Christmas Reflections

Once again, this Christmas season was packed full of things to do. Between balancing work, soccer, family, and friends I felt like I had no time to really sit back and enjoy the Christmas season. Is that what happens as you get older? I miss the wonder and innocence that exists in a child during this wonderful season of our Savior's birth and hope that I recapture that when I have kids and am able to see the world through their eyes. Instead, I am consumed with buying the "right" gift for everyone (I always wander aimlessly from store to store, hoping to be struck by that perfect gift...where I'll see it and just know who it is for), baking cookies, wrapping gifts, helping my dad shop and wrap, and because of all that busyness I lose track of the true reason of celebration. It isn't until I slow down on Christmas Eve that I give myself time to read the Christmas story and just thank God for the wonderful gift he gave to us.

Anyway...aside from my musings, here is how my Christmas played out.

The Eve before the Day
Christmas Eve always consists of doing something with my mom's side of the family, and this year was no different. In the past, Laura and I used to hole ourselves up in the garage playing ping-pong all day, waiting until it was time to get ready for Christmas Eve service. We would create teams and brackets and fight it out in the cold detached garage with a fire blazing in the stove until around 3 or 4. However, we don't have that luxury anymore. This year, I went out to my parent's around 11, finished wrapping gifts with my dad, went on a nice 3 mile walk with my dad and the dogs, while my mom & Laura made various treats for the evening festivities. Then it was off to church at Cascade. The service was short. Full of music, singing, rejoicing, and of course, the children's choir. My favorite. Then Nate, our pastor, gave a brief message. And it had to be brief, as he was holding his 8 month old son on his shoulder the entire time he was preaching. His son, Isaiah, was actually their Christmas gift/miracle. For over 2 and a half years, his family has been praying and waiting and enduring the adoption of their sweet baby boy. 12 days before Christmas, they recieved the call, flew to Korea, and returned with their son. How incredible! It truly gives me goose bumps. God is amazing!

After the service, my family drove to my Auntie B's house in West Seattle and had a great time eating crackers & cheese, pork roast, mashed potatoes, applesauce (homemade & so good!), rolls, and the like. And of course, no holiday feast is complete without wine, champagne, and sparkling cider, which I had plenty of. This year, we donated money to the flood victims in our state and spent less on each other. It's not so much the gifts I care about, but the time spent with my family. Except for our tacky/white elephant gift exchange. That is something I look forward to more than anything! We were diving, clawing, tugging, tossing, and clinging to our gifts. I laughed uproarisouly at everyone's antics and even cried at points from guffawing so hard. In a nutshell, it was everything I could have asked for.

By the time our speeding bullet of a van arrived home, the clock was nearing 12 and Christmas Eve was on the verge of becoming Christmas day. We leaped out, struggled to carry all our gifts inside, and proceeded to read the Night Before Christmas, like always. BUT! This year...Laura emerged triumphantly from the basement with an old, worn film reel of the Night Before Christmas. Thus, we were greeted with a dilemma. Should we watch it now...or in the morning? But in the morning it won't really make sense, as it won't be the eve anymore. In flash we were down the stairs in the basement, setting up the projector, propping ourselves up on pillows and blankets, and settling in for a blast from the past. The film was horrible and corny, with awful effects, as expected. We laughed. We imitated Santa on his sleigh and laughed some more. I'm so glad we opened up that dusty, crackly film canister and enjoyed a remnant from the 1950s. So glad.

The Day that follows the Eve
Christmas day dawned bright and full of promise. Rain fell softly from the gray clouds in the sky and my hopes of a white Christmas faded fast. As is the norm, Laura and I arose around 9 and pounced on our older and much sleepier sister's bed to awaken her from her deep slumber. She roused...slowly. Then it was down the stairs to open gifts with the parents, who were already showered and in their bathrobes. Mom was mixing up hot cocoa for us all and dad was doing whatever he does. We settled in on the couch, packages were distributed, turns were taken, and soon all the pretty wrappings and ribbons glittered softly from the floor. After presents, we enjoyed a quick breakfast of sausage, eggs, and coffee cake. Then we raced out of the house to catch the ferry to Vashon. We paid for our passage only to be stopped by a fierce orange cone at the front of the line. We needed a miracle. No one wanted to wait an hour for the next boat. Then, with just minutes to spare, the cone leaped aside and we were granted the privelege of driving our car on board. Shouts of joy echoed around the car! We made it safely across the great Puget Sound and drove up the precarious driveway to my aunt & uncle's house. As we exited the car, the cold rain slowly began transforming into snow. Could this be a white Christmas after all? Time would tell. Inside the warmth of the house, we drank Tom & Jerry's, shared gifts, laughter, and stories, and even played a few games of pool. After a few hours, their yard looked like this:

Yay for the first white Christmas in a long while! I know it's not much, but to me, it was the best Christmas gift yet!