The Gift of Christmas (yes, I'm talking about Christmas in October)!

What is it about Christmas that makes us feel all warm and cheery? I saw a row full of "Christmas" at Target today, and it unexpectedly made me long for that time of year that is just around the corner. The wreaths and the mistletoe, the red and green everything, the sparkly letters spelling out "Joy" or "Peace," it all made me sigh with sentimental delight.

Then I thought about why I love Christmas so much. For me, it's the time when everything slows down, for once. In my family growing up, Christmas break was really the best time of year because we were ALL on Christmas break. My parents taught school, so our breaks, were there breaks. It was truly a time of relaxing for everyone.

Some nights we would stay up eating ice cream out of jam jars and watching a good family movie, or playing one of the new board games we got for Christmas. We could sleep in, or wake up early to watch some cartoons, but whatever we did, we were together. The years that it snowed, we would take advantage. We didn't have all the gear that my kids get the privilege of having. I remember layering socks and pants, and then using a garbage bag to slide around on the snow. New Mexico rarely had enough snow to make a snow man, but one year, we got so much snow our Labrador got lost jumping in it! We built tunnels in the snow that year!

What else is it about Christmas that warms our hearts? Christmas morning is the best! Now if you try to think back to all the Christmas mornings you've had, I bet you can't remember every single gift you have received, but I bet you can remember how you felt. It's not really about the presents, despite what my kids tell me, it's the faces all around the room lit up with joy and love, those same words I saw sparkling back at me in the store this morning. I remember that slowed pace of Christmas morning. For our family it was never a rushed thing with paper flying everywhere. We gave each person a turn to be the center of attention. For some reason this made it seem more special and important. I especially loved watching my dad give gifts to my mom. One year he got her a new comforter for their bed. I think she was surprised, and I will never forget the blissful look on her face, like, wow he got it right this year... I love him so much!

I love pretty much everything about Christmas. The movies that come on every year that I have seen a zillion times. The music, which I might be listening to as I am writing this. The decorations!!! The snow, that comes at just the right time in this part of the country. The cozy days with a warm cup of something... coffee, cider, oh the possibilities! And of course, the opportunities that arise. Sometimes it's just an opening to talk about the greatest story ever told - our Savior! Sometimes it's the opportunity to help someone who's heart has been softened by the season, Sometimes it's those priceless conversations with my kids that happen because of something going on, or something they have heard.

I love the old traditions of my family and the way we grew up having Christmas, but I also love making new traditions with my little family. Sometimes it's hard to balance that, and fit in a visit with all sides of the families too, but in any case I can't help feeling the glow when I see those little hints of Christmas start to pop up. Some of you probably feel quite the opposite, and that's okay too. I'm home alone right now, and no one knows I'm listening to Christmas music and fantasizing about skipping right over Halloween and Thanksgiving just to get to that little piece of peace.

Someday my kids will look back the way that I do now, not remembering the gifts of Christmas, but I think they will remember the Gift of Christmas, and that is what really stirs up longings in me.