Merry Christmas ...Eve

I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that I have to work tomorrow. *Sniff.* I find it ironic that the year Josh FINALLY has Christmas off, I have to work. Ah well.

This morning I went to church with Josh's family, and since we are without a pastor at the moment, one of the men from the church (who is also a professor at the local Bible college) gave the message. I like it when he speaks because he is truly a teacher. It was very historical and full of cross-references and that sort of thing. (I felt like I was in a class at Roberts, complete with fighting the feeling of nodding off at the end!) We got in a few traditional Christmas carols, too, which is one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

Josh is working 3p-3a this weekend, and we did our stockings this afternoon before he left for work. I only have to do an 8-hour day tomorrow, so the Kresges are graciously holding their Christmas dinner till about 4:30 or 5:00. I guess we will exchange gifts tomorrow night sometime around bedtime. Thankfully we both have the 26th off. Anyway, at this point, I am beginning to feel the deep breath and contended sigh that I have come to expect from Christmas.

I love the sense of peace that this holiday brings to our world. It's amazing to me how all of the hustle and bustle can last right up to Christmas Eve day, but once the sun goes down it all comes to a screaming halt and we are forced to turn inward... into our homes, in toward our families, into our hearts. I am in awe of anything that has this effect. I wonder if, so many years ago, Mary had this same sense of peace after the stress of the long journey to Bethlehem and the labor and delivery of her child.

Perhaps.