I've been up for two hours already.  It's 6:00 a.m.

I woke up in an irritable mood, having had a dream about how I treated my kids. The dream was set in a restaurant, and all I did was criticize and yell at them about what they ordered and a bunch of other stuff (don't make me picture the scene again!)

Then I awoke and felt like Scrooge. Hadn't I criticized the girls just yesterday when we were cooking Christmas goodies?  And, even yelled at one when she did something that got on my last nerve the day before? 

I've been in a terrible mood this whole Christmas season, kind of humbuggish. I haven't decorated or felt the Christmas mood much. Apparently snow doesn't cure the problem.  We have over a foot of snow.

Little things along the way helped met to worship Jesus and not just focus on my mood, which was good.  Ultimately our mood matters little. Worship isn't dependent on my emotions - thank goodness!!

Back to this morning.  So, I woke up all cranky because I was still feeling the emotions of the dream.  Then, I felt despair when I realized it was a reflection of how I have acted and felt over the last few days.

I got up. Lying in bed, feeling horrible, is not good. I read a few devotions, took a bath (self-indulgence doesn't get me out of a funky mood, I found) and contemplated what I was going to do to change things. 

You may laugh, but I thought about Scrooge flinging his windows open and calling down to the boy, "Go get that big ol' turkey. Let's celebrate!"  (I don't have a great memory - that was very poorly paraphrased.)

So, I got out of the tub, which wasn't making me feel any better like Oprah says it will, because I remembered that I have a big ol' turkey in my freezer.  And, I can still salvage Christmas.

My plan?  I'm thawing the turkey for use later this week.  I'll just get cranky again if I try to get it ready for tonight!  I'm picturing what the house will look like for tonight's gift opening.  How can I make it peaceful, clean, and festive?  I'm not digging out tons of decorations, because I will think it looks cluttered and the whole process will overwhelm me (and the family.)

I may set up the Nativity scene, after we do some more cooking and cleaning. I will try my hardest not to show my frustration or underlying bad mood (yes, it's still there, but I don't have to share it.) I picture my girls and husband going to bed with a good feeling about Christmas. Not because they got tons of presents, but because it was fun and peaceful and focused on Christ.