Looking Forward to Christmas
As I write tonight, I'm marveling that the end of another year is upon us, and looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my wife and children. Our Christmas traditions are continuing to evolve. Our oldest is seven this Christmas, and we have much more of a set routine for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day than we did when we first became parents.
On Christmas Eve, we'll enjoy a late lunch/early dinner (take your pick) together, and then head off to the candlelight service at our church, which is early in the evening. We might take a little time to take in some Christmas lights around our part of town, whilst sipping some boiled custard, on the way home. Then we'll come home, and read the story of the Nativity from the Gospel of Luke. Next up, maybe a snack, and then we'll watch the Dr. Suess version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After this, we might (*might*) let each of the kids open one gift of our choice, but we don't always do that.
Now it's time to tuck the kids into their beds, and begin waiting out the few minutes (hours!) that it takes to go to sleep on Christmas Eve! This is the first year that we no longer have any true believers in Santa Claus in the house, but he will come anyway, so after they have given up and gone to sleep, we'll stuff stockings and get out the Santa presents. (His aren't always wrapped.) Then we'll make a few final preparations for meals on Christmas Day, snack on Santa's milk and cookies, make sure the camera and camcorder batteries are in good shape, and head to bed. (Now, it's not unprecedented for me to then have to take time to wrap my wife's gifts after she goes to sleep, and I'm on track for that so far this year. Let's hope she doesn't happen across my hiding place!)
On Christmas morning, we'll be eager to see whether the kids wake us up, or whether we have to wake them as we have every year thus far. First thing we do is let them (and us!) empty their stockings. Then we go and have breakfast (I'm the cook for Christmas breakfast - either pancakes or waffles, and this year it's waffles) before we open any gifts.
After breakfast, we'll gather around the tree, and begin opening gifts. This leads, of course, to Mom and Dad working to get the toys out of their packages, where they are sufficiently secured to stay put if they are aboard a space shuttle at launch. Then batteries must be installed where necessary, or charged in some cases. You parents know the drill. And then the playing begins in earnest. Dad is available to consult on construction where necessary (legos, erector set, etc.) or will try his best to understand what it is that you're supposed to do with a doll (what? you style their hair?). Mom can also sometimes be pulled into such consultations, though she is likely to be thinking about preparing Christmas dinner by this time.
A more recent tradition has been gathering with friends for Christmas dinner, either at their home or ours. This year, we're blessed to host them in our home. And our gathering is growing - we'll have nine adults and eleven children around our tables this year, and we can't wait to hear the sounds of life as the children scatter after dinner to see what new toys they can play with.
This is absolutely one of my very favorite times of the year. I always look forward to the celebration, the music of the season, the fun of trying to surprise loved ones with gifts they will truly enjoy, the joyous gatherings of friends and family, the wonder of the Nativity and Incarnation of our Lord, the decorations, the anticipation on the faces of the children, and the smiles when they discover what gifts have been given to them. How thankful I am that God the Father sent His Son to be born, the baby Jesus, in such a humble place, and that He chose me among those who would believe and know the joy of His salvation. Truly the meaning of Christmas is worthy of our praise and celebration. Christmas blessings to you and yours.
On Christmas Eve, we'll enjoy a late lunch/early dinner (take your pick) together, and then head off to the candlelight service at our church, which is early in the evening. We might take a little time to take in some Christmas lights around our part of town, whilst sipping some boiled custard, on the way home. Then we'll come home, and read the story of the Nativity from the Gospel of Luke. Next up, maybe a snack, and then we'll watch the Dr. Suess version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After this, we might (*might*) let each of the kids open one gift of our choice, but we don't always do that.
Now it's time to tuck the kids into their beds, and begin waiting out the few minutes (hours!) that it takes to go to sleep on Christmas Eve! This is the first year that we no longer have any true believers in Santa Claus in the house, but he will come anyway, so after they have given up and gone to sleep, we'll stuff stockings and get out the Santa presents. (His aren't always wrapped.) Then we'll make a few final preparations for meals on Christmas Day, snack on Santa's milk and cookies, make sure the camera and camcorder batteries are in good shape, and head to bed. (Now, it's not unprecedented for me to then have to take time to wrap my wife's gifts after she goes to sleep, and I'm on track for that so far this year. Let's hope she doesn't happen across my hiding place!)
On Christmas morning, we'll be eager to see whether the kids wake us up, or whether we have to wake them as we have every year thus far. First thing we do is let them (and us!) empty their stockings. Then we go and have breakfast (I'm the cook for Christmas breakfast - either pancakes or waffles, and this year it's waffles) before we open any gifts.
After breakfast, we'll gather around the tree, and begin opening gifts. This leads, of course, to Mom and Dad working to get the toys out of their packages, where they are sufficiently secured to stay put if they are aboard a space shuttle at launch. Then batteries must be installed where necessary, or charged in some cases. You parents know the drill. And then the playing begins in earnest. Dad is available to consult on construction where necessary (legos, erector set, etc.) or will try his best to understand what it is that you're supposed to do with a doll (what? you style their hair?). Mom can also sometimes be pulled into such consultations, though she is likely to be thinking about preparing Christmas dinner by this time.
A more recent tradition has been gathering with friends for Christmas dinner, either at their home or ours. This year, we're blessed to host them in our home. And our gathering is growing - we'll have nine adults and eleven children around our tables this year, and we can't wait to hear the sounds of life as the children scatter after dinner to see what new toys they can play with.
This is absolutely one of my very favorite times of the year. I always look forward to the celebration, the music of the season, the fun of trying to surprise loved ones with gifts they will truly enjoy, the joyous gatherings of friends and family, the wonder of the Nativity and Incarnation of our Lord, the decorations, the anticipation on the faces of the children, and the smiles when they discover what gifts have been given to them. How thankful I am that God the Father sent His Son to be born, the baby Jesus, in such a humble place, and that He chose me among those who would believe and know the joy of His salvation. Truly the meaning of Christmas is worthy of our praise and celebration. Christmas blessings to you and yours.
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