And just like that, Christmas is come and gone. I almost always feel a sense of bittersweetness once the actual day of Christmas arrives…it’s a great day and, in my opinion, one of the best ones of the year. Not just because of the goodness of family and togetherness and presents and all that…but because of the entire reason for this day of celebration. I think this year more than any other year of my life so far, I was struck with the reality of what Christmas is…maybe it’s because I’m carrying a child and trying to imagine myself in the place of God…willing to give Himself and His Son for the sake of the world…and then for this Son of God and Son of Man to be born in such a place as he was…and for this child to grow up in a normal human family surrounded by the realities of life as we know it…and to finally die the death He did for love and salvation and peace for mankind. Christmas…it is meant to be celebrated.

We had a great day(s) of eating and relaxing and then repeating it all over again. Such a nice holiday!

// Ben’s favorite gift…cat socks //

Like I said, Christmas is always a little bittersweet…because just like that, it’s all over. And then you have to take down the lights and tree and greenery (which has become more like brownery by now) and pack it all away until next year. But it’s ok, because honestly, you wouldn’t want it to be Christmas all year long. So we put it all away and wait to see what all Christmas will hold in twelve months from now.

It’s Christmas tomorrroooowwwww.

If you haven’t caught on by now, I love Christmas. Because it’s the happiest season of all and there is much mistletoeing (actually…i don’t even have mistletoe in my house….what?!?) and good food and cozy moments and gifts under the tree and shiny lights every where and such a general feeling of goodness in the air. What is not to love.

We’re celebrating Christmas in New York this year, and my family is making the trek northward to be with us here. I’m so excited about having them here, and we were all hoping-hoping-hoping for a good snow storm to come through while they were here (like good southern people do), but the weather has seemingly decided to become a bit more like the south for the next few days. Oh well! The holiday will be marvelous in spite of it.

We’re planning on a big brunch for the morning (egg casserole, cinnamon rolls, praline bacon, fruit salad) and a mid-day lunch/dinner in the afternoon with aaaallll kinds of food. Besides the gifts, the meals are the highlights of the day, right? I have this quote hanging in my dining room: If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world…and that is especially true in such a season as this.

So eat, drink, and be merry, my friends, and have the best Christmas of all!