Christmas

Christmas has rushed by me one more time.  This is a picture of Nesradine helping to decorate the tree.  I held off getting a tree until Dec. 23.  All of the tree lots in town had closed up shop by then.  Fortunately my Dad lives in Christmas tree land, so he brought one with him.  Martha had spent a week with friends from Ethiopia, and I wanted her to be here to put on the ornaments.  As it turned out she was exhausted from a very busy week and a long drive.  Rick was out getting a birthday gift for me.  And I was coming down with the flu.  It was not quite the Burl Ives moment I was imagining.  It ended with at least two children in tears, and me in bed at 8:30.

I pretty much crawled into bed and called it a day for the next 5 days.  My Dad took over the kitchen.  Rick was on child management, and decoration completion.  They did a fine job.  I was most worried about Martha being disappointed.  She wasn't.  She got the doll house that she had been wanting.  She was pleased to not get any books.  And she thought the food was just fine, especially the fudge.  It was not at all what I had planned.  I didn't make it to church on Christmas Eve.  My family had a wonderful dinner with our dear friends Greg and Michele.  I didn't make it to church on Sunday either.  In the end, it was just the way God planned it, and really I can't complain.

I learned that my children are capable of doing the things that they love without my help.  They enjoyed exchanging the gifts that they had picked out and purchased themselves.  They really didn't care if the gifts were wrapped, although some of my kids really like to wrap and they got to.  The tree was a joy, no matter when it gets put up.  I did lose a few ornaments between my dog, and the lack of proper training on how to get the ornament well attached to the tree.  The kids didn't really care though, they thought it was lovely.  I did try to plan some activities to keep the celebration going for the twelve days of Christmas.  They enjoyed spending a day at the pool.  The enjoyed going to Grandpa's house.  They told me that it didn't matter if we were at our house or Grandpa's as long as he was with them, it felt like Christmas.  I also learned that Grandpa can make pies, no matter what he tries to tell me.  And he needs to use his recipe.  Most importantly I learned that my expectations do not make the holidays better.  If it doesn't measure up to my standard, the kids still love it.  They love to be with their friends and family.  They love to eat turkey and mashed potatoes.  As long as there are grandparents and fudge Christmas will always be a hit.

I'm not sure we did a great job emphasizing the incarnation of Christ in our celebration.  We did our advent readings, and sang a lot of carols.  I had considered putting some of our gifts in a friend's manager and hiking out there on Christmas to remember that Jesus did not come into the cozy world that we inhabit.  I guess this wasn't the year for that, but I still think it has some merit.  I think next year I would like to limit the gifts to a couple of very special things.  I think the kids are ready for that.  They really didn't have a lot of wants this year.  Partly because they are blessed beyond measure, and partly because they prefer to do things instead of have things.  I think next year we will spend more time thinking about what to give to others.  I would like to work in more time reflecting on the wonder of the season.  Rick read the poem, The Night Before Christmas.  I had forgotten what a wonderful poem that is.  I'll have to find more poetry for the season.

This morning I was having coffee with a couple of friends.  I asked them what they did in their homes to help keep the house from feeling so empty after Christmas.  One friend described it as post partum Christmas.  Even Martha asked me today "What now?"  I'm trying to think of things to put around the house to cheer up the late winter lull before Easter season starts.  Ideas would be much appreciated.