Christmas Eve Day

So here it is Christmas Eve Day.  It is the day for the final Christmas inventory. Is Santa ready? Is the turkey thawing? Have I remembered everyone on my gift giving list? The "to do" list can be unbelievable for you today. Or you could be calm and just waiting for it to happen. Or you could be just happy you are one day closer for it to be over. Everyone has their own reaction to December 24.

It is a fact, kids make Christmas. Being around them brings out the inner child in all of us. A child's anticipation for a visit from Santa is palpable. In true children's way of thinking, it is about self-gain. As is in life, some households have a mountain of toys at the end of the day. Other homes are more frugal and there is less. I love it when parents give the big toy and Santa gives a thoughtful one. Kids talk and it must be hard to understand why Santa was so generous in one home and not another. I heard a young mom say, "we don't buy them much, we focus more on getting together as a family". 

Some of my fondest memories are of the students at the Christmas Concerts, playing out the birth of Jesus. The Angel's halo on sideways, the three wise men captivated with their gifts, and of course the chosen ones, Mary and Joseph. I am so removed from Christmas Concerts now. I do wonder, what kind of exposure do children have to the Christmas story?  I loved the old Christmas Carols and I realized I don't even recognize the new Christmas songs. There is one thing that will never change, and that is how beautiful the sound of children's voices are as they sing together in a choir.  

Each year I decide on a basic theme for all my gift buying. Last year it was activity gifts. This year it is something to read, with a backup of gift cards, food or in lieu of donations. As you know I dream of being someone that loses themselves in a book. Not quite there, but I do enjoy a book from time to time. I always have a list of "good books" that people have recommended to me. I love to give books as gifts. I am all about re-gifting if it doesn't suit. 

I like the Christmas story about the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Many people will go to Church tonight and fill their cup up with the meaning of Christmas as they celebrate the birth of Jesus. I hope you get a chance to sing those wonderful old Christmas Carols and hymns. 

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is how generous people are. It is a time for those that can, to dig deep into their pockets to help the less fortunate. I recently attended the "Alumni Christmas" in my former community. We were supporting the local food bank with donations of food and/or cash. There were 25 people at the event, who managed to fill huge bags with food. In a very few minutes there was a total of $915 in cash. I have always been astonished by how small communities can raise such a huge amount of money in a short amount of time. I don't know why because those that live there aren't astonished, they just know it will happen.

This year, Christmas baking came back into my world when May and I had a Christmas Baking Day. We had an extra elf to help, and the girls couldn't have worked harder. I had forgotten what fun it is to do Christmas baking. The 22 orders that we filled out says to me that other people enjoy eating dainties as opposed to making them. What a fun and productive day we had.  

Something magical happened on December 23, when my Mom and May got to make pies together. Not only was it a baking lesson but it was also a live history class. When Mom was a young wife/mom, like every farm wife of the time, Saturdays were the day they baked 7 pies for the week. It was clear that her hands held the muscle memory to mold and form the dough as she learned decades ago as a young woman. Although there was nearly 80 years difference in their age, the one thing that remained the same, how to make a pie. What a special memory for all of us. 

There are such highs and lows at Christmas. There are many reasons for Christmas to be a low day. Family dynamics plays a big factor now with so many blended, divorced or separated families. The sheer cost of Christmas must be hard for some families. Life is expensive and I am sure that for many, Christmas is being paid off year long. 

Christmas is one of the most difficult times for people that are grieving. To have a place at the table empty is such a huge reminder of their sorrow. Some families never celebrate Christmas again, after losing a loved one. There are also the families that will be dealing with anticipated grief. They know this is or may be the last Christmas that they spend together as a family. How do you even decide what is going to make it the most memorable. I am sure it is like every other day of dealing with loss, you put one foot in front of the other and you move forward.  

    

For a variety of reasons, Christmas can be a difficult time, and many look forward to Dec 26th with anticipation. For those with the perfect Christmas this must be hard to imagine. For those that look at Christmas day with dread, it is hard to even have those conversations about the joy of Christmas. I don't ask people what they are doing for Christmas anymore. I simply say, "how will Christmas be for you?" 

What is your reason for the season? To each of us the Christmas season holds an individual meaning and a personnel emotion. In closing, I am hoping that you have the best Christmas you can have. The best may take some work but make at least one memory to hold in your heart.