Christmas Shopping

I love Christmas shopping.

Like, really, really, really, really love it.

I make my lists early in the year and keep my eyes open every time I frequent stores so that I can get the most out of this super wonderful opportunity to buy presents for lots of people I love. In my opinion, Christmas shopping is far too fun to leave for just a couple days of the year!

So it shouldn't surprise you that I've had this in my closet for a couple months already, purchased on eb@y for a steal and awaiting 3 kids first thing Christmas morning. I've ordered Bronwyn and Jackson's accompanying gifts, too.

I also ordered this for our bedtime read-aloud during the month of December. It's one of my favorites and I am already looking forward to sharing it with my children.

(Speaking of books, I bought this shortly after finding that we would have 4 little ones this holiday season so that I could tuck one book in each stocking for winter reading. I'm equally excited about this purchase, especially since I got a great deal on it!)

Today Daniel and I are off to spend a day together* near some real stores and I will do more shopping for Christmas. I excuse my highly anticipatory shopping by telling myself that it will be infinitely harder once the baby has arrived. But mostly it's just one of my favorite things to do.

And I absolutely love seeing the closet slowly accumulate all sorts of goodies: a bag of stocking-stuffers, a bag of things for cousins, a bag of books and pajamas designated for our Advent celebration, and many more. I love anticipating the smiles and hours of play that those bags represent.

It makes me wonder how God felt as He planned out Redemption's Story. How much more did He know what His Gift would mean to His children?


*Since my birthday gift from Daniel went straight toward our new dining room table and chairs purchase-- and because I love spending time together as much as getting a gift (honest)-- we are spending the day together. Shopping is not what I would consider one of Daniel's favorite things to do, but he is nice to me and keeps me company on such outings.