December is one of those busy, crazy, fun and festive months. When we think of December we think snow, wintertime, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, gifts, parities, food, cheer and much more. I have many reasons to love December including my sister and I both share this month for our birthdays.
This year we can add a new Star Wars movie to the list of a few of our favorite December things. Even if you are not a Star Wars fan (are there people like that?) you will still enjoy this post.
For my December blog post I’ve decided to go back in time and space and share an article I wrote about my sons and their light sabers when I wrote a monthly article titled, Adventures of Average Mom. In a galaxy about ten years ago I wrote, “Let Your Light Saber Shine”.
As moms we understand finding things lying around not in their proper place is a fact of life. For the most part I don’t know who put or dropped whatever in its new spot. Being a mom of four boys this fact is a common issue at our home. As a matter of fact, we cleanup at least twice a day, with the last pick up right before bed. I do not want to find the missing piece to a Lego set with my foot in the middle of the night.
This story is about one particular toy.
Have you ever found the same toy or pair of socks or something else when you look around leaving you to wonder just how many of those you own? In this case I am talking about light sabers. Yes, I mean light sabers from the movie Star Wars. We acquired the light sabers years ago and added 
more throughout time as more Star Wars movies appeared. We have a red one, a blue one, a green one, a purple one, and two that light-up and glow. For sure we own six, but I’m also pretty sure we have more. This popular
toy is spotted everywhere! I see them in the living room, bedroom, office, basement, and outside just to name a few places. The thought has crossed my mind to find out exactly how many we do own and how much I have invested in light sabers. Then again, if I’m still seeing them on the floor after all these years maybe they’re not such a bad investment.
I am always asking someone to pick a light saber up and put it away. Sometimes I get the feeling that if I have to say one more time to pick one up or it’s going in the trash I will go crazy. Then, I remember something, light sabers are well used and loved.
If the light saber was always in its proper place and not played with, how could it provide fun, joy, and let its light shine? I can get so caught up in my daily routine that not only do I not let my light shine to my friends and people I meet, but especially to my own children. This is sad to lose your light and sense of play. Fun and joy is important for your children to see from me as a mom. So the boys’ light sabers may not be in their proper place, but it does show you where the little Jedi has been, and that is a sign of life!
As the great Yoda once said, “Always in motion is the future.” One thing is for certain, my guys are always in motion and the future seems to come at us fast. One day I will retire all the light sabers (and finally know how many we really own). They will also be brought back to life by the next generations to ‘train as Jedi in the force’. I imagine it will be a joy to see the grandchildren play with the light sabers and leave them on the floor where they were playing. We all need a reminder of the true signs of life.
Have a joyful and force-filled December. Be thankful for the signs of life.
Jessie Rex 