Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

I don't know why, but yesterday was my breaking point for Christmas music. I heard the sleigh bells ring, walked in the winter wonderland, and parum-pa-pum-pummed myself to death. So when the Little Drummer Boy came on the radio for the 4th time yesterday morning, I got a little annoyed [Heidi laughed at me the whole time, naturally, being a cheery music-loving person].

Fast forward to around 5 PM, when I was rushing around like a madwoman, trying to get packed to go to Elkhart later that night AND get ready for the Community Christmas Concert at the church. I run out the door [well, more wobble, since my shoes were half a size too small], and as I'm walking to my car, I notice someone standing on the balcony watching me.

Santa.

I know, you're all probably like, "Kara's takin' crazy pills," but really, I saw Santa. Well, I saw our maintenance guy, Ron, dressed up like Santa [he looks like the real deal- white beard, long white hair, bigger guy... this summer, Jon saw him and yelled "HI SANTA!" then told everyone Santa lived at my apartment]. He watched me as I went to my car, and waived as I pulled out to head to church. And suddenly, I felt guilty for being such a Grinch earlier. It almost seemed like one of those "magical" moments in Christmas movies, where the bad guy realizes the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is such a weird season. We run ourselves ragged trying to make everything perfect- perfect presents, perfect tree, perfect family- and it can get to the point where everything looks perfect on the outside, but inside we're ready to take the Little Drummer Boy's drumsticks and shove them through his drum. We put so much emphasis on perfect memories this time of year that we lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas.

Now I'm sure all of you are sick of hearing about the real meaning of Christmas, so we're not going to go there. You already get it. But here's the thing- the first Christmas took place in less than perfect circumstances: a teenage mother, accused of adultery. a father trying to understand how to love a baby that wasn't his. a manger, filled with animals and less than sanitary conditions. a hopeless world, looking for something to believe in. And out of all of that imperfection came Jesus, the light of the world and the hope of nations.

Christmas doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to look like a Hallmark card. Don't worry if you burn that batch of cookies, or if money's too tight to buy everything on the lists, or if at the end of the day, you're too tired to commit to one more holiday gathering where you'll fill yourself with cheese ball and peppermint bark. Take some time to relax, spend some time with family. Laugh at the imperfections. Christmas isn't supposed to be about stress and craziness; it's about hope and celebration and freedom from the things that weigh us down. Remember, it was through imperfect circumstances that Christ came into this world.

I'm probably going to take a little hiatus for a few days. I think it's good to unplug every once in awhile. I hope you all have a relaxing, peaceful Christmas filled with love and hope and a little imperfection :)