Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Here are a few pics from our little family enjoying the Winter Wonderland yesterday...

Also, here's a cute pic Manu took of a tree in Central Park - someone had made a smiley face of snow on the tree...so random!

Since we got 10 inches of snow, if it doesn't get too warm over the next few days, it's possible that we'll still have some snow on the ground, and that Shaan will get to experience a "White Christmas" for his first holiday season.

Speaking of Christmas, having a baby has put a new light on the Christmas story, or the birth of Christ, for me. I was talking to Manu about it yesterday, actually, and the sacrifices Christ made to come here to Earth as our Savior have really hit home to me this year. Of course, the death/resurrection of Christ and even the "Immaculate Conception" always receive a lot of attention, but yesterday I was reading in Luke b/c it is really the only gospel that touches upon Christ's childhood at all, and I was really touched by the vulnerability of Christ as a baby.

Perhaps it's because Shaan has had a rough couple of nights...it really IS hard being a baby. He's teething, and I can tell he's in pain. The other night when we had the big snowstorm, Manu was on call and it was just Shaan and me, and I had the hardest time getting him to go to sleep b/c of the noise the wind was making. I think it was scaring him, or maybe his teeth were bothering him, or maybe it was both - but I eventually had to give in and co-sleep with him for a bit until he was finally tuckered out enough that I could move him to his crib without him waking up. He's just so vulnerable, so innocent, and so young, and it is truly amazing to think of Christ our Savior giving up his presence in Heaven at the right hand of God to come to earth as a tiny, vulnerable baby. Just imagine Jesus waking up in pain teething. It truly is riveting all the Christ did/gave up to come and live amongst us and provide us salvation.

I mean, another way of putting it is this...I worry all the time that I am going to somehow be a bad mom. At the beginning, I was so scared of dropping him or something silly like that (perhaps b/c Manu is a doctor, and he comes home with stories of surgeries they have to do on kids who have fallen off changing tables, fallen out of baby bjorns, etc.)

Again, this all goes back to how incredibly vulnerable babies are - I mean I am basically Shaan's life support right now - he could not survive without me - I am his "feedbag", his caregiver, etc.

Now, God sent His Son Jesus into the care of this sinful human race that so easily betrayed Him. Granted, God knew the ending of the story, and that this sacrifice was necessary for our salvation, but it really IS remarkable when you think about it.

"God with Us" indeed. What a wonderful God that cared enough about us to send His Son into humanity to save us from our sins. What a wonderful Savior that cared enough to leave the perfection and holiness of Heaven (and of course the presence of God) to come here and live/die amongst us, all starting as a baby with poopy diapers! I hope you are as humbled by the story as I am this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!