Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007 was a blur for us. I (Jim) got sick on Thursday the 20th after we put up our Christmas tree and lights and was out of commission until Christmas Eve. Annie was flying solo with the boys, plus trying to take care of me and get our final shopping and wrapping done. My parents came over so she could make one last run to the stores (Thanks, Mom and Dad).

Once I was feeling better we put ornaments on the tree and were off to see my side of the family for Christmas Eve festivities at my cousin Scott's house with his wife Maria. Christmas morning we opened gifts by our tree and headed out to Chardon, then to Chesterland for more festivities. Attached are some pictures of Drew and Garrett getting their first cracks at the traditional Christmas pinata. 10 months old and taking on flying purple people eaters. We're so proud!

So Christmas was exhausting. We were listening to our Pastor preach recently about "the darker side of Christmas". That there is a lot of sadness, pain, illness, and unmet hopes that don't go away just because it's December 25th. Remember Herod ordering the massacre of all boys under 2 years old in hopes of killing the baby Jesus? It was into darkness that the light was born. And we recognize that darkness if we are at all honest with ourselves. We didn't have a Hallmark Christmas, but I don't think anyone does. It was great to see family and friends and exchange gifts, but it seemed a lot like going through the motions this year. I'd rather it include more wonder, more awe, more spirit... especially experiencing Christmas for the first time with Drew and Garrett. I did manage to laugh and smile a few times while watching them open the many brightly colored packages. By the end of the day, I think they were dreaming of giant balls of crinkley paper and huge cardboard boxes to whap.