Home for Christmas

I have had such a fun week!

From decorating the little tree I brought with the kids to each of them making their own stocking, the past few days have been fun!

Today was the icing on the cake.  I got to give my kids the gifts I brought from home and spend an amazing Christmas with them - their first real family Christmas.

 I also got to take some gifts to other homes for kids who don't have foster moms.

To finish the day off, we all cuddled in my bed and I read them the Christmas Story before tucking them in and going out to dinner with the other international volunteers.

It was truly a great Christmas.

      Yet through it all were the thoughts of everything I've been missing at home.  The family I'm not getting see.  The traditions I won't be a part of for the first time my entire life.

I missed watching Christmas movies the entire month of December and decorating our huge, fresh tree while rocking out to our favorite Christmas songs.

I missed the late nights decorating the house and the making of tortellini and kifli by hand (and eating them...).

I missed going to look at Christmas lights with our good friends.

I missed the annual family gift exchange.

I missed many nights of sitting by the fire as a family and playing a game or just enjoying each other's company.

I missed Christmas with my family.

If I told you it was easy for me, I'd be lying.  It was tough.  It still is tough.

God has blessed me with a wonderful family that I love dearly.  It's hard not being there to spend those special times with them.

But God has given me another family.  7 incredibly special children in India.

Right now He wants me to be with them.

And honestly, as much as I wish I were home with my family for Christmas, I wouldn't have it any other way because I realized today that I am home with my family for Christmas.

I just now have two homes and two families instead of one.

And today I have realized I can be missing my family back in California and at the same time be content where I am.

God has called me here and in His goodness has somehow made it home for me.  I don't really know when that even happened, but as I look around me and cuddle my babies, everything just feels right and I know I'm where I'm meant to be.

So you see, I really was home for Christmas.