This Christmas feels different.  

The past two have been different because we have been in warm weather, away from a lot of the commercialism surrounding Christmas, and not surrounded by family like we would enjoy. Fortunately we have had family come to spend Christmas' and Thanksgivings past and this year for the 2nd year in a row we get Brad's parents to share in the holiday fun.  We are also expecting Sargon, his father, Virgil, his wife and a sprinkling of other loved ones for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas morning excitement.

It's been nice for me and Brad to create our own version of Christmas in this Islamic country.  There are many Christians here and the Nationals are very tolerant of us and even take part in much of the shopping.  (They are really good at shopping.)  Every year there has been an increase in the available decorations and specialty items we associate with Christmas. While decorating the house and trying to make it a memorable and fun time for our family I cannot help but appreciate all my Mom did to create traditions and a warm exciting atmosphere surrounding Christmas.  I now know how much work it can be but also how much fun it is to see the children becoming old enough to appreciate the candles burning in the evenings and the Christmas lights twinkling in our garden. 

 Some memories I've savored lately are: 

• The "forest" of Christmas trees that Mom and Dad created.  (Surely this non-traditional view of the "Christmas Tree" has made it easier for me to justify a few fresh pine bows.)
  
• Lennox candles in groupings of red, green, and white.  All different heights but all big round candles surrounded by fresh pine bows and flickering every evening.  They were used year after year and as they burned down the sides of the candle would curl over into beautiful (tempting) wax curls.
• New pajamas EVERY Christmas Eve.
• Christmas Eve dinner, usually a traditional turkey dinner so we would have lots of great left-overs for Christmas Day.
• Chocolate balls made simply from Hershey bars with almonds melted and mixed in with Cool Whip then rolled in crushed vanilla wafers..MMMMM (I wonder if I can find Cool Whip tomorrow.  It's on the list now..if I unwrap enough Hershey kisses with almonds I could maybe pull that one off!)
• Angel food cake topped with a mixture of fresh whipped cream and crushed candy canes.  I never LOVED the taste of this one I just LOVE LOVE LOVE  the idea of it so much that I have been tempted to try it.  Then my mind and my taste buds go back to pumpkin pie and I just savor the memory instead.
• Christmas morning waking early and waiting in Mom and Dad's room while Dad checked to see if Santa had come and to start a fire so we could enter the family room TOGETHER with the warm glow and smell of a fire in the used-brick fireplace.  
• Waiting in Mom and Dad's room for Grandma to brush her teeth and put on her robe (new from the night before) and her lipstick...
• Entering the family room, TOGETHER, as a family all of us.  It felt like magic.  It always looked amazing.  Everything laid out so nicely with the tree lights on and the fire crackling. Even now, as an adult I can feel that tingle of excitement.  

Mom, Dad, it was worth it!  All that work, all that Christmas craziness, all those last-minute runs to the stores.  It made a difference and I find myself now wanting to pass it on to our four kids..I wonder what they might remember..

That's what is different.  

I'm older and wiser.  Our kids are older and so much fun.  They don't touch the burning candles or knock over the breakables.  They might actually enjoy the toys more than the box they come in.  They know it's a special time and there is excitement in the air.

This blog post includes a few things I hope they might remember, long after the toys are gone.