A Christmas Perspective...

Just as fast as the wrapping paper flew, Christmas has come and gone for another year. Each year we rush around to make preparations for the holiday just right. Shopping for the perfect gift, and prepping everything to make it just right. Each year I beg my family to stop spending and spending on gifts. The time shared together is far more priceless and memorable than anything that you could get me. Each year though gifts are purchased, and within minutes the floor is covered. This year our family did something a little different. Instead of us all making the rounds to several locations and opening various gifts, than home to our respective houses, we all decided to spend the night at my sister's Christmas Eve and wake up and spend Christmas Day together also. Talk about bringing back childhood memories!

I have to admit, as I get older, I do appreciate watching others as they open much more than opening those gifts in front of me. Watching my nieces as they tore through their piles, brought smiles to all of our faces, but I could tell their happiness was soon to be subdued as their piles dwindled. The smiles and excitement quickly changed as they realized they had tore through everything, and now had to sit back and watch us "adults" slowly work through our much smaller piles. With each gift we opened, they inched closer, and before long, they were "helping" trying to get us to tear in faster. Why such a rush? Does some super power come with increased velocity of shredded wrapping paper? I'm sure as a child, I was the same way.

As someone who considers himself a "people watcher" I enjoyed watching reactions, emotions, and even an occasional tear with some of the thought that went into many of the gifts. I was amazed at a picture my sister had made for me.. Knowing its a one of a kind is something that will help me treasure it even more. I'm still thinking of where will be the perfect place to hang it and show it off. Even more touching was memorial marker for Cody of his dog "Sam" who passed away this summer. I happened to catch a picture of him with it along with their new puppy "Molly" on his lap. Talk about tugging on the heart strings. I do not think there is anything more touching the girls could have done, well that was until my sister opened her gift from her oldest daughter. Tawni will be leaving for college this coming year. As she gets closer to that date when she will no longer live at home, its amazing to see and watch her mature. I can still remember her as a baby and rocking her to sleep in my arms. As my sister opened the engraved charm bracelet, I noticed more than one teary eye.

So why do I share all of this? As Christmas 2011, becomes just a memory, it may go down as one of the best ones in recent history. Spending quality time with family is something that I always enjoy, no matter how much I may joke about it. They have always been there for me through anything I may be facing. In recent years, I have always kind of dreaded Christmas Eve night. Yes I love attending services, and seeing family, but by the end of the evening I always came home to an empty house. Sitting up with my family and telling stories, prepping everything just right for Santa's visit, before falling asleep, only to wake with the little ones anxious to open what Santa brought them.

Christmas Day was just as rewarding. Early to rise after the little ones got everyone up, we watched to see what they all got. After a Christmas breakfast, I was put to work setting up the new electronic toys the girls got while Mom and my sister worked on Christmas Dinner. I could hear my brother-in-law playing on his new ATV outside, and Christmas music playing inside. Before long, the grandparents arrived and we continued to share all afternoon. I have never been one to have my picture taken. I prefer being behind the camera rather than in front of it. But I have to admit I loved some of the pictures I ended up being in with my nieces and family. Treasured memories as well all grow older.

Christmas 2011 was truly one of the best Christmas' in recent history, if not the best in my adult life. Not for the gifts received, but for the time spent together. Thank you family for a truly wonderful Christmas!