Tis the season for fun and memories! This December has been quite the active one - as most Decembers! Our memories seem to blur during the holidays - and we access our preferred memories more often than actual - family dinners relaxed and enjoying the time together - forgetting the sweating and swearing that happened moments before as we dropped the turkey leg on the floor and the dog grabbed it or as we held onto resentments silently as we rushed around the kitchen cooking and cleaning at the same time while our loved ones remained in the living room watching TV. I think it is a survival mechanism - we would just give it all up if we nursed ALL our memories as often as the ‘good’ ones!
Being a woman and a mother - I am the Director of the holiday extravaganza that we call Christmas. A one word title - for almost one million tiny pieces that need to come together seamlessly to manifest this fantasy that I have of the Perfect Holiday. The process begins with gifts - this is the most enjoyable part for me - the quest for the perfect gift for everyone. Yes - it can be stressful - but I usually start early enough so it is just a challenge - not impossible! It is not ok in my Christmas to get a gift just to get a gift. It is pondered, discussed and planned with minute detail THEN purchased. The wrapping paper is chosen carefully and ribbons and bows applied with great care.
As the Director - it all must be done before the 24th - since we make Christmas cookies for Santa (and last minute gift giving) on Christmas Eve day - Usually I have our dinner that afternoon too- since Christmas day is spent driving all over town - THIS year we stayed home so it was pizza and then church. It is difficult - but I am trying to be flexible and have some fun myself for the holidays! Christmas eve service is the best - when everyone from the tiny children to the shakiest elder ALL CARRY FIRE - candles and try to sing all four verses of Silent Night in the dark sanctuary. Everyone is excited for both the secular and the holy to happen this night! The only day more exciting is the resurrection - but that is another story. Our family has a nail that we hide on the tree - to remind us that this happy holiday tree foretells the wood of the cross and the truly greatest gift ever given!
Christmas Day IS all fun - even for the director. This year my kids got up at 5:00am full of it and raring to go. Ken wanted them to go back to bed BUT I said - Get the Stockings - Let’s go to it! (I am a kid at heart and wanted to open my presents too - you know!) I grabbed some coffee (with baileys - come on it is Christmas and after all my machinations I deserve it!) And the main event begins - I do enjoy seeing everyone open up a gift that they had wanted - sometimes not even realizing they had wanted it in the first place. Ken got me an external hard drive for our computer AND a new Ipod! The kids got computer and game boy games as well as gloves which I was surprised how much they seemed to like them! Kenny got his favorite pants (cargo) , a Harry Potter game and Civilization IV - which he LOVES! Afterwards I took a nap - come on Five am is early! When I got up I began cooking dinner while Ken napped. The children played their games. We even got Sparky a bone that is almost bigger than she is - and she wandered around with it - trying to get in the very middle of every activity.
Long story short - I hope everyone had as great a holiday as I did! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! PEACE. JESS
Tis the season for fun and memories! This December has been quite the active one - as most Decembers! Our memories seem to blur during the holidays - and we access our preferred memories more often than actual - family dinners relaxed and enjoying the time together - forgetting the sweating and swearing that happened moments before as we dropped the turkey leg on the floor and the dog grabbed it or as we held onto resentments silently as we rushed around the kitchen cooking and cleaning at the same time while our loved ones remained in the living room watching TV. I think it is a survival mechanism - we would just give it all up if we nursed ALL our memories as often as the ‘good’ ones!
Being a woman and a mother - I am the Director of the holiday extravaganza that we call Christmas. A one word title - for almost one million tiny pieces that need to come together seamlessly to manifest this fantasy that I have of the Perfect Holiday. The process begins with gifts - this is the most enjoyable part for me - the quest for the perfect gift for everyone. Yes - it can be stressful - but I usually start early enough so it is just a challenge - not impossible! It is not ok in my Christmas to get a gift just to get a gift. It is pondered, discussed and planned with minute detail THEN purchased. The wrapping paper is chosen carefully and ribbons and bows applied with great care.
As the Director - it all must be done before the 24th - since we make Christmas cookies for Santa (and last minute gift giving) on Christmas Eve day - Usually I have our dinner that afternoon too- since Christmas day is spent driving all over town - THIS year we stayed home so it was pizza and then church. It is difficult - but I am trying to be flexible and have some fun myself for the holidays! Christmas eve service is the best - when everyone from the tiny children to the shakiest elder ALL CARRY FIRE - candles and try to sing all four verses of Silent Night in the dark sanctuary. Everyone is excited for both the secular and the holy to happen this night! The only day more exciting is the resurrection - but that is another story. Our family has a nail that we hide on the tree - to remind us that this happy holiday tree foretells the wood of the cross and the truly greatest gift ever given!
Christmas Day IS all fun - even for the director. This year my kids got up at 5:00am full of it and raring to go. Ken wanted them to go back to bed BUT I said - Get the Stockings - Let’s go to it! (I am a kid at heart and wanted to open my presents too - you know!) I grabbed some coffee (with baileys - come on it is Christmas and after all my machinations I deserve it!) And the main event begins - I do enjoy seeing everyone open up a gift that they had wanted - sometimes not even realizing they had wanted it in the first place. Ken got me an external hard drive for our computer AND a new Ipod! The kids got computer and game boy games as well as gloves which I was surprised how much they seemed to like them! Kenny got his favorite pants (cargo) , a Harry Potter game and Civilization IV - which he LOVES! Afterwards I took a nap - come on Five am is early! When I got up I began cooking dinner while Ken napped. The children played their games. We even got Sparky a bone that is almost bigger than she is - and she wandered around with it - trying to get in the very middle of every activity.
Long story short - I hope everyone had as great a holiday as I did! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! PEACE. JESS
No comments:
Post a Comment