I love everything about Christmas.
I love the anticipation. Countdown to Christmas -- you bet! Advent calendars to help keep track of the days. Paper chains where you can tear off one chain each day.
This year I found a Gingerbread house with doors to open.
I know these aren't new but they are usually expensive and I tend to pass on buying one. I found this one for half-price when I was Black Friday shopping and knew I had to have it.
I love the lights at Christmas time. Lights on the Christmas tree, lights on houses, lights in the snow. I remember as a kid Mom would make popcorn balls and we would get in the car and Dad would drive us around to look at the lights around town. Gary and I drive around several times each season looking at lights. That's the difference between a big city and a small town. In the big city, you can go to a different neighborhood each night to see lights. In a small town you see the lights in one night. But either way it's fun.
I love decorating for Christmas. Pulling out all my tubs and tubs and tubs and tubs (do you get the idea I have lots of decorations?) from the attic. Unwrapping each one - remembering where it came from, who gave it to me. Smiling as I pull out the Christmas books and remembering my daughters reading "The Animal's Christmas Eve" every year. The angel at the top of my tree was on my tree growing up. I wrap her up carefully and put her in a special box. Every year, Gary is worried that her lights won't light up.
Kind of a blurry picture but that's our special angel. Her wings are a little bit tattered but she keeps lighting up for us every year. For some reason, every time I get her out I think of my Mom.
I have a couple of grand kids who live close and they like to help me decorate for Christmas. I love watching them decide where to put items on the trees and around the house.
I love the songs at Christmas. I play Christmas music all year long intermingled with other music; but, at Christmas time - straight Christmas. I love Silent Night, Mary Did You Know, Frosty, You Gotta Get Up, The Grinch, Felix Navidad. Yeah, I love Christmas music!
I love traditions at Christmas time. We always have cheeseburgers and homemade french fries for Christmas Eve. We have started doing an annual Christmas movie night. We have certain candies we make at Christmas. And what has become one of our favorite traditions is that everyone gets 1-2 cans of Silly String in their Christmas stocking. We then have a silly string fight in the house on Christmas morning. We always look forward to this.
We have a lot more cans than this and we certainly have fun with it. You would be amazed at how big a ball silly string will make when you start cleaning it up.
I love Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church. Reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth. Thinking of what Mary and Joseph went through - thinking of where Jesus was born.
In a manager.
As we heard at church yesterday during our Advent series; He came from the lowest of lows to be the Highest of Highs. Born in a manger, His birth was first proclaimed to the shepherds, people who slept with animals. But He came to fulfill a purpose - He came to save us. And that is why we celebrate Christmas Day. The greatest gift of all - which was also awaited with anticipation for YEARS - and some never saw it but the still awaited.
Wishing each of you a joyous Christmas and asking that you take time during this special of seasons to remember the Reason.
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