Ahhh Christmas

7 1/2 hours and its all done until next year. The hurry and rush of the past few weeks is coming to a close. The end of the holiday is nigh upon us. Darn.

I love Christmas. This year was especially special in that Christmas was on a Sunday and we got to go to a candle lit service this moring at Center Grove. It is a bittersweet holiday during the church service as I miss Dr Mark Corts singing "Oh Holy Night" and for the rest of my life I will miss him. However, Steve made the service special and like Mary, I treasured up and pondered on all these things. The birth of Christ- what a gift God gave us. Imagine giving up your own child. Would you? I think not. And Mary- what must she have felt knowing she was swaddling the Savior of the world. And Joseph with his betrothed- what was going through his mind. What an amazing day that must have been. And I like to think about it- especially this time of year.

But then there is the commercial Christmas. Of course, no matter how important the fact that this is the day we celebrate our SAviors birth, we still do Santa and presents, because it is a season of giving.

My kids are 14 and 17- we are long beyond the Santa stage. In fact, I just took them shopping and let them pick out their own gifts. Much like I did for myself this year. One for them, one for me. Its a great system that works for me. The only problem is I can't wait to get my gifts once I know they are in the house and I insisted last week that we open gifts. Oh yeah--- fully knowing that I would have NOTHING to open on Christms morning. And its a decision I don't regret. Of course I freaked out yesterday that my family had to have something to open on Christmas morning so I hoofed it out to the store and bought them more gifts so they would have Santa.

They all opened their gifts and we went to church. AFter the service, we went to my side of the family to do Christmas. I love watching my sister's boys- they are still young enough to do the Santa thing and get gifts instead of gift cards. They were ecstatic- running around and tearing open packages. It was so fun to know that they got such pure joy out of the gifts.

Then on to the best- and I do mean BEST- part of the day. FOOD. and I don't just mean food. I mean FOOD!!! Mama always puts on such an awesome spread and this year was no exception. My sisters and I fight over the filling (known as stuffing or dressing down here) and ma knows to make a truck load of the stuff. I ate and ate- glad I wore my eatin pants - until I could no longer bend over let alone breathe. I don't think I'm ever going to eat again.

And now I'm tucked under a blanket, watching A Christmas Story yet again- thanks TBS for the all day marathon- with my dog beside me and my daughter nearby. Well, I was until Kate put on the Yule Log. Its the perfect end to the perfect day.

I love Christmas. I love the meaning of Christmas. I love that Jesus came, not as the KING he is but as a humble and poor baby with no riches or power...that he came to be our Savior...that He was willing to be the ultimate sacrifice for us...that He came fully knowing beforehand that He would be crucified in the most excruciating death possible so that we would be able to choose to be with Him and worship Him for eternity. I love that God chose a humble couple to be his parents...and that He set such a beautiful example for us. I wish that I would live this on a daily basis but for me, its difficult. I am glad that I am forgiven and that the little babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lives today...and loves me.