I find myself with some down time this night before Christmas Eve. The shopping is done and everything is wrapped. This morning I pulled out my recipe box and made a list of fun things to make for Christmas Eve and Day.While grocery shopping, I picked up the many odd-ball things needed to make these recipes.Things like Blue Cheese Dressing for Holly's Buffalo Chicken Dip and black olives for 7-Layer Dip. I bought sausage for a breakfast casserole I have been wanting to try on other Christmases but have never made. We also purchased a large bag of Hershey's Kisses to make cookies out of which were finished and delivered to our neighbors this evening.
The Christmas Tree was just selected and put up on Sunday after Mass. The lights were hung on it before the kick-off. For some reason, no one felt like putting many ornaments on it, so we didn't. I used to send cards and love to receive them but haven't sent any out for years. For the first time, I didn't get a chance to take my younger children shopping at the Dollar Store to pick out something for each of their siblings. The one Christmas preparation that we have all thoroughly enjoyed has been a Yankee candle that I received as a gift from my daughter. It is a dark green color with the scent of Balsam and Cedar. We've been burning it for weeks and love the fir tree smell. By the way, I find "Yankee Candle" to be a complete oxymoron, or contradiction of terms. I'm from Vermont and no Yankee I ever met would pay this much for a candle!
In some ways it doesn't feel like Christmas. Our Home School year has been difficult at best. Almost everyone we know socially has been struggling in one area or another. The challenges have been financial, or health related, both mental and physical. Separation from family members over long distances and a lack of peace which is something that is noticed only when absent have dimmed some of the joy. Concern for our country and its leadership have many people feeling insecure, and wondering how long this "House of Cards" can continue to stand.
I read today about a charity that is going to deliver 20-40 gifts per child to a poor family. What a mess of clutter that will be! Cynically, I wondered if they had ever thought to offer that family a ride to church instead. When I am tempted to get worn out with the " work " of Christmas and the "consumerism", it really helps me to remember that it is all about a tiny little baby. His name is Wonderful..., Counselor..., Mighty God..., The Prince of Peace. I am in need of a Savior and beg Him to help me through all the difficulties of life and the suffering with which we all get to take a turn. I thank Him for this warm heated home and good food to feast on. His birth is worth celebrating every year in whatever way we can. It is a testament to His Love that we are reminded and given opportunities to help our less fortunate Brothers and Sisters to really celebrate this great occasion.
I am so grateful to my parents who provided us with beautiful Christmases year after year. I have never experienced having parents who were so drunk that they knocked the Tree over or who were too preoccupied with self to select thoughtful gifts, however modest, to show their love.We celebrated Christmas every year by going to Church. Getting dressed in our nicest clothes, hearing the Scriptures, singing the old Carols and receiving the Lord Jesus who still dwells among us gave meaning to all the other Yuletide traditions. We do the same with our own family. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year when I remember the Reason for the Season and try to love as He loves. I am looking forward to being together with my family (immediate and extended!), preparing and enjoying special foods, exchanging gifts as a sign of our love and worshiping the King of Kings, made manifest as a newborn Babe lying in a manger. Merry Christmas!!!!
