Nearly two weeks into December
What signs are there that it is Christmas time?
Snowy days?
Christmas lights, trees, music, and decorations all through town?
Sweet treat baking and giving and receiving?
Feasting with friends and families?
Messages of anticipation, declaration, and celebration at church?
Nativity scenes?
The whirlwind of gift planning, buying, preparing, giving?
It's interesting that this year we each of us seem to be content to anticipate and celebrate in the quiet hum of normal. Other than our Advent calendar wall and a small nativity scene, no one is interested in decorations. It feels rather awkward and sad sometimes when you think of the thousands of Christmas traditions, activities, decorations, and tidbits there are out there and how full and significant they can make Christmas feel. And yet, are when they are missing, is Christmas missing or just different? Even so many years of Christmas (9?) away from Canada homes, still these thoughts arise :)
Our signs of Christmas time are similar yet quite different from those above!
The crunch of school work to make space for a Christmas break
The need for a family calendar on the wall to keep straight the small flurry of special events, hosting, and invitations (that mostly have nothing to do with Christmas! Such as a free rock wall climbing promotional event, Chinese exams, etc.)
The gold-faced red hikers plodding up our Advent "tree"/mountain/wall
The new and old Advent/Christmas song playlists
Advent candles on Sundays and a pewter nativity that is still hunting for a resting place in our home
A single discussion and decision on what to use our Christmas gift money on - and we're done with Christmas shopping
Baking and boxing cookies for our neighbors
Preparations for our Christmas feast on the beach
And in the listing, contentment comes again.
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