Christmas Eve

We had a great Christmas Eve! After a terrific feast of yummy food we sat around and listened to Aarons' tall tale about Santa Quin, Santa Claus's evil brother, which made us laugh. Then we watched the kids try to act out the nativity, followed by lots of singing. The kids were put to bed so we could start our real Christmas Eve program.

See the lovely pictures of Santa and Santa Quin, yikes!

Nathan also helped me rise up like never before!

Kaylie and Emily excited to see what Santa is going to bring them. Alisha helped them look on the internet all day to see where in the world Santa was. It was an exciting day and night! We made sure to leave cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer.

Although I don't have any pictures of it, the real Christmas Eve program was one of the highlights of our trip. Nathan had asked everyone to write something nice about each sibling or person in the family, and I had gathered the papers and put them into baggies about each person. We each took a baggie and took turns reading about the people in the room. There was a sweet feeling in the room, as much needed love was given and received and enjoyed. Many of the Clarks don't like to express their feelings and prefer to keep them bottled up behind a big stone wall, but on nights like this the emotions run high and inevitably there are many tears shed. It is so good to hear good things about ourselves. There is something that fills the starved soul when they can hear from those that love them, what it is that they are admired for and loved for. It was so nice to hear compliments from siblings and parents and spouses, etc. I think it was a good start for the family but there can always be better communication. The problem is that so many people are so sarcastic so much of the time that it appears to anyone watching from the outside that the family does nothing but rip on eachother and seek eachother's flaws. It can be difficult to listen too at times and all too often makes me feel sad to hear what people have to say in jest.

Opportunities to seek the good in people and then to express it are far too few and when they come, feelings of love and kindness flourish. Such was the case this Christmas Eve when people got to hear about their strengths instead of their weaknesses, when people were able to listen to compliments on their character and not burns about their flaws. Oh how I long for more opportunities to share love and compliments with others. It is a goal that I have had for a while and although I am better, I still lack so much. I long to be able to see the good in all people and then to share it! To actually tell that person right then and there how great they are, how good they look, how nice they smell or talk, how well organized they are, how soft spoken and patient, how hard-working and giving. There is so much good around us, why does it seem that we overlook it to see the little bad things?

I love Christmas Eve and the opportunities is gives to see the best in others as we reflect on our Saviour and try to become more like him. It is the best time of Christmas, for it is the real reason we celebrate and the only real time we alot for focusing solely on Christ and his birth and life. If only the rest of the season was directed more towards Him and not all the commercialism and Santa stuff. I am half tempted to not even talk about Santa in our home anymore and just focus on the only real reason for the season. But alas, it might backfire and create angry children that rebel against the real reason for lack of toys. Who knows?