So This Is Christmas.....

Just a couple Christmas tunes running through my head! ;-)

Last evening for some reason was one of those evenings when I just felt overwhelmed. Not because I've been going non-stop, and not for any real apparent reason. I think I just needed a bit of silence and space from the stimulus of the season, even with how steadily I've been avoiding the commercialism. I think that moment arrived in the midst of our candle lighting ceremony at the Christmas Eve service last night. With the entire sanctuary lit by only candlelight, and Silent Night being sung by the congregation, peace settled upon my soul. How fitting that the rain dropped down gently upon the roof at the conclusion of the song, as if God himself was sending applause in response.

I may have written about this last year as well, but the Christmas Eve service always leaves my heart aching for several members in our church family. One family lost a college age daughter to a battle with liver cancer a couple of years ago, and quickly after that one of the fundamental women in our church lost her own lengthy battle with breast cancer. Beyond the candle lighting ceremony, I was touched at the special music offered by the husband of this incredibly vibrant woman. This woman left behind an incredibly caring, soft spoken husband and an even softer spoken son-just now in his final year of college and getting ready to become an officer in the military. Never have I seen this husband share his musical gifts beyond the safety of the choir, yet last evening he did just that in the form of a duet. A duet he sang 22 years ago for the the baptism of his son. I may have been mistaken, but from where I sat, it appeared that his son was moved to tears, just as many of us in the congregation also had misty eyes. However it reminded me of how truly we are surrounded by the gifts and blessings that the individuals who can no longer be with us impart upon our souls, and how important it is to share our love with those who are still here with us in this life. How blessed we've been for knowing those we've lost, and yet how fortunate we are to know that with the celebration of the season, we WILL see them again one day.

This morning my parents and I all slept in and stretched into the day slowly. While we still have stockings and just a few presents from my granny under the tree, it generally takes us all day to get around to opening it all. By 1pm when my brother and his wife arrived, the three of us had made it through our stockings. (And I have to admit, as much as I'm not a huge fan of gifts these days, I was pretty stoked to see my sander from Santa, especially with the desk still waiting to be finished.) We spent the afternoon just chit chatting, reading, knitting, and enjoying tasty goodness, before Mom and I finished preparing Christmas dinner. A lil' family Wii fit competition time, and then surprisingly my father joined my brother, SIL, and myself for his first trip out to see the major holiday light display on the shore, making it one of the more special trips I have yet to take out there. Five years ago, he had less than a 5% chance of even still being here himself, how grateful I am for every moment he continues to be here with us. Here are some pictures from the light displays this evening:

The puffins are my favorite. The display is pretty spectacular and this year they primarily used LED lights for almost all of it (which includes 250,000 lights).

A simple day surrounded by family, with texts arriving from my dearest friends, and phone calls from family that are farther away, I truly felt that I already have the greatest gifts of my life. It's been the perfect, simplistic Christmas that I always hope for each year, even as I think of those that have so much less than I. I hope for simple joys and blessings in their lives and that we all may reach out a hand to those in need regardless of the season. I hope that you, too, were encompassed in a most satisfying day. MERRY CHRISTMAS-Peace and happiness to you and yours!