The Day After…

Dear Jennie,

It's all about the tractors...

How was your holiday?  Did Santa bring you everything that you dreamed of?  Well, we had a great day.  The kids were so much fun.  We have put Legos together, logged, played tractors, and games.  I don’t think that the kids have gotten out of their pajamas in two days.  I actually like the day after Christmas the best.  Everyone is occupied and playing, I let the house go and just sit back and play with them, eat leftovers and consume coffee and tea and any other warm beverage I can get my hands on.  

This year, I feel extra special, I got an iPod–yes, me the anti-technology person that I am, have an iPod.  So I have been trying to figure out how iTunes works and all of that stuff.  I have managed to download one song–yes a whopping one song so far.  I’m getting there.  It’s not cheap.  So maybe by Easter I’ll have enough tunes on there to get me through my run!   That would be the goal!

Jennie, I went to a beautiful Christmas Eve service this year.  The music was extra special.  I always enjoy the Christmas Eve candle light services for a couple of reasons.  The first being that it kind of settles me.  After running around for the last couple of weeks getting ready for Christmas, I always need to take a few breaths to remember why it is that we celebrate this holiday.  I have mixed feelings on where I stand with religion, but I know that I love the story of how baby Jesus was born in a manger.  Every Christmas Eve I get to hear the story being retold during the service, and I very much enjoy it.  Christmas isn’t all about the presents and the atmosphere that we all try to create within our houses and in our lives.  It is about a touching story of love. 

The other reason that I enjoy going to a Christmas Eve service is that I love the music.  I enjoy both singing the christmas carols, as well as listening to them.  This year’s service I felt was exceptional.  There was a beautiful flute accompaniment that was very nice.  I can’t remember what the name of the song was, but it made me tingle when I listened to it.  Of course that was all while I was keeping the one year old under control.  He wasn’t too bad, but it is still another body to worry about occupying while the rest of us listen to the service.  Unfortunately Christmas Eve service usually falls at the witching hour for anyone under the age of 5.  Luckily I wasn’t the only one juggling.

The only part of the service that was a little disappointing was that the candlelight Silent Night sing was interrupted by a smoke detector during the first verse, and then we only sang the first verse.  I always remember singing all of it.  So I was surprised when they stopped.  We had barely gotten warmed up.  That was not the way it was supposed to end.  But it did–until next year. 

Anyways, very cold, and the snow is blowing.  Just wanted to touch base and make sure that you had a great holiday.  I will write soon.  Stay warm Jennie!

With Love,
Kate