Closing the Christmas Chapter.

Gracious, already turned the page on another Christmas holiday this week. The month of December came in like a lion. Family schedules can be so harsh but delightful all at the same time. Jeremy and I didn't know how we, oh wait, that was me, would we get it all taken care of before it was over; however, we did, but not before some long moments of silence, a married couple glare or two (or maybe three), or a family fit in the car. (Go ahead, cast that stone, I'm sure you and your family have never endured a fit in the car!) We survived the busiest weekend of the month less electricity. The Christmas pageant at church was presented to congregation. We enjoyed our family gatherings with fabulous food and laughs. My husband awarded me with my annual 2013 survival patch for the receiving of the snide remarks of a certain family member that must shoot and aim while I'm in her darling presence. (Everyone has that ONE in their family, right?) Rockie, our family Elf, was ever present. Santa delivered just as Sloan and Josie thought he may; Skylar was pleased with the givings of the season. I savored every moment of paper demolishing just as every shopping mom does! We gathered again and ate more. The Circus was tired, a few even cranky. One additional family gathering and we were in the clear for the season. The parental mindset is just one more. One more. Done. Keep on going. While traveling to the last stop, the car was quiet. Not too much left to be said or at least that's what I thought. So much happens when we're making too much noise to hear!  Sloan, who had been in the ultimate state of cranky sisterhood, whispers in the middle seat... "Jos" "Jos, are you asleep?" Josie: "Nope." Sloan: "Jos... Jos, I love you."  BE. STILL. HEART. My HEART was instantly FULL. Not from the gifts, not from the food, not from the family gatherings, but from that quiet, tired car ride to our last stop, I received my favorite gift of the 2013 season. I then pondered, in the lion roar at the beginning of the month, in the Christmas music, in the sounds of loading and unloading the Circus to and from, in the sounds of my fussing, in the sounds of my tired groans, the sounds of the mountains braking into pieces, the winds howling around me, after the earthquake, a fire (hold on, not literal, with the exception of the brief moment making Gorilla Bread,!) my, my, what OTHER whispers had I missed!  Did I sport that "Elijah hat" all month long and miss the still small voice? As the chapter comes to a close, I sit back and enjoy the blessing of the lesson of the quiet whisper that I did hear. May God bless our Circus with a quiet, whispering filled 2014, in which we hear!  

And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-13