So this is Christmas

Scenes from Christmas at home, with a portion of the children. My best gift this year was not cooking. I have been complaining – sometimes vigorously – that it is neither my joy nor my skill set. Due to severe food intolerances I also do not eat the majority of what is made. It had become high level drudgery for me. Fortunately it has become intriguing and relaxing to my husband who organized the troops and made all the food. All the food. ALL. the. food. So this day I set the table. I took pictures. I scurried around doing up dishes in between their projects. It was delightful. We all learned a lot.

We attended midnight mass for the first time in many years for me. It was magical. I am deeply indebted to our little church for doing the heavy lifting during the liturgical year celebrations after so many years of our being overseas or in a mission church.

We did not read a ton this advent. The library is closed again. I did read the children The Gift of the Magi one day over lunch. I read it first in grade school and I remember being so amazed and surprised at the end. I wanted to share it especially this year as the tone "out there" tends more and more towards discontent, disagreement, and entitlement. Most of us today do not have to take such drastic steps to have a gift to give our beloved. This is the legacy of historical literature. Perspective. A reality check. Appreciation hopefully. Following the last novel I read of the same era, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, it leaves so many thoughts of a way of life most can no longer imagine though it was a mere 100 years ago. I also watched an old Walton's movie set during the depression and am thinking its time to rewatch that whole series.

Our oldest spent the weekend with us watching movies and playing board games. It's funny how the things we used to do for them when they were little are the things they offer to do with us today. We read together, watch interesting films, listen to each other's music, assemble more complex puzzles, and play more challenging versions of board games.