There are some things I used to do every year during the Christmas season. But this year? I can't get around to doing most of them. 

 

I'm barely baking. Crafts are a no-go, except for a few simple peel-and-stick ones I picked up for the kids to make. This is the only countdown to Christmas we're sort of doing this year. While I don't feel bad about any of this, I do feel a little bit sad about the things I want to do but can't. 

 

And then I realized: This is not the only year. (Unless Jesus comes back, and in that case - WOOOOO!)

 

There will be other years to do more than I can do this year. I will not always have four babies at the same time. Eventually, and maybe even next Christmas, we'll be able to pick back up where we left off on some of our traditional holiday baking and sharing of gifts with those in need in our community and who knows what else?

 

Next year. Or the year after that. Or not. Because we don't know what God has in store. But I'm finding it good to realize that "not this year" doesn't mean "never again." It just means "not this year."

 

So there's that, in case you needed to hear that too. :)