Christmas Eve Gift

It was a tradition I definitely was not accustomed to.   As soon as the clock struck 12:01am, on Christmas Eve, my husband’s grandmother would begin calling family members and simply saying “Christmas Eve Gift” which would be followed by a giggle and a thought of “Gotcha” before hanging up the phone.  After her passing, my husband felt it necessary to continue the tradition. 

Each year, he begins the lengthy task of preparing his list of numbers to make his annual “Christmas Eve Gift” calls then he sets his biological clock to get up way too early for me.  I now understand why some received calls at 4am…it takes that long to go down the list. 

Well guess what?  This year my husband got a new smart phone and the first thing our youngest daughter said was, “do you think we could just get a text this year”?  LOL!   I then said, “why do you think he does it”?, too which she replied, “It is just something that has stuck around. Some traditions are just that. No reason but it is there”.  WOW! 

As I began to set goals for the New Year the thought struck me,  “Am I doing things that have NO reason, can I do things differently, can I make sure what I do is effective?  The answer is simply YES!

So, on Christmas Eve, I took the time to help my “technologically challenged” husband set up a group message to go out at a certain time and... ALL OUR FAMILY WILL THANK ME LATER!

Happy New Year!  

Now What Were We Celebrating?

How can something so meaningful have everyone in such a tizzy?  Parties, parades, family get-togethers and, of course, there are the college bowl games… just to name a few. But how did it get to be so hectic? 

Maybe it is the “people pleaser” in all of us, or maybe just maybe the holidays really do bring out the “giving” in all of us.    There is something about this time of year that makes me a little more “giving”…giving of my time, talents and money.

My heart seems to yearn for my family and friends more. I cherish the time I spend with my husband enjoying the things he loves. I then get so stressed each year preparing for the annual Christmas parade, just to be consumed by the fun I have with my coworkers as we throw-out candy and wave as if we were kings and queens.

Then there are the parties!  You know the company party that NO one really wants to attend, but feels obligated to do so. Especially when the marketing director adds “tacky sweater” to the invite!  Oh and lets not forget the church dinner, the Christmas Cantata, play practice and then throw-in your parents 50^th wedding anniversary party, decorating the house, purchasing and wrapping the presents.

Shew, now what were we celebrating?  Oh yeah, the sweet Christ child that came with no parties or bowl games, just a lowly manger and one happy and blessed mother to have her little family in one little place. We could blame the Wise Men for the tizzy; after all, they started the gift giving. But then they were “wise” and maybe on to something!  You see, “giving” is part of who we are and what makes our homes, communities, churches and businesses so special.  So, enjoy the tizzy and remember to keep the spirit of Christ in your Christmas!