Christmas has finally arrived and it’s sad to think that all of the gifts nestled under the tree right now will soon be reduced to six stacks of gifts, some joyfully received, others received with indifference, and the tree will be bare and lonely.

[Actually my mom hates seeing the tree bare so she always leaves a few gifts addressed to the family unwrapped and under the tree]

Christmas Eve passed in a blur for me:  after the morning church service, I drove my mom and sister to work [the poor women had to work today] so that I could have the car.  I finished off my last minute gift additions, namely the printing of photographs, did some exchanges and purchased some cozy throws to add to two gifts.  By that time it was time to pick my mom and sister up from work again and get ready for the Christmas Eve candlelight service that our church holds every year.

Many churches have a candlelight service for Christmas Eve and they are really beautiful.  In our candlelight service, near the end of the service, we light the final advent candle that represents Christ and then selected people [who differ every year] go up and light their candle and then those few people pass their light on to the rest of the congregation, who pass the light to the people beside and behind them.  The lights are off for this and once everybody’s candle is lit, it’s lovely to see everyone’s face shining from the candle glow.

I love the whole service, and the Christmas Story that never gets old.  I love how Luke 2:1-7 is a passage that I can recite from memory, from years of being in Christmas plays, and being a reader.  It’s so cute to see kids who were sheep, shepherds or angels in Christmas plays past now reading the same passages that I used to read.

And the music!  I love Christmas music.  For the last few years, the same woman in our church has been singing her rendition of O Holy Night that literally sends chills down my spine.  When she sings, it’s just amazing.  We also heard One Small Child and Mary Did You Know, and sang along for the well known carols, including Silent Night and Joy to the World.  Tthe choir of less than 20 people did the Hallelujah Chorus again this year, a production that is not to be missed and also has the ability to move me. 

It was a lovely evening and is the perfect way to end the night before Christmas Eve.  Usually after the service I go home and wrap but since I wrapped all my gifts early, I went to Jovana’s house, had dessert and socialized with friends.  The woman is a born hostess; she makes me ill.  I could not believe how fast the time flew (it was almost 2am before I realized that I should probably head home!) and I still had to drop off gifts.  Since the recipients were slumbering, I’m hoping their gifts will still be where I left them.  I may have to wake them up in a few hours and tell them to check for the gifts.

I love Christmas but I intend to get at least seven hours of sleep before the madness begins–only five people [that I know of] will be joining the six of us for dinner and we haven’t done a thing.  I have been out of the house for six hours though.

Pictures to be added I hope!

Filed under: Celebrations, Family, Friends by jummy