Heirs with Christ

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:58:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"It is on God that we should wait, as a waiter waits--not for but on the customer--alert, watchful, attentive, with no agenda of his own, ready to do whatever is wanted. 'My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.' (Ps. 62:5 KJV) In Him alone lie our security, our confidence, our trust. A spirit of restlessness and resistance can never wait, but one who believes he is loved with an everlasting love, and knows that underneath are the everlasting arms, will find strength and peace."

— Elisabeth Elliot (Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity)

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:39:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"When you chose to follow the way of purity, did you expect it to be easy? When you decided to wait for the best, did you think that waiting would be fun? Did you think that your faith would not be tested? When you decided to take the narrow path, did no one warn you that difficulties, hardship, and tears would be part of the journey, and that you would often face rejection from others and be forced to walk alone? My daughter, that which you wait for the longest you treasure the most, and through much struggle the prize is won." — Sarah Mally (Before You Meet Prince Charming: A Guide to Radiant Purity)

(Musical) Waiting Wednesdays: Hallelujah in the Wait

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:16:00 +0000

On Monday night, we had a party at our house. After the crowds cleared out, I noticed an old song I'd long forgotten about playing from our iPod. My heart simultaneously soared and broke in two at the painful and beautiful memory. In September 2010, during our wait for Amelia, I'd spent an hour drive from Birmingham sobbing with this song on repeat as it ministered to my heart. I was so filled with emotion that I had to pull over to the side of the road and jot my thoughts on an envelope, which I later posted on this blog. The song and post are below. For those of you who are waiting, I hope it ministers to you like it did to me.
--------------------------------------------------------------

My heart is singing a lullaby in minor key. It never stops. It is the song of my heart as we wait to adopt Amelia. While it's sound is mournful, it's only lyric is one of praise: "Hallelujah."

We trust God in this wait. We praise Him for it. He is taking His time to compose a symphony. A beautiful song, like a meaningful life story, takes time to build up to its masterful climax.

Amelia's song is not some cheap commercial jingle. It is a part of God's Magnum Opus. In minor key and in major, we praise our great Composer.

We wait for Amelia, but ultimately, we wait for our God. We long for our daughter, but above all, we ache to see the beauty of our Creator through the song that He writes with her life.

We are in love with a daughter we have not touched, and a Father we have not seen. But make no mistake -- they are both real, and they are both the cry of our hearts.

And with outstretched arms
I will sing a melody
And my beating heart
Will pour out a symphony
Hallelujahs in the morning
Hallelujahs in the night
I will wait for You
As long as I have life

If you'd like to hear the song that inspired this post -- the song that has become the voice of my heart in this adoption -- then click below.

Loving God is Weird Enough

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:52:00 +0000

On Friday afternoon, I loaded into a van with six other adoptive mamas and headed to the Created for Care adoption conference. You need to understand something about (many) adoptive mamas. They feel deeply burdened for the needs that they see. They feel responsible to be the answer. I’m not bragging, as you’ll see in the post to follow. ACTION does not always equal obedience. WE are never the answer; Christ alone is.

As we shoved luggage into the trunk, some joked that our husbands might groan at us all coming home determined to adopt more, advocate more, fundraise more, help more, do more...

Although we were joking, something in my exhausted heart grew nervous. Since the day we came home with Amelia, I’ve felt an urgency to begin the “next” step. I’ve wanted to know what the next big thing would be that God has for us. After seeing the beauty that Amelia, adoption, and nonconformity had brought to our lives, I learned I can no longer live life by status quo. Out of a desire to challenge the comfort that I daily default into, my mind frantically searched for an uncomfortable next step. More children? How? When? Fostering? WHAT IS NEXT, LORD!? But God had not revealed what the next step should be.

with Aunt Rebe/Aunt Sister!

So as we headed towards the conference, the heavy gray cloud that had been looming over my head for months… that big, “WHAT NEXT, LORD” question-cloud seemed to lower itself heavily onto my already tired shoulders.

I prepared myself mentally for a barrage of statistics and stories about the vastness of the orphan crisis. Adoptive mamas often focus on how great the need is. Tremendous need. We want to shock ourselves and the world awake to those problems that we so selfishly ignore. I felt sure that during the conference, I would hear of needs that would pierce my heart and make God’s direction clear about who/when/how we would next adopt, and what special needs we should take on. I expected answers from God, but failed to notice the fear with which I braced myself to receive His direction.

