Tonight was our planned night to decorate our Christmas tree. Circumstances weren’t ideal—after successfully fighting off his afternoon night, Cole was beyond tired; it was also getting late for Delaney, who has a preference toward an earlier bedtime than her siblings. Franny, however, could not be put off another day. The fact that we’ve had this tree since Saturday and haven’t decorated it, was starting to get very frustrating for her. So, we got most of it done tonight. With the tired kids, it just wasn’t possible to finish and still maintain our holiday spirit. Although this pushed poor Franny’s patience to the absolute limit, it was the right thing to do. Tonight was just yet another lesson in balance—something we continue to get better and better at. I am slowly learning to step back and really see the broader perspective. Now is not the time for executing plans or focusing on efficiency. Now is the time for laughing through our challenges, appreciating the closeness of our family, and celebrating how much joy there really is in our lives. What great times these are!

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