Merry Christmas





Last night was our last big program-- our Christmas Eve Service(s). The people in our Worship Ministry at Orangewood are amazing. There were luminous stars suspended from the ceiling, and the thought and planning given to the lighting and set-up of the room was evident. The music and the preaching were wonderful, and the candle-lighting ceremony richly moving. It is such a joy to work with these talented, smart, fun-loving people and to know that we share the bond of faith in all our labors.

After the services we tucked Marla into bed with promises of Christmas morning dancing in her sleepy eyes, Christmas songs playing on a cd, and the excitement of what was to come making her flop all over the bed. That done we then set about assembling the easel and paints we had bought as her gift from Santa. It had been a long day for both of us, and we needed to de-stress in our own ways. Don headed outside for a cigar and a look at the night sky. I headed back to the bedroom and decided to do some yoga and stretch for awhile before bed. I had not gone into Marla’s room to turn off the music yet—I was enjoying the mix Daniel had burned for her earlier in the week; a nice compilation of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Enya, Johnny Mathis, and the Chipmunks. I decided to do my stretches to the Christmas music and enjoyed the surreal quality the music gave to a yoga routine.

Christmas Morning began with a tap on my shoulder and a sweet voice asking, “Could you button my dress?”

I foggily buttoned up a velvet dress. “Are you dressing up to see what Santa brought you?”

“Yes,” Marla replied, lifting her hair out of the way.

Shuffling down the hallway and turning the corner into the living room I watched Marla walk right past the easel and paints awaiting her discovery and stop before the tree. She looked carefully around and then looked at me in confusion… where were the presents?

“Look over here…” I coaxed. Her eyes looked past me and landed on the easel and paint. Score!

The day was wonderful. Daniel came over first, and we had an intimate family gift time, some venison sausage, eggs, and coffee. My parents came over just a little later and we exchanged gifts, had some lasagna, and enjoyed one another’s company. Our sweet friends the Berrys dropped by with some outgrown toys for Marla and the gift of great company.

The highlight of the day for me came in the thoughtfulness of the gifts my husband and children gave me. A few weeks ago, Don and I were looking at the state of the windchimes in our yard. They were falling apart with age. I remarked that I would love to replace the broken ones and get a few more. He arranged for every gift for me to be a windchime. They each had a different timber and mode—deep and sonorous, rich and melodious, and even one that sounded like temple bells. We spent the late afternoon hanging them in various strategic places for our enjoyment.

Now, it’s time to get our sweet daughter off to bed. It’s been a good holiday. Probably the best in years. Merry Christmas!