Merry Christmas!

Since this is likely the only post I will get in before Christmas, I want to wish all of you who stop for a visit a blessed Christmas!  Mine will be blessed because my parents are coming Christmas Day, all the way from Canada. That's a 9 or 10 hr drive, and quite a drive for my Dad, who's in his 80's.
And every year, I am just so thankful that they are still able to come.  Very thankful.
As a Christian, I am also very blessed because Jesus the Christ was born one night in Bethlehem, in very humble circumstance, as Savior of the world.  'For God SO LOVED the world, that He GAVE HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever should believe in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life.' John 3:16
This has become more real to me in the last couple of years than in my whole life, even though I've been a Christian since I was a teenager. 
Well, am I ready for Christmas?  Uh, not yet.  But I'm getting there.  I procrastinated again this year, much to my chagrin. Seems I just get overwhelmed and ignore things until the last minute, until there's immediate pressure.Yeah.  Not a good way to function. Part of it has to do with my Seasonal Affective Disorder, which starts to kick in late October. The rest just comes naturally.  I am doing my light box every day, and it really does help.  
Every year, when this season rolls around, I tell myself, this year it will be different. I won't focus on gifts, and all the rest, but more on the spiritual aspect of the season.  I'd rather not have to buy gifts at all.  Especially as the family gets added to, there's more and more people to buy for - to think about what they might like, how much to spend, how to get it there, whether they have that item or not...sigh.  This 'snowball' of gift buying just keeps getting bigger and harder to roll every year.  
So I struggle with how to celebrate, how to keep the real meaning in my life, and not get overwhelmed by it. 
Seems it should be simpler than this. Not quite so commercial.  It seems that the spiritual aspect takes a back seat to getting everything else done.  Especially for someone like me, who has a tendency to procrastinate, and not be so organized!  But I cannot seem to get off this 'hamster wheel' of expectations that I have and everyone else has for me.  If someone out there has had similar struggles and has made changes, please let me know how you accomplished that.  
Well, I'm off to go accomplish something! :0)  Get the cards sent, the gifts bought, the tree cut and decorated, the baking done and the house cleaned.  All before Christmas Eve.  
I can see it now. I will be mopping the floors on Christmas Eve. Sigh.
Merry Christmas!!