Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were filled with Faith, Family, Friends and food.
Mom and I attended the 8 PM Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve. Fr. Dan took the opportunity to invite all the visitors and friends and inactive members to join us weekly. To encourage this action on their part, he kept his homily blessedly short! He is a wonder speaker. Always has something great to say. Almost always talks way longer than the attention span of his congregation! :)
Older son's Friends came to spend the night and enjoy Christmas morning with us. All the younger generation went out with friends on Christmas Eve. For the first time since my children were born, our Christmas morning started after 9 AM!
Presents and merriment ensued. Santa brought stockings full of goodies for all the regular residents of the home AND the guests. Presents for all as well...
My favorite - older son moved out late Summer. I overheard a comment he made to a friend, "I really don't expect to get much. After all, I don't live here anymore." and then when he received an abundance of goodness, he said, "I really didn't think I'd be getting this much. I don't even live here anymore." My response, "I guess you got a surprise."
What I really wanted to say, "Well, SON, you didn't cease to be my son when you walked out the door."
He got very practical gifts -- which I would have probably gotten him anyway -- pots and pans, a coffee maker, and other useful items for a bachelor pad. And some new clothes because he's lost a lot of weight. His job pays his living expenses, but doesn't yet lend itself to a wardrobe overhaul.
Distributing and opening presents with oohing and ahhing gave way to a pancake breakfast (made by me), then chips and dips and cookies (set out by me) as our final guest arrived.
Then commenced the cooking of the dinner (me again) and the eating of said feast (everyone) and then cleaning up (woohoo, the boys cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher; I just had to do leftover packing and cooking vessels)... I could barely stand by 6:00!
It was a WONDERFUL day. No fighting. Very little digging. Only an occasional walk away moment. A truly lovely Christmas!
May the Christmas Spirit continue to shine in your life and mine!
2 comments:
Sounds like you had a great, if somewhat fatiguing day!
And that's a lovely wish there at the end :)
New year's coming! I keep thinking - it can't be 2008 already!!!
It sounds wonderful. :)
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