Many years ago my sister initiated a tradition where everyone takes a minute during our sibling sleepover to write in their journal on Christmas Eve. It was a good way to make sure we wrote at least once a year, and it also helped to pass the time while we were getting ready to (not) fall fast asleep. Anyway, I don't really have that much to say right now, since I wrote just a little while ago, but I wanted to put something down anyway.
Wow, Christmas really sneaked up on me this year, though I guess it always does seem to suddenly be here after a long year of waiting. But a lot has happened this year, and it's made the time seem to go by pretty quickly, which is both exciting and not so, because there's a lot of great stuff coming up, but there are also some things that I just can't believe are passing by so quickly. I am amazed every day at how this little boy of ours is growing up and not being a baby anymore. I was holding one of my 4-month old twin nephews tonight and I can barely remember when The Boy was that small. It's good that he's growing and learning, and he's such a joy every day that I can't really say I'm sad about him changing and becoming his own person, but at the same time I already miss him. ANYway, it's Christmas Eve, and it's going to be really fun tomorrow to see him react a little more to Christmas and all that that entails. Last year was fun but he didn't really get what was going on since he was so little, so it will be fun to see how this year is different. We've tried to impress upon him, at this young age, the real reason for the season, and he's actually really good at recognizing Jesus in Nativity scenes and paintings, so I think that's pretty good (and it's not that he really gets the other aspect of Christmas anyway, though I'm sure he'll figure something's up tomorrow morning when new playthings appear before his eyes... though we definitely tried not to go overboard, though it's proven harder than we expected). I've always loved Christmastime, and I've always been really happy to take time now and then to think about what we're actually celebrating, but sitting with my wife and little boy (and of course The Poppy in utero) as I tear up in front of Mickey's Christmas Carol, or watching him (gently) pull the ornaments and (not so gently) the beads off the tree and point out the star on top, or hearing him make the animal sounds and point out the "baby!" as we watch The Nativity makes it mean something fresh and new that I've don't remember ever really having experienced. Jesus was born and lived on this earth, and The Wife and I have a sacred duty and wonderful opportunity to share that glorious knowledge with this sweet and innocent and darling little boy, so he can grow up with the same sweet assurance and hope for the future that we had as children (not to mention the magic and symbolism of Santa Claus). So yes, Christmas is new all over again, though I don't have quite as much trouble falling asleep these days as I used to.
I guess that's all for this year. It's late and we're watching the First Presidency Christmas Devotional while I write this (the music is always my favorite part), and then we'll get ready for bed and let Santa Claus do his thing. Speaking of Santa Claus, I feel like I should mention that we watched this new TV program last night. I'm a big fan of the musical, so it was really fun to see the music adapted into a new but somehow still classic Christmas special:
It's not perfect, but I really enjoyed it, on an animation level, and of course a musical one. I've thought for the last few years that they should make a movie of the musical version (based on the movie, of course), but it always seemed so unlikely. Well, this is just about the next best thing! Maybe even better.
Okay, that's it! Jesus was born! He still lives! God bless us, every one!
Your post caused me to reflect one years gone by when you were the young one . . .
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