jeans to prove it.

We were very sad that Blake was unable to be here for Christmas, but we have so many amazing friends here, including our German neighbors, who stepped in to fill the gap. We started the week with a train trip to Neustadt, Germany for a Christmas market (check out our website for pics). In spite of the cold weather, we did some great shopping! On Christmas Eve, the kids and I delivered our own plates of homemade goodies to our neighbors and sang English Christmas carols. Then we enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner with several other women whose spouses are also deployed. After eating a huge meal fit for a king, we cracked open a few bottles of "gluwein" (google it). Hey, it's tradition; I can't mess with tradition. On Christmas day we ate yet another meal with a family from church who graciously opened their home to us, even though they've only known us a few short weeks. It wasn't easy to be apart from Blake. Before he left, I set out to "toughen" my skin. I knew this would be a difficult time, especially over the holidays. I knew the kids would be lost without their daddy on Christmas morning. (I knew I would be lost without him on Christmas Eve, having to play "Santa" and eat 6 chocolate chip cookies, 8 carrots, and drink a whole glass of chocolate milk!) But the lonliness we all felt was eased with the love and generosity of others. Now that is what I mean by the true spirit of Christmas. The love of Christ is something you can't giftwrap; you can't put a price tag on it. It's love that is given freely to those in need. Spirit of Christmas, indeed.

Well, it's only been 8 days since Blake left for the desert, and already my world has begun to spin out of control! Last Monday night, I started getting a sore throat. I thought it was from yelling at the kids too much, but by Wednesday morning, I knew it was the flu. (I think the flu bug has ears, because I was just telling Blake last week that I needed to go get my flu shot soon.) Anyway, I started feeling better over the weekend, but by Sunday the bug had migrated to my chest, and I was coughing up my lungs by noon. I finally made it to the doctor yesterday, only to find out that I have bronchitis and an ear infection. To make matters worse, I had a flat tire on the way home from the doctor's office. So I have to ask other military spouses...Is this normal, and does it get any better?

Christmas is just around the corner, and, as usual, I'm not ready. My tree is up, the pathetic looking fake tree that makes me want to cry. Ever since Blake and I married, it's been a tradition to have a real tree. But not this year. Because of deployment, and in our rush to decorate before Blake left, we (sniff, sniff) settled for a fake tree. It really doesn't look that bad. The kids did a wonderful job of putting the ornaments on it. But, alas, it's not the same. I miss that wonderful aroma of Christmas that lingers all through the house even after the tree is gone. I miss having to keep extra water in the tree stand so that the poor thing doesn't die too early. I miss having to vacuum pine needles off the floor every day......OK, I don't miss that, but I do miss having a real tree.

We have finally figured out exactly how Santa makes it all around the world to deliver toys in just one night. He doesn't do it in one night. He spreads it out. The Germans actually celebrated Christmas last Tuesday. Their "Santa" comes on the night of December 5. The kids put out their boots, and Santa fills the boots with goodies. Then, on Christmas eve, December 24, the Christmas angel comes to bring them the big toys. The kids wanted to put out their boots last week for St. Nick, but we told them that he only delivers to German kids on that night. Truth be told, we just haven't done our Christmas shopping. Why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow, I always say.

My internet stopped working this weekend. It just quit. I woke up Saturday morning with no connection. So I called my friend, Rob, to come over today and fix it. He found the problem right away. My router wasn't plugged in. Technology 101, people....always check to make sure the device is plugged in, or you'll look like a big moron when the computer guy comes to fix your computer.

We hope you all have a safe and wonderful Christmas. May God bless you and your families this holiday season!

This week will be a hard one. Blake is leaving early Tuesday morning for his deployment. Although I am not at liberty to name the location of his "visit," I will say that it is somewhere in the Middle East, and it will be an extended stay. To be honest, I cannot complain, mainly because this is his first deployment in over 8 years of service. But his fellow servicemen in the Marines and Army spend much more time in the desert on just one tour than he will probably spend over the next few years. We are blessed, but that doesn't mean that the Christmas season will be easy without Blake here with us. I am more worried about the kids. I don't think Grace fully understands what is happening, but Troy is very aware and has even started having nightmares about Blake's deployment.

I am planning some activities to keep the kids busy while Blake is gone, hoping that will help ease the pain of our separation. There are so many things to do around here! A friend just returned from a trip to the coast of Spain, where she says it is warm and beautiful. I've been dying to visit Italy, but I'm afraid the kids might get bored with museums and historical sights. I really wanted to get out of the country, but we may just drive to the mountains for a "snow retreat."

We would appreciate your prayers over the next few months. Of course, praying for Blake's physical safety is important, as he will be working in not-so-friendly areas of the world. But I would also ask that you pray that God will use this time away from home and family to draw Blake closer to Him. I have no idea what this deployment will be like or what he will be doing or where he will be going. I do know that He is in God's hands, and my prayer is that God will do a mighty work while he is gone.

If you would like to e-mail Blake, or send snail-mail, please leave a comment with a contact point, and I will forward his addresses. Merry Christmas from our home to yours!