You can be sure that when “God’s will” feels like a fearful burden, you are forgetting grace and living by your own strength.

This adoption conference was not what I expected.
Praise God, instead of focusing on the greatness of the need, we focused on the greatness of our God.

And the burden began to lift. It was almost as if I could hear Jesus whisper, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I never realized how legalistic I had become in my quest to live outside of the box.

I listened to at least a dozen godly women recount how God had called them into radical lives of obedience. I sat with pen in hand, ready to jot down how they heard God and how they pursued each “next big thing.” I never got an answer. They all seemed to shrug in wonder at the greatness of a God who orchestrates unexplainable circumstances and beauty into their lives in ways that they never imagined or planned. None of them set out for “radical lives.” They simply set out to know the love of their God. Their lives were a work of the Lord, not of themselves.

I went on a different retreat nearly a year ago and spent the weekend begging God for direction. God clearly whispered to my heart then that I needed to know less about upcoming steps and more about Him, His Word.

For the second time now, God is making it clear: I need to worry less about seeking radical action and instead seek radical relationship to the Savior who is willing to come near. I need to be transformed by the love He offers when I sit constantly in His presence. I JUST. NEED. HIM.

And as my heart unites to His, His plans for my life will unfold perfectly.
Stop worrying about nonconformity. Just love God. That’s weird enough. The rest will fall into place.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Fear of Love = Damnation

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:06:00 +0000

I'm reading this (so far awesome) marriage book and wishing those who disdain marriage would read these arguments. Anyway, he quotes this great C.S. Lewis line for those scared to commit. Enjoy! (My retreat starts tomorrow, yay!)
"Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the coffin or casket of your selfishness. But in that casket-- safe, dark, motionless, airless-- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation."

Created for Care

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:50:00 +0000

Anyone else going to the Created for Care conference this weekend? I'm beyond excited... Seriously... Rest, worship, and new friends who love Jesus and adoption? It's going to be GOOD! (speaking of rest, check out sweet Caroline getting hers!) Let me know if you're coming to the conference so I can look forward to meeting you!!

(see full image)

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:03:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done." — Elisabeth Elliot (Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control)

Dreaming

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:03:00 +0000

No, the picture has nothing to do with anything... But how cute are all of the cousins on my side of our family!?
Our home computer is dead so I've dropped off of the blogging world lately, except for small updates I can peck out on my well-loved iTouch! (What did people do before technology!?)
But God is using the freed up time away from computers to really spark some ministry ideas in me. I am just dreaming of what He might be willing to do in my life. Please Lord, let it be.
I so long for my life to be ministry regardless of the fact that I'll probably never be on an official "position of ministry." I'll keep on "tent making" happily if God will please transform me into the kind of person whose life preaches, regardless of the circumstances. I know I don't deserve for Him to do that in me but I'm learning that He'll do more than we could ever ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
So how do I get from this dreaming stage to the point where God has radically undone my life and exchanged it for His in me? All I know is that it involves His grace, leaps of faith, death to self, and the kind of suffering and beauty that I'll never deserve... but pray to humbly accept.
Please God, get me there!!

Here Comes Monday

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:47:00 +0000

What an incredible weekend! I learned so much that my head is reeling and spirit is soaring... The positivity of my dad, the global purpose of the Honduran missionary, the obedience of my sweet "Esther's sister" who is starting Friday night prayer meetings, the AWESOME sermon my husband preached about following God's callings for us rather than conformity, the testimony of Old Testament Joseph...

Plus this amazing feeling that God is leading us to... To I don't know what... But soon! I truly can't wait to see what the week holds.

In the meantime, I'll simply enjoy watching Amelia sing "yogurt cha cha cha" as she eats a Sunday night snack! :) God bless your fresh week, as well!

Weekend!!

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:31:00 +0000

So far this weekend, I:
* got a new hair cut
* watched an AU gymnastics meet with my parents and girls
* ran 10 miles... At one time! (hello, double digits!)
* ate lunch with new friends from LaGrange who've decided to adopt two children from Uganda (which will make their 5th & 6th children... I adore big families!!)
* lounged around with my parents... Ahhh!
Before the weekend is over I will also:
* go to a dinner to talk about an awesome Honduran orphan ministry that some people from our church support
* enjoy the usual Sunday get-togethers
* go to the last (regular) monthly meeting for my one year women's Bible study. It's been an incredible year with them. I hate to see it end!

