A Christmas Person

I am, without a doubt, a Christmas person. I joke about being obsessive compulsive about it...but in true life...it's just who I am.
I've been giving a lot of thought to why that is...and this is what I've figured out:
During the year, there are many times when I will say, either to myself...or to those around me, "I need a little more sparkle in my life." Sometimes it's, "I need to have more fun." Other times I'm thinking, "I need more peace."
Do you see where I'm going with this? During the Christmas season, there is no shortage of sparkle. Almost everywhere I go...things are sparkling! Decorations, houses, people's clothing and accessories...even nature sparkles more. I love it!
As for fun...I can't think of anything more fun that celebrating with my family and my friends...and we do a lot of that during the Christmas season. Whether it's baking thousands of cookies, going out for a meal together, staying in and watching Christmas specials on TV, viewing old home movies...it's just wonderful to be laughing and enjoying life with those I love.
Overall, people seem nicer during the Christmas season too. They give more. Even to people they don't know. Charitable contributions go up. I think that people tend to look at their own lives a little differently during this time of the year...and they realize that they are more blessed than they've thought...so they tend to "share the wealth."
Our yard will be completely "decked out" for Christmas. Thousands of lights, a couple of reindeer, a snowman and two nativity scenes will be set up. The one nativity scene is over 50 years old...it was a gift to us. Each figure is about four or five feet tall. They are prints of the Holy family, shepherds, wise men, camels, etc. that look like they came out of an old Bible, attached to plywood. We have sealed them to protect them from the weather...and they will sit under our giant rhododendron in the front. (It's their makeshift stable.) The other nativity scene is much larger in size...Joseph is close to seven feet tall. Jeff and I made that one together. He cut out the plywood figures and I painted them. That one goes up on the flat part of the roof, above the living room window. Of course we will have our Christmas tree in the front window.
People slow down when they drive by our home. And they stop and look closer if they are walking by. Kids and grownups alike enjoy the decorations. I am reminded of times when I was a child and we would drive around and look at the Christmas lights. Or of when I drove my young daughters and my mom around to different neighborhoods at Christmastime...picking our favorite houses, warm in the car, singing carols along with the radio. These are wonderful memories.
I'm thankful that Jeff is a Christmas person also. (Our friend Mary said that the two of us must have been Santa's elves in our former lives.) This year, he made us a beautiful wreath out of branches from a monkey tail tree. He painted it red and added some holly branches which he painted white. Then he sparkled it up with the sparkles left over from Jennifer's bridal bouquet. He hung it up over the fireplace a month or so ago...before Halloween! Our hospice chaplain commented to me that we were coming into "my season" soon...and I agreed. She asked about Jeff's feelings on that and I said, "Oh...Jeff's a Christmas person too. He just didn't know it until he came here." She laughed...but I think it's really true.
Today is Thanksgiving. Most of our yard is already decorated. We will finish it off this afternoon...while the turkey is roasting. Holiday scents have filled our home. Pies baking, hot cider, peppermint tea...and soon turkey and all the trimmings. I am very thankful to be where I am. To be with the right partner. To have the support and love of friends and family. To have a great neighborhood church which is a big part of our lives. For my beautiful daughters and to have had another year with my mom. I am thankful for my sister and brother...my new son-in-law and for the rest of my family.
I am especially thankful that this is the beginning of my favorite season of all. The time of year when I get enough sparkle and I have lots of fun. This is also the time of year when I feel God's peace...and His presence in my heart, the most.
Yes...without a doubt, I am a Christmas person! Let the celebrations begin!