Christmas this year seemed more exciting than most. I've been pondering just why that is. Last year everyone had been together several times due to Mom's and Lisa's death and we had a good time on Christmas Day with lots of memories and lots of laughs.
But, this year... this year had a calm, sweet and meaningful "thing" attached to it. I had so many angels attending to me, both natural and 'maybe not' natural. I didn't have much baking to do, but there are still acres and acres of cookies and cakes here. There were several wonderful events for fellowship ~ like the fellowship meal the 18th, the cookie exchange the 16th, the Live Nativity the first of the month, the Christmas program the evening of the 18th, the "private" stamping party with Carole on the 23rd and the Christmas Eve open house. The laughs and fun times of people we love. It's the people that made the Christmas!! Of course, not all was "wonderful". During the early part of Advent I was stricken with a bad cold followed by a virus that kept me from enjoying or even participating in the 3rd Sunday of Advent. But, that seems insignificant to the 40 days of Advent and the following 12 days of Christmas.
The highlight of Christmas was that it fell on Sunday this year. While some churches canceled, abbreviated or changed their services, Mt. Pleasant had a special service that included many people, many songs and many scriptures. We had a wonderful time of worshiping the King who's Birthday we celebrated. It seemed as though no one was in a big hurry to leave the church. People were hanging around just laughing and talking. Christmas should always be on Sunday!!
We had guests for dinner, Julie's parents. That added to the joy, too, I think. We always miss the Carolina Clan, but still the house was full. We fixed the meat, dressing and bread, but that's it. Everything else was brought in by the "other" Elsea Clan. Slow cookers filled the counter tops and no one was over stressed or over worked. It was a wonderful time. Justin and his Clan came too and we enjoyed opening gifts and playing games. The gifts weren't the center, the people were. It was calm enough that doggy Diesel slept or rested almost the entire day, or so it seemed. What was different? In Christmas' past the stress of cooking and all that drifted like a pall over the holiday. Why not this year? Because it was SUNDAY! I am convinced!!!
Monday Christmas seemed to continue on. Even though it was just the Knight and I, we worked on differing projects that led us to looking at old pictures and old papers that brought a taste of the ancestors back to us. The sweet smell of clean, line dried clothes and sheets permeated the house at the end of the day. Leftovers to eat, but they were as good as the day before. Even yesterday was a sweet Christmas Day. I read the story of the "Star Mother's Youngest Child" and a few chapters of the "Christmas Chronicles" which reminded me of why we give and why caring seems so close this time of the year. I still lit the tree, even though many took their tree down yesterday. Mine will remain until Epiphany, though the empty stockings don't have quite the same draw.
Today it is raining. Strangely, both of us wish it were snow. The Knight never wishes for snow, but today, he mentioned how pretty snow would be. We are both slow moving this morning. Not quite ready to face the day ~ and that is okay.
Preparation for the new year is in process along with thoughts toward Ephiphany.... the Magi.. the recognition that Jesus was and is the center figure in the Christmas celebration. I want to continue Christmas through 2012 and on forward. Reading Harvey Yoder's blog helped us to see what that means. Recognizing that less than a month from now I will be standing on the island if Haiti to do some service in the name of Jesus, once again. Recognizing that over the next months there were be tragedy and triumph; life and death; sorrow and laughter. Yet one thing is sure. Christ is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Two turtle doves. Today is the 2nd day of Christmas. Merry Christmas!!!
When the song of angels is stilled.
When the Star in the sky is gone.
When the Kings and Princes are home.
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among people everywhere.
~author unknown, but borrowed from Harvey Yoder's blog.
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