Who says Friday nights get boring once you have kids? :)

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:56:00 +0000

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:18:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life." - Simone Weil

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:11:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"I had tended to view waiting as mere passivity. When I looked it up in my dictionary however, I found that the words passive and passion come from the same Latin root, pati, which means "to endure." Waiting is thus both passive and passionate. It's a vibrant, contemplative work. It means descending into self, into God, into the deeper labyrinths of prayer. It involves listening to disinherited voices within, facing the wounded holes in the soul, the denied and undiscovered, the places one lives falsely. It means struggling with the vision of who we really are in God and molding the courage to live that vision." - SUE MONK KIDD, When the Heart Waits

Sister Babies

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:31:00 +0000

I love my two babies. Yes, they're nearly 2 and nearly 4 years old, but they'll always be my babies. And they love each other ALMOST as much as I love them. Check out this precious (although low quality cell-phone) picture of them holding hands walking in from the carpool line to school yesterday.

Let's zoom:

It makes me literally laugh-out-loud joyful to see how those two enjoy each other.

My Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:17:00 +0000

Ok, so I need to tell you what yesterday's surprise was.
Last night, we were having a really fun make-your-own pizza night with our family of four, our roommate Chelsey, our January guest Jacob, and our little friend "Jay." I'm not great at cooking or creative-family-fun time, so to me, this was a pretty fun night! It got even better.

Jay and Brad left for the garage for a looong time, and came back with quite the surprise.

Just two days before, I'd blogged my 2012 wish list. Little did I know that Brad had had it turned into artwork and framed it with Jay!! I can't explain why it hit me so sentimentally, but I cried. It was just such a personal, thoughtful, quick-turnaround, unexpected gift.

Here's the jpeg:

He hung it in my closet.

It makes me think I'll really be meeting some goals this year! :)

Such a Sweet Surprise!!!

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:56:00 +0000

Oh I can't wait to write tomorrow about the sweet surprise Brad had for me today! But the bed is calling my name for tonight. :)

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:08:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"We will wait. We will wait till all is made righteous (glorious) according to the word of God."

— John Piper (A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God)

My 2012 Wish List

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:08:00 +0000

Our Christmas was fantastic.

It feels good to end the year so well, surrounded by loved ones and so much to be thankful for, during a season of Christ and Advent (though, as always, clouded by my own sin and busyness and materialism and stress – but still somehow wonderful despite me!).

It feels even better to face a fresh start. A new year. A blank calendar. A chance to reflect on the past and set goals for the future. A time to dream big and lean on God with our greatest, most frightening hopes.

What do I want for 2012?
Here is what I want:

To love better. To work harder at home. To say “yes” more. To be thinner. :) To support my husband. To be more thoughtful. To leave my own head. To become an extrovert. To run in races. To sell our home. To learn to live on less. To be more generous. To live with hands wide open, so that as blessings of time, money, stuff flow in, they instantly flow out. To write more. To be fearlessly creative. To not care what others think. To stand up for myself. To have pretty hair. :) To spend more time with my girls. To go… just go… even if we don’t know what that means… because neither did Abraham when he left Ur. To live as though Christ is center of all – because He is. To read the whole Bible. To study a few books of the Bible in depth. To feel my passion for Christ reawaken. To drop legalism. To embrace grace. To eat better. To teach my girls to eat better. To cook more. To tackle some big, secret projects. :) To drop other big, secret projects. :) To shun comfort in favor of growth. To delete “circumstances” from my personal definition of contentment. To stop thinking of excuses. To ski. To play tennis. To take trips. To pray for those who wait. To think globally. To love globally. To encourage others to not only adopt, but to see the God-story that is played out through adoption. To celebrate birthdays in my family like they’re going out of style. To end the year amazed at how far we’ve come and head spinning at how we ever got there.

And there’s more. Brad and I still haven’t sat down to goal-plan for 2012, but I hope we will this weekend. I do not want an accidental life. I am ready for all that God has for us.

How about you? Are you making plans for the life God has for you?

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:04:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Last year, I wrote an angry post blasting 2011 for appearing without our promised daughter. Oops. Sorry, 2011. You did, in fact, bring Amelia home. Hehe. This January 1st, I fed my TWO girls a pancake breakfast before loading the TWO of them in the car to go to church. What a difference a year makes. :-)

I have to say that I am happier with who I am today than with who I was a year ago. I've had quite a few victories this year. I'm not sure what my last year's resolutions were, but I know that this year, I love God's Word ten times more than I did last year, and FINALLY am in the Bible consistently. I am gaining an understanding of what it means to let God be my strength when I don't have enough, and it's enabled me to serve more and fathom SOME DAY finally following God's voice wherever He leads.

