Merry Christmas??

We have now come down to only 12 days before Christmas and I am saying, "Bah Humbug!!" I have no idea what's gotten into me, but I am just not feeling it this year. 


Normally this is my favorite time of year. I have to hold myself back from turning on the Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I can't wait to make Christmas candy and put up all the decorations and advent calendars. (Yes, I have a different one for each child. My parents tradition.)  Christmas shopping and taking drives to look at the lights...all things that make me happy. I redecorate the tree a thousand times because, even though my kids decorate it the first time around, everyone moves things around and lumps like things together. (You must know how nuts that makes me.)


This year, I have been so blessed. I have a 2 1/2 year old that loves all the Christmas 'pretties', a new baby, a wonderful family and great friends. So my questions is, 

"What the heck is wrong with me?!" 

I just can't seem to be able to pull myself out of this funk. I feel like I'm on the verge of tears all the time. I don't want to do anything or go anywhere! Usually giving service is what pulls me out, and you'd think at this time of year there would be no shortage of that, but I feel like I have NOTHING to give. If I could skip it all this year,I would. The realization of this makes me even more sad. I know I owe it my kids to try and make this special, but how can I do that when my heart isn't in it? 

Perhaps Postpartum Depression has taken hold or maybe, I just need to get back on my meds. All I know is that I have to make this better.

So, I did some searching. If the Christmas Spirit can't find me, then I guess I'm just going to have to go and find it. I found a great site that had 12 days of Christmas Family Home Evenings.

 http://12waysofchristmas.blogspot.com/

I think I'm going to give it a go. I want so much to make this right, and I really feel like 12 days of Christmas is exactly what I need. (Ironically, that's all the time we have left!) 

I'm usually the cheerleader for everyone else. I'm always trying to encourage and uplift others. I realize that I'm falling a bit short of the mark with this post, but I really feel that if I'm going to use this as a journal, I should probably just be honest. Not everyday is rainbows and roses. And who knows, maybe next year, I'll look back and chuckle at how poopy I thought life was being. So Merry Christmas!! I hope we all have great New Year!!

My 2010 Facebook Journal

Happy Birthday, Ricky!

How in the world is possible that my loving little boy has turned 11 already?! Life has been quite a roller-coaster ride since he joined our family. Our life in New Mexico seems a lifetime away! Since Ricky had the great distinction of being born in Roswell, he is constantly teased with being told he was brought to us by an alien ship and dropped off at the hospital for us to come and get him. He doesn't appreciate our humor at his expense, but that's just Ricky. He is a great teaser, but he doesn't take it very well. (And SORRY, but that is a prerequisite for being in the McCracken Family! We show we care by teasing.) 


Ricky had a great summer. He played baseball for the first time and had a lot of natural talent. (Go figure, his Grandpa King played semi-pro!) He started out in the Minors and was quickly moved up to play in the Majors as well. He's pretty good at both the pitcher and catcher positions. I can admit to being a bit surprised, but I'm so glad that he found something he really likes! 


He just wrapped up his basketball season for a 4th place win in the tournament. He placed 2nd in team points! He really had a great coach that made him work hard. He wanted nothing more than to please her. It was really great to watch him progress this season. 


Now that he is 11, he is moving from Cub Scouts up to Boy Scouts. He earned his Religious Knot and his Arrow of Light. It was a lot of work, but we are so very proud of him!! He really enjoys scouts and is becoming quite a leader! In fact, I'd like to share a story with you that happened this summer in baseball.

Ricky was at a practice for the Majors, while his Minors team practiced in the field right by them. Rick and I were at a District Scout meeting and so Grandma Hattie had taken the boys to practice that day. 


An assistant coach/parent was becoming increasingly frustrated with the kids. He called them all in for a huddle and proceeded to yell at them using all sorts of profanity and calling the kids names. (Had I been there, I'd have been in that man's face for sure!!) Parents were lined up along the fence visiting, not caring much about what their kids were being subjected to. Grandma was in the car and couldn't hear what was being said. 


Ricky knew the coach was doing the wrong thing. He knew it was not ok to talk to anyone that way, and he also knew that he didn't have to stay there and take it. He waited for a few moments and then asked if he could go to the restroom. (He told me he didn't want to make the coach madder by just leaving.) He promptly walked over to his Grandma's car and told her that he wasn't going to practice with the Majors anymore. He'd play the games if they needed him to, but he was going to just practice with the Minors from now on. Grandma wasn't really sure what to say, so she just agreed and shooed him off to the other field. 


The Minors coach was curious as to why Ricky wanted to practice with them, so Ricky told him what the other coach did to them and said that he would NOT practice with them anymore. Thankfully one ADULT there finally took some action and stopped the other coach. 


Ricky went on to finish the season with no negative ramifications. In fact, he actually had some positive things happen. He gained the respect of the kids as well as several of the parents. His story was mentioned in the newspaper and went all the way to the head of the league.


When he was asked why he walked away, Ricky told us that he had just learned about leadership in Cub Scouts and that sometimes that means that you have to do hard things. But you should always choose to do the right thing even if it's hard. (I am such a proud mama!!) Actually, because of his actions, two of his fellow teammates joined Scouts! 

So, as I think about this last year with Ricky, my heart swells with pride at the lessons learned and the courage that this little 10 year old boy was able to show. 


I love you, Ricky! You are one in a million! (Even if you had to come from another planet to be so!) ;)