My favorite part of our Christmas traditions is the family Christmas party...
My mom's brother, Bob (everyone needs an Uncle Bob) and his family have always been very close to ours. We each have a counter part in their family so gatherings were perfect for everyone. Ever since my parents and Bob and his wife Wendy were young and had no kids they have had this Christmas Eve party tradition.
It consisted of Food! Lots of food, which is normal. And then gifts, which is also normal for a Christmas party. Each cousin would trade with their counter part cousin (which we still do, just as families). We also would have a small talent show. Someone would sing Silent Night and play Up on the Housetop on the piano.
Following would be some sort of rendition of the Nativity played out by all the kids. I remember my oldest brother bossing everyone around, telling us where to go and what to do. My sister remembers that she never got to be Mary and I recall having to play baby Jesus when I was obviously too old.
(This years nativity crew done by a few of the nephews and nieces in attendance)
The Testimony Meeting.
Now, can you see why us kids didn't really get it until we were older? Who wants to sit around for 3+ hours while all these adults and grandparents stood up and blabbed and blabbed and cried about whatever they wanted all the while we were anxiously waiting to exchange our cousin gifts?!
Oh the memories. And the long time family jokes! Seriously, hours and hours of time spent as a child hoping Grandpa's testimony would be really short this year so we could hurry up and open presents. (I'm not kidding. These meetings would honestly last 3+ hours!!!)
As you get older, you start to appreciate and understand what everyone is saying. And then you start needing to use the toilet paper roll that's been passed around all night to blow your nose too. And then your heart starts to beat fast during the meeting, cause you're feeling something more than anxiety over presents. And you suddenly get up and start saying things that you really feel and understand and your blowing your nose again. Then, like the Grinch, your heart starts to swell and move and ache and grow inside of you all night. And now you aren't resenting everyone else for taking too much time and making you wait longer for your present. You're loving them more and appreciating their strength and their courage for surviving the long year they've just had. Your throat is tight and your eyes are wet and you are full of gratitude for the miracles the Savior has done for you and your family.
Suddenly, you've forgotten all about the presents at the end. More than caring for the pretty wrapped box, you care for your cousin. And your brothers and your sisters and your grateful for all your parents have taught you. Your grateful for the Savior and that he's provided this time for your family to come closer together. Everyone testifies of Christ, that He lives, that families are forever and that yes, we do want to be together forever even though Keith is bossing us around all night and CJ is using most of the toilet paper and Bob's testimony is at least an hour long and Shanna is whining cause she doesn't get to be Mary. Our relationships with each other are fortified just by bearing our testimonies of Jesus Christ, of the Book of Mormon, of temples.
It's a gift so see a sister through out the years change and go from not going to church and never bearing her testimony to bearing her testimony of the atonement right before she leaves for a mission. To see a sister who's lost a son this year in the care of another person stand and bear testimony of the important of forgiveness. To see nieces who've lost a brother stand and say with tears in their eyes that they know they'll see him again! To hear an aunt stand and testify of the importance of reading the scriptures, to not forgetting what Christ has done for us. It's a gift to do this every year, and to hear each other and love each other. To hear a brother stand up and say how much he loves and appreciates his wife. To hear cousin who just had her first semester of college away from home testify of the importance of the temple and the things she's learned and how she's grown on her own. To hear my husband say how much he loves the Savior and the spirit of Christmas and how he loves me each more everyday in front of all his in-laws; that's a gift.
Suddenly, forgiveness takes part in all our hearts. Without doing anything but being there, our hearts have grown 3 sizes and are completely full of love.
It's truly a gift my parents and my aunt and uncle have given us.
Because we all have our own families, the tradition isn't on Christmas Eve anymore, it's whenever we can all come together. And a lot of us still can't make it. Three of my cousins and their families live in different states as well as one of my brothers and his family. So it's not as grand as it could be...
This year that night came last night. And now, with all the nieces and nephews that have come, it's wonderful to hear them stand up, and have tears in their eyes because they feel that special love, that spirit that is bonding us all together forever. They testify of those things that you pray they'll understand. They share their love for all of us and for Christ and it makes everything that's happen this whole year worth it.
I love my family. :)
I do believe in Jesus Christ. I do! And yes, presents are wonderful. They are a way to express love and caring. They are needed just as much as wanted. And I'm grateful that my parents and siblings and cousins have taught me while growing up, that the gift of Christ is the one we need and want the most.
Merry Christmas to all of you! May it be pouring over with the spirit and love of Christ.
a few of my favorite short videos to watch with Rob on Christmas eve:
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