Of course, it's not all improvement... I've lost a lot of the raw spiritual passion and dependence on God that came with the painful wait we were enduring last year, and I'd love to get that reliance on Him and absolute fervor back. I do not want to grow cold. I can feel comfort seeping in to every area of my life, and I see spiritual red flags waving wildly.

On a lighter note, I forgive myself for the ten pounds I put on this year because

This time last last year, I was depressed about Amelia not being home and was half starving myself... the happy me can't compete with that :)
despite the ten pounds, I am healthier by far this year with my new running routine, and
I just like me better these days, even when my exterior isn't what it used to be.

Don't get me wrong. I still have some fitness resolutions in mind. :) I just won't hate myself if I don't keep them.

2011:

one niece and one nephew born!
ridiculous adoption delays culminated in a travel date to get Amelia!
3 weeks in Uganda, a million small miracles, bringing Amelia home to a sister who loves her as much as we do
my dad finds out he has a slew of heart problems, has surgery, and then has 2 strokes
my dads recovery is miraculous (but keep praying for even more recovery!) and he even goes back to work!
my brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and niece move home from Japan
a million new possibilities in store for 2012...

Welcome 2012!

Waiting Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:06:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"But, someone, please give me—who is born again but still so much in need of being born anew—give me the details of how to live in the waiting cocoon before the forever begins?"

— Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are)

Battles

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:27:00 +0000

The other day, I ran across some pictures of Amelia's first days at home. Both of my girls look miserable. I laughed out loud. At the time, I thought we were doing great. Sometimes it is only in hindsight that I realize how difficult a phase of life really was... we just had so much to be thankful for that I was blind to the difficulty... but 1 year olds and 3 years olds aren't always counting their blessings when they're sleep deprived and have had their worlds turned upside down. Adjusting to huge life changes is no piece of cake, even when the changes bring remarkable blessing.

at least Brad is smiling :)

can't tell if Amelia is screaming or laughing. Caroline is not happy!

I am thankful that we have very few pictures like these... I think our adjustment period was very short lived. What can I say? I have some wonderful, adaptable girls who just lean towards "happy" most of the time! (And we're humble about it! Ha.)

My brother's family has recently moved home from three years in Japan, and that jogged my memory regarding how difficult adjustment can be. Not that bringing home Amelia compares to their moving across the world. :) I'm just saying.

We're so happy to have them home. I'm looking forward to the first Christmas in a long time with my whole side of the family! (Followed by Christmas with Brad's side of the family, woohoo!)

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Plato

Waiting Wednesdays - Advent

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:27:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

"Advent links our hearts with those of ancient prophets who pined for a long-promised Messiah but who passed away long before his arrival. In the process, Advent reminds us that we too are waiting." - Timothy Paul Jones

Waiting Wednesdays - Advent

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

For those of you who are waiting...

" 'The whole creation,' St. Paul declared, 'has been groaning together for redemption.' In Advent, Christians embrace this groaning and recognize it not as hopeless whimpering over the paucity of the present moment but as expectant yearning for a divine banquet that is already being prepared. In Advent, believers proclaim that the infant who drew his first ragged breath between a virgin’s knees has yet to speak his final word. In Advent, the church admits, as poet R.S. Thomas has put it, that 'the meaning is in the waiting.' And what we await is a final Advent that is yet to come." - Timothy Paul Jones

Concert + Prayers Needed!

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:26:00 +0000

We're going to the best concert ever with my dad tonight. I could not be more pumped. I laughed my way through a five mile run just thinking about the miraculous ways God had pulled my dad through the medical year from Hades. He came with me to this concert last year, and we were knocked off our feet by God's grace shining through it then. How much more so one year later, one huge heart surgery later, two strokes later, a million miracles later!

Also, please pray today and tomorrow for the Ribbens family. Looong ago, I talked on the phone several times to adoptive mama Sara and instantly loved her. They got to Africa two days after we got home with Amelia. THEY ARE STILL THERE. They have court on December 14, which falls partially today in U.S. time. So please pray. Their story is on the video below.

The Great Santa Debate

noreply@blogger.com (RACHEL) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:28:00 +0000

Ugggggg!!!!
I hate this topic!
Do you hear me? I HATE this topic!

