Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve! I can't believe this season is coming to an end. I always have mixed emotions when this day comes. I will miss all the holiday traditions and activities...but I won't miss all the holiday stresses. I feel like all my hard work comes to a culmination on this evening. More than Christmas Day, I love Christmas Eve. Once Christmas Day hits, it's just a flurry of wrapping paper and joy...and then that elusive peace that evades me all season. But Christmas Eve is different. Christmas Eve holds meaning and the traditions that I love most. It reminds me (and hopefully the rest of us) of the true reason for the season. There is always a silent, stillness as I finish all the preparations for Christmas Day then walk outside to see the glowing lights emanating from the luminaries. I take a deep breath and welcome that calm light into my heart...the light of my Savior, whose birth we celebrate. I long for that moment each season. 

The morning started with cookies galore! Jonas and I woke up to a pile of ingredients and Santa's favorite cookie recipe from our resident Christmas elf, Jingle. We whipped up a quick batch of cookies to put on a plate for Santa that night then ran up to Krystle's house for more cookie fun with my parents. We got to make sugar cookies using the same cutters that I used when I was a kid. It was kind of a fun, nostalgic morning with my mom and Jonas (and all the Tanners).

After cookie decorating, Jonas got to play for an hour or so before we returned home to meet up with Danny, Dallin, and Jeff to start our Christmas Eve traditions. The boys had been skiing/snowboarding and Jeff had stayed home sick (poor guy was sick all through Christmas!), but at 4:00 p.m., we were outside assembling our 140+ luminaries. Once assembled and lit, we welcomed more family then came inside to partake of our Bethlehem dinner and enjoy our evening devotional. Jonas played Away in a Manger then he helped me read our rendition of Luke 2 (story intermixed with scripture - using the children's book from Emily Freeman and David Butler). It may be simple, but it's a brief moment where we get to pause and truly reflect on the reason for the season. 

Finally, Jonas helped me assemble a plate for Santa and the reindeer before he excitedly went to bed...only to wake up a couple hours later! Seriously! He had to use the restroom, but then he noticed the small gifts that Santa left in his room in case he woke up before his siblings. Of course that only fueled his excitement. He woke me up (because Jeff was sleeping downstairs to try to contain all the germs), and we assembled a little Lego set and played a round of Battleship before he agreed to go back to bed...in my bed. I can't say I was really upset. These days are numbered. The magic will change in the coming years from the man, Santa, to the real meaning. For that night, I held on to the hand of a child that was still excited for the man...in hopes that the magic of the meaning will still elicit the joy of the season (but maybe with more sleep).