The MOST Wonderful Time of the Year

Before the voices of the Earth's choirs were raised in praise...
there was a silent night.

Before the strings of lights were wound around the world, and tinsel strung...
there was a single star.

Before the wide~eyed wonder of a child on Christmas morn...

Before the gifts...there was a child, born in Bethlehem, who showed the world
the greatest gift of all...

is love.

I wish you could all see how big I'm smiling. This smile will remain on my face ALL DAY LONG. It's Christmas Eve! The most beautiful day and night of the year. I'm never more happy than I am at this time of year. :) I absolutely LOVE spending time with our extended family members. You just have no idea how much it means to me.

I'm about to make the pie that I'm taking to Marshall's parents house for our get-together tonight, then I've got to finish a few loads of clothes and wrap some presents that I never finished wrapping.

I'm going to stop by my Mom's for a few minutes before heading over to MIL & FIL's house. I am pretty uncomfortable with seeing her, but I still want to see her on Christmas Eve. We've just started talking again the other day. This relationship we have...I just don't know.

I'm also going to stop by the cemeteries where both my grandmothers are buried, just to say a quick prayer and just...be there for a few. It's always comforting to me just to stand near their graves for a few minutes. Sounds weird, probably, but I don't know how to explain it. I just miss them both so much, especially this time of year.

You already know that "O Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas song. Someone emailed me a copy of Josh Groban singing it, along with scenes from The Nativity Story. It took my breath away. To think about it all...our Savior being born... I closed my eyes and imagined myself being there, being one of the witnesses to His birth. Ah, there are no words. I can hear you calling me a dork now, and I'm ok with that. :) Here you are:



Here's my favorite version of my second favorite Christmas song, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," which I find to be so sad, but I absolutely LOVE Judy Garland singing it; it's beautiful:



And here's my favorite version of my favorite Christmas song:



Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper, but I'll use both.

Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, but only because we put the tree up so early. I'd actually prefer a real one.

When do you put up the tree? The weekend before Thanksgiving, or whenever the kids get home from college.

When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. It makes me sad to have it up any longer.

Do you like eggnog? Not sure if I've ever had any, but I don't think I'd like it. What's "nog" anyway, I mean, what part of the egg is that? :)

Favorite gift received as a child? I have three: a Hasbro inchworm that I could ride on; a camera; and a go-cart that was a shared gift between me and my brother. We had the BEST time on that thing.

Hardest person to buy for? My hubby. When we ask him what he'd like for Christmas he says, "Nothing!" and he means it. It's very frustrating.

Easiest person to buy for? My Dad. He likes books. Books are easy.

Do you have a nativity scene? Several. We ARE celebrating Christ's birth, are we not?

Mail or email Christmas cards? I've done both. Some people think email Christmas cards are in bad taste, but if I get one myself, I'm just happy to know that the person was thinking of me.

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Well, last year my hubby bought me a Homer Simpson Chia head. Now it's an ongoing joke. I think it hurts his feelings that I never opened it; it's still in its box, but I know if I open it and use it, we'll just toss it after it has grown. I actually love it, and always want to keep it because it's just so funny. :D

Favorite Christmas Movie? Just one? Ha! I love them ALL! Elf, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, It's A Wonderful Life, and ALL of the Christmas cartoons by Rankin/Bass. :)

When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around the first of December.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yep.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas ham. :)

Lights on the tree? Well, yes! Isn't that the point of having a tree?

Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, & also Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, which I've kindly provided for you on this post. :)

Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel, but just 45 minutes or so to Marshall's parents is as far as we have to go.

Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, Prancer, Vixen, and of course, Rudolph.

Angel on the tree top or a star? I prefer a star, but have neither right now.

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open one at night when we get home from family celebrations, and then the rest on Christmas morning.

Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not a single, solitary thing. This is my FAVORITE time of the whole year. Ask anyone. :) I don't even mind holiday traffic anymore.

Favorite ornament theme or color? All the ornaments that the kids have made me, and then my "Merry Christmoose" ornament from Hallmark. We don't have a themed tree, our tree has all kinds of ornaments, all with sentimental value.

Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas ham and all the fixings. :)

What do you want for Christmas this year? I already got it: the flat screen HD LCD tv that was a gift to me and my hubby from me and my hubby. :)

What is your favorite thing about Christmas? Every single, little bitty, teeny tiny thing about it. There is NOTHING that I don't like about it. Nothing. Well, except that it goes by too fast. :( Oh, and that it doesn't ever snow here on Christmas. :(

Are you still actually reading my blog? :)

Have a beautiful Christmas, filled with love and wonderful memories of your loved ones who are no longer here.

Merry Christmas!