The winter weather has put a rather large blanket of snow on the ground, and with it, the hustle and bustle of the holidays has kicked in even more. With presents to get, cards to mail out and more, the city has become a mad rush.

Yet, in contrast, I have taken a few days off and stayed away from the chaos. It was nice to spend a weekend with my family, and have a few hours to myself. We made Christmas cookies, wrapped presents and watched Christmas movies until we fell asleep.

It is the most wonderful time of the year after all, but it’s not that wonderful if we don’t actually enjoy it.

I’m waiting to pick up my kid, watching the snow drift down and I just have a feeling of thanks. Even though driving in the snow makes me crazy, and it does tend to get very cold around these parts, the first few snows of the season are magical. (That might have something to do with the fact that the snow hasn’t turned brown from the dirt and passing cars.)

I love the way the snow clings to the trees and puts a glimmer on every surface. I love the way the light glow and reflect in the drifts. We have yet gone on a wintry drive to look at the Christmas lights, but after the lake effect snow (hopefully) subsides, we will venture out. It’s something we seem to do every year.

This Christmas will be a very special Christmas for the Fuller family as it will be our last as a three-member family. We are expecting Baby Fuller No. 2 in May, and we are looking forward to it with joy and much Thanksgiving. It is a wonder that God has blessed us with another baby, and we all feel very blessed.

While we look ahead to the future, we are also cherishing our moments now as well. Making cookies with our kiddo, decorating and all of that will be a shared activity next year. While that will make it all the more fun, we are also enjoying each moment in the here and now as well. I guess that’s why these past few days of vacation have meant so much.

I also have been to the rodeo of having a baby, and I know that it will be some time before we have “down time.”

It will be a change for sure, but it will be the best change that could ever occur. Babies are blessings and we can’t wait. I guess between now and May, dear readers, I will have to come up with a nickname for the baby – I can’t say kiddo No. 1 and kiddo No. 2, can I?

I pray that your holidays are filled with just as many blessings.  I also hope that you get a chance to enjoy the season for what it is and not just the rush.