I absolutely LOVE Christmas season! I love the warmth of spirit that's around and the feeling of "magic" in the air. I love seeing the Christmas lights on houses and manger scenes on the lawns. Although I hate the cold, I love how beautiful everything looks under a blanket of white. I used to love to play in that blanket; but as I've gotten older it's lost its charm, simply because I practically go into hypothermia. I prefer walking in it more than anything else. I love this time of year because it is in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, an event that has changed my life and others' forever and ever and ever. I am filled with reverence, awe, and love as I reflect on the humble birth of our Savior and His ministry. I would be nothing without Him.
And I also find that every Christmas time I reflect back on Christmas as a child. Almost all day yesterday, while sitting in front of this laptop working on a school project, Niklas and I had the classic Christmas specials on in the background. Those shiny, claymation ones with "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "The Year Without Santa Claus," "Jack Frost," etc. I will never be too old to watch those. I adore them! It doesn't feel like Christmas completely until I'm able to watch those old Christmas shows. I think Christmas time is the one season that keeps me connected to my childhood the most. For instance, some memories of past Christmas days:
1) Playing with my "Beauty and the Beast" toys from Burger King in the Christmas tree. (I had to pull up a chair to the tree to be able to reach higher as my make-beleive story went on.) The tree, with all of its bulbs, lights, ornaments, and garland, was supposed to be the Beast's castle. And Belle would walk on the garland spiraling up the tree, spotting all of the magnificent wonders of the castle, and occasionally coming upon a drinking fountain (bulb ornaments that had an indentation in them...I don't know how to describe them; I just know they were really pretty). There was also this old nutcracker ornament that had belonged to my sister Kristine. He was the bad guy in my story--he gave the Beast some poison at some point, maybe because he wanted Belle? The poison was a burnt-out red light from the Christmas tree. I had such dramatic stories... :P My mom wasn't so keen on me playing in the tree for fear I would break an ornament (and I don't blame her), but I'm really glad she let me anyway. Those are some of my most fond memories as a kid.
2) I broke an ornament one year on accident. I believe it was in the shape of an instrument like a violin, and I knew I would get into trouble with my mom. So I turned to my kid sister, Lynda, and said, "Lynda, I'm going to tell Mom that you broke it." And before she had time to respond, I immediately called for Mom and told her my lie. I don't think I got away with it. Lynda was old enough to protest against me. And I don't know why I always remember that, but I always feel bad about how I treated Lynda as a child, and I'm still trying to make up for it. (Merry Christmas, Lynda! ~sheepish grin~)
3) I used to love sleeping next to the Christmas tree. I wanted to be near it all the time because I found it so magical and beautiful. I loved the warm glow of the lights when everywhere else was dark. Not sure if I actually got away with sleeping next to it all night, though!
4) I remember believing in Santa Claus and having my best friend, Alicia, tell me that he didn't exist. I was alarmed but my older sister Diane stood up (literally) and declared that she knew that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny (and maybe even the Tooth Fairy) existed. I then backed Diane up. I think I find it funny now because of how dramatic the atmosphere of it all was to me as a child, and the fact that Alicia was so right and we were dead wrong! I guess neither Diane or I wanted to give up our childhood beliefs yet; and I'm sure our parents hadn't let on yet as well. (I have no idea how old we were at the time.)
5) Every year I would follow my oldest sister Kristine's example and poke, prod, shake, and feel-over all of my Christmas presents to try to figure out what it was inside. This also drove my mom nuts. One specific year I had asked for a play tea set that was "magical:" when you put warm water on the knives and biscuits, jam would appear, and the tea cups would change to a different shade. I knew there was no such thing as Santa Claus at this point; and I'm not sure if I was snooping or not, but I stumbled across a large black garbage bag one day (before Christmas) in the basement. I peeked inside...and saw a box with pictures of my dream tea set on it! I was so thrilled!! Then guilt rose up in me for seeing it. I told my mom later and she was not happy with me. I'm surprised now that I even told her but I'm glad I did anyway. What's funny now is that I don't dare touch any of my presents. I don't want to know what's in them since I want it to be a surprise. Even my presents under our squatty tree are, at this instance, untouched by my hands, and will remain that way until Christmas day. I finally learned that the anticipation of not knowing is one of the best things about Christmas presents. :)
6) Every Christmas Eve (also my birthday), my mom would hold a Christmas feast and invite over some of our relatives. After being all together and stuffing ourselves with the feast and pie, us kids would mosey on over to the living room and start playing video games together while the grown-ups continued to linger at the dinner table chatting. I still have this longing every Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day to play video games with family. The last few years I would rent a Harry Potter game for my birthday and play while my sisters would watch me. Even though one would be playing at a time, we'd all be engaged and laughing at some of the cheesy/funny sayings in the game, etc. I miss those times now since it was practically like our little tradition, so I have Niklas play with me instead when we aren't with my family during the holidays.
I love Christmas memories! I also decided recently to sew stockings for Niklas and I, and for each of our children as they come. Here is my stocking that I finished a couple weeks back. Niklas will be painting my name across the cuff and we'll be adding some buttons.
Niklas' stocking will be the same only with a green contrasting toe and heel, and a green cuff. I'm hoping to get his done before Christmas, but I think I'll succeed.
Also, here are some pictures left on our camera taken a lot earlier this year that I didn't realize were on there until now.They are mostly pictures of us being silly, so...enjoy or be appalled, I guess. :P I can't explain the weird model ones...but I know it makes me laugh because it is SOOO ridiculous looking!! I hate how dramatic models look or actors act in movies---it's so fake and corny in real life. Seriously.
I had gotten some boots and thought I could look like an old-fashioned pilot...
Nothing says Masculine like a Chocoholick apron. That's right.
Look~ it's a real smile and pose!! ;)
Wolverine look-alike?
"Why are you still taking pictures of me?...I'm done play-acting and brushing my teeth. Nothing to see here..."
One last thing. Niklas did have a second heart surgery on December 1st and he is doing great at this point. We are hoping that this takes care of his problem completely but only time will tell. I'm really glad he went through the surgery a second time. I love you, Niklas! Everything else is going alright in our lives. We're both pretty busy with work and school. And it hasn't been a horrible year, but I'll be glad to leave this one behind us since it was filled with a lot of stress.
Merry Christmas to you all and a happy new year, even though they are still a few weeks away. May God bless you all!
