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Merry Christmas
- 12/25/06
- 9
It is Christmas. Our day began a little bit earlier than I would have liked, but also a little bit later than I had expected. With our children growing older, we are finally able to celebrate Christmas the way I remember it as a child - a day of rising early and trembling with anticipation, hoping, just hoping, that the toy you wanted most is there, waiting under the tree. Christmas is a great time to be a father, to enjoy the children squealing with excitement, joy and gratitude. I was thrilled to hear my children suggest that "mommy and daddy should open presents first this year since they take such good care of us."
Because the children are only now coming to that age where they really appreciate Christmas, we are only just beginning to create some family Christmas traditions. To this point our traditions have been derived from a combination of how my family celebrated and how Aileen's family celebrated. Neither family made Christmas into a distinctly religious occasion, so such an emphasis does not come naturally to either one of us. We are still not sure how much we will emphasize Christmas as Jesus' birthday and how much we'll just emphasize family, giving, gratitude, and so on. We're uncertain if the day will revolve around the birth of Jesus or around Christian virtues. I suppose we'll just have to see how the day evolves as time goes on.
After spending a good bit of my morning building Lego spaceships, assembling Playmobil garden centers, and cleaning up scattered bits of plastic and wrapping paper, Aileen and I were able to turn our attention to dinner. We got our Presbyterian Turkey all prepped and ready to go (we consider it Presbyterian and certainly not Baptist after we poured a half a bottle of sherry into its body cavity), the potatoes peeled and the table set. Now we're just waiting for my in-laws to arrive in an hour or two. Already it has been a wonderful Christmas. I suspect it will get better still.
So from me to you, and from my family to yours, have a safe and wonderful and blessed Christmas Day.
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Comments (9)
Tim,
I'm a relatively new reader of your blog -- but I wanted to wish you a blessed Christmas and new year. From what I've encountered in your blog thus far, I've been blessed. Thanks especially for the Roger Nicole Post -- Dr Nicole was one of our professors at RTS Orlando -- a man who in his twilight years demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit in all his interactions with his students.
Soli Deo Gloria
Russell
Tim,
Merry Christmas! I've been blessed as usual with your posting this day. With four kids ages 3 to 11, I related with every word you mentioned here. (our two youngest got Playmobile toys; a Pirate Ship and a Doll House) I also appreciate your recognition that there are stinctly secular traditions in American holidays that we can appreciate and enjoy much the same way we would other holidays with less of a religious emphasis (like the 4th of July). Our family does a little of both and we enjoy this month as a time to reflect in the story of Christ's birth. You might enjoy reading about a tradition we started a few years back at: http://furtaknetmusings.blogspot.com/2006/12/furtaks-advent-wreath-tradition.html . We used present traditions as a guideline but made many of our own and the end result is that we build each other up as a family. At the same time, it isn't an unusual family practice stuck only to the season since we take most Sunday evenings for a Family Fun Night anyhow. In addition to this, we also respect those around us who might celebrate this month as just a great holiday for enjoying the good will towards man and the things you mentioned above.
Have a good new year! I look forward to reading your blogs in the year to come.
Cheers,
~Jason Furtak~
Merry Christmas, Tim!
Merry Christmas!
Christ alone,
Jenn
Merry Christmas brother and family!!! I hope you all had a wonderful day...I'm sorry my gifts aren't there yet...but they are coming:)
Merry Christmas Tim. Thanks for all you do.
Merry Christmas - thanks for your great blog.
Happy Christmas, Tim and family. Joyeux Noël ! Bonnes fêtes !
I'd like to thank you for your energy and faithfulness in posting. It's great to have you in the blogosphere.
My wife and I are both first-generation Christians, so like you we have to find our way of translating, adopting and rejecting family traditions.
One question though : no church on Christmas Day?
Our (Presbyterian) church here had no service on Christmas Day so we went to the Anglican Chaplaincy. Christmas without church is inconceivable!
All of the Baptist turkeys are down south, where we practice total immersion (in really hot peanut oil).
Merry Christmas, from one Tim to another!