I know the Real Reason For The Season and without Jesus in my life nothing else would really matter. That being said I think my favorite part of the holiday is the giving! I love to see my families eyes when they open gifts I have chosen for them! The anticipation builds up all month as the presents get wrapped and then on the 25th my little nieces are so excited and I love to see that excitement in their eyes!!
What about you, what do you like best about the Christmas holiday?
Going to Midnight Mass as a family and seeing all our friends. The children's choir singing, everyone dressed up, the kids so excited they can hardly sit still through Mass. The smell of the incense. I love it all! I remember 5 years ago praying during Mass and knowing I was just (and I mean just) pregnant with my son. I still remember that thrilling feeling and knowing I couldn't be any closer to God.
My favourite part of Christmas starts on Christmas Eve with going to Midnight Mass and then coming home and sitting quietly in the sitting room with just the warm glow from the christmas tree lights on, the feeling of expectation...
Then, early Christmas morning, while DH is still in bed, preparing the christmas dinner with carols playing, knowing that shortly all my family will be arriving ....
I like Advent and preparing.
I like the Christmas carols and look for a radio station that plays them 24/7.
I like the smell of fresh evergreens, cutting them, making window sprays, cutting down the tree, putting it up.
I like to gaze in the quiet at the tree with all the other house lights out.
I like decorating with my family, the tree especially, we all get along when we do it, at least we have so far!
I like mass and the pretty church decorations.
I especially like seeing presents under the tree and in the stockings but really if everyone is happy that doesn't even matter so much either.
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
My favorite part of Christmas is sending Christmas cards. I order my cards months in advance and take time picking out just the right verse for family and friends. I love receiving Christmas cards/letters & pictures from near and far. With the high cost of stamps I've noticed many people don't send cards anymore but I do, whether I receive one or not. To me this is part of the magic of the Christmas season! I wonder how many people think the sending of Christmas greetings is soon to be a thing of the past?
I used to love the twinkle of the eyes of my own children as Santa left his notes and presents to them.
Now I get a joy of watching my gbabies getting thier present, or telling me what Santa has left for them.
Last yr with me raising my gd's was more like Christmas than it had in a very long time.
As I got up with them as they ran into my room, with thier happy little voices, yelling "nana- Nana Santa been here - he ate his cookies, and drank his milk, and left us notes"... it was like if my own children was little again. I'll be missing that this yr. but will listen with my entire heart as they tell me about what Santa left at thier home.
I love going Christmas light looking, with houses all deck out, and listening to Christmas songs. What a bunch of great songs that we only hear once a yr.
I love the smell of fresh pinecones and the evergreen smells, you can smell Christmas in the air. ooo, what a sweet smell it is.
taking out my own Christmas trinkes and the ornies that I collect, althought I'm always late in getting them all out. so they stay up longer. LOL
getting together as one big family, John's kids with my kids, for this is the time we work it out where we can all be together as one big family. It is getting harder to work the schedules, but praise GOD we do each yr.
Reflecting back on what GOD has done for us during the yr. as we give thanks to HIM, and ask for HIS blessing that will bestow on us in the coming yr.
I'll go one more step, New Yr. watching the babies for my daughter. I've been doing that from the very frist yr. Chynna now 7 and will do it again this yr. I toss with the kids over ginger ale, and give them New Year hugs and then we cuddle up and go to bed. LOL
that something I didn't do with my kids for New Years when they were little.. but enjoy it with the gbabies.
Christmas dinner is my favorite part. For me there is nothing better than friends and family getting together for a big meal and enjoying each others company.
May All Your Days Be Magical! 
Ellen in PA 
Christmas Cards 