Yet, it’s worth addressing. I think. I hope. Please feel free to write many affirming, church-unifying comments at the end of this email to feed my fragile ego (kidding!... sort of) and reassure me that the Santa debate does not have to be divisive! We can all be friends!

Recently, a couple of Christian bloggers have raised the question: Santa or no Santa? I’d been asking the question myself for years, and now that Caroline is nearly four, we had to make a call.

We were torn. We wrestled. We avoided. We waffled. We finally decided... Santa will be a "pretend game that lots of people have fun with," according to our household. Please refrain from throwing tomatos. Hear me out.

It was just a family, personal choice. No, I’m not one of those people who think that “Santa” is one letter away from “Satan.” I don't claim that they wear the same red suit! If your family practices the Santa tradition, I think that’s fun!

So feel free to disagree with our family's stance. I highly doubt that God will choose whether we spend eternity in heaven or in hell based on how we handle the tradition of the jolly man with a jelly belly.

Here were our pros and cons.

Amelia in fur last Christmas. (No, it was not cold in Uganda!)

Pro Santa:

It’s fun!
My parents did it for us, and I loved the tradition until I was eight and a stinky kid spoiled it for me. I cried.
Santa is a generous guy. I am still touched by the way my parents lavished us with gifts on Christmas, yet took no credit for it, all to make some magic for us. AND they somehow simultaneously taught us to NOT BE MATERIALISTIC. I am thankful to my parents for how they handled both Christmas, generosity, and their children's attitudes towards STUFF. It's a picture of God the Father, isn't it?
The historic story of St. Nicholas is a great way to show the importance of caring for the poor, the needy, the children.
I think C.S. Lewis once had some awesome quote about the positive effect of fairy tales on a child’s ability to develop faith. Or I could be totally wrong. Hmm… Anyway, fairy tales can be good.

Con Santa:

It *could* distract children from Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas. (Let’s face it… the Santa tradition is so stinkin’ awesome, and so much more understandable to children than theology. Baby Jesus in a barn gets lost in the excitement of gifts headed "my" way through magic and flying reindeer.)
It *could* contribute to selfishness and materialism… the constant, “What do you want for Christmas?” mentality. Children might learn that it's all about them, and about getting, rather than giving.

The Cons Against Santa That I Don’t Buy Into:

Some say it’s lying to our children. I disagree. I could be wrong, but it just seems like a fun game.
Some claim that when children find out that Santa isn’t real, they’ll wonder if God isn’t real, as well. I doubt this is often the case. I guess anything can happen, but I don't see this as a common issue. But hey, I can always be wrong.

In any case, in our desire to keep Jesus as the clear center of the holidays, we evicted Mr. Claus.
Are we happy with our decision?

UGGGG!!!
Yes and no. I love focusing solely on Jesus coming (and future coming) during Advent. But we've already had a big uh-oh moment...

Caroline last year

The other day, Caroline pointed to a dressed up Santa-man and asked me if “that is the real Santa over there.” We'd already told her that Santa was just a fun game, so I was surprised that she once again believed him to be real. (These things happen at preschool, I suppose.) I explained to her that none of them are the REAL Santa, because it’s all a fun game of pretend. We've now talked about this several other times when she seemed to get confused.

But then, in preschool, she announced to the class that Santa is not real. That her mom told her so.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

NOOOOO!!!!!!

So now MY child is just like the stinky kid who made me cry on the bus when I was eight. Except these kids aren't eight... they're preschoolers! Their parents are NOT ready to give up the Santa game.

So despite the fact that none of these kids gave a moments thought to Caroline's blunder...

and despite the fact that they all "KNOW" that Santa is real...

and despite the fact that they (thankfully) wrote my daughter off as crazy...

I have heard that some of the class moms have death threats out for me. (Ok, not literally. But almost.)

I’M SORRY! Please forgive me and trust that I am now doing EVERYTHING in my power to keep my girls from ever doing this again! Please know that I understand your frustration. Please show this I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing Mama some much needed grace!

Please help me! Can any of you offer advice? I am now sure that our family’s Christmas traditions will exclude Santa, but I don’t want to become an outcast in society and ruin everyone else’s Christmas, as well! How do I keep Caroline’s precious know-it-all mouth shut? (And Amelia's, as soon as she's old enough to spoil Santa!) And how do I keep the focus on Christ’s coming and off of the Great Santa Debate!? Please tell me!

For a Santa-debate blog post waaaay better than this one, (and well worth reading,) click here.