Honouring and Holding Christmas

I was born of goodly parents. They are the people that the Hallmark Channel writes films about (and for).  Together through thick and thin and life has certainly thrown a lot a lot of thick and a lot of thin at them along the way.  I could most certainly speak to their goodness, their example, their path for hours. 

One thing I will treasure for always is the celebration of Christmas each year.  The Friday after Thanksgiving we would pile into the van to go and get our Christmas tree.  Without failure there would be an argument among us kids about the tree.  Mom's vote always counted for more, so the argument would end abruptly when she would find the 'one'.  Papa would trim it and then we would spend the remainder of the day getting the house on Jenkisson ready for Christmas.  The following Sunday we would gather on the white couches in the living room to listen to the story of four fighting siblings (just like us) who would serve one another to add straw to the manger for Baby Jesus.  Papa would put together the manger and we would draw names.  We would go see the lights in town, bake special treats, carol, and serve one another. Gramps would read Luke 2 each Christmas Eve and we would wake, Buba and I always first (even now at a ridiculous hour), only to wait for Grams playing Silent Night on the piano ... the indication that the adults were ready for the madness to begin.

The house, always peaceful due solely to Papa's patience and Mom's diligence, smelled of Christmas, looked like Christmas, felt like Christmas.  We most certainly believed in Santa, excuse me ... believe, for if you do not believe you do not receive according to both Santa and Papa. But the month of December has always been  focused on how we could better get along as siblings, how we could be better students in the classroom, how we could make our Grandparents smile more, how we could make the stranger on the street laugh.  There was not a lot of money when we were younger but we didn't know.  Papa and Mom made the Christmas season about growth and giving ... and we rejoice each year.

Each year I am certain that Christmas can not be topped, as last year was the 'favorite'.  But already I stand in awe of just how the Christmas Spirit has filled my heart and there are still 11 sleeps until that day. Last year I tried to 'see through the fog' as Uncle had recommended.  I made it until 5 Jan.  Things have cleared up these last two months.  And on Monday night as I sat with Lucking, they were cleared up even further.  This morning as I greeted Him I had a few specific asks, before the noon hour I had witnessed His hand and love.  He is here.

What I have come to realize is this, 47 readers that frequent this blog (whoever you are) ~ 'I will honour Christmas in my heart.' I will hold it there.  I will hold it there in the place of other things that have kept me worried or occupied.  I will hold it there for my sake and for yours.  I will hold it there so that I will be kind without thought.  I will hold it there so I will be generous without regret.  I will hold it there so I can hear Him.  I will hold it there so I can follow Him.  I will hold it there so that come 6 Jan I will still be full of the hope and the bliss that I can find from the Friday after Thanksgiving through 5 Jan.    I will hold it there so that I can laugh at the downs and rejoice at the ups.  I will hold it there so that I can 'use my words' and be vulnerable.  I will hold it there because it is the 'honouring of Christmas' that I truly honor my Savior, who has offered all for my happiness.  That I know.  I will honor that knowledge by living up to my potential, by growing as I should, by encouraging you to grow, to live up to the greatness that is within you.  We are to seek happiness and honor the Gift that makes that possible.

Happy Christmas.  Honour it always.  

Hairline

The wind is blowing away yesterday and I'm grateful. So very grateful.

In other news ... last night as the Boy-that-would-be-Bing came onto the stage and I immediately had a 'leading man crush'.  Yep, he sang just fine.  Sure, he danced as well as the rest of them.  But it was his stunning hairline that tipped the scales in his favor and won my heart for a few hours.  So here I am, confessing to the world, I love the receding hairline ... a lot.

That's all for today.