Why so Complicated?

Christmas.

It is a wonderful celebration! Jesus Christ, Born to die for each of us. Giving each of us the gift of choice. Because HE gave himself to be a sacrifice, we are allowed to choose heaven or hell.

As a child; I do not remember even hearing about 'santa claus'. I always knew what 'CHRISTmas' was.

Mid November, the process would start. We would all be given our parts to say and songs to sing. It was very exciting! Mom would start gathering the material and patterns for our new dresses.

Then a Sunday in Mid December in the evening the parts and songs would be performed. All depicting the Birth of the Savior of the world!

Following, would be the coffee, pie, and cookies,laughing and love.

The next event was Christmas Eve. Every family in their own home. There would be the traditional oyster stew and home made tomato soup 'for those of us that could not tolorate the oyster stew'. Then, the dishes would be done faster then any other time of the year. We would sit around the 'tree' and listen to the historical description from the Bible's book of Luke. Then we would open our presents. There were a few (depending on the cost). I really do not believe we ever compared how many packages each of us received. I do not ever remember questioning the fairness of it all, just being thrilled with whatever I had received.

I remember most of all watching mom and dad opening the gift they would receive from the rest of the family!!! I do not ever remember being disappointed in their response to the gift they received.

Christmas Morning we would have breakfast and get in the station wagon and head to our Grandparents' home. There were no mounds of packages to be loaded. Just the family. We would have a wonderful dinner, play with our cousins and sometime along the way, the violin would be taken out of the case, Grandma would sit down to the piano and we would make that house rock!!! What a wonderful time!!!

As we would be getting ready to leave the house; I would see my mom or dad get a package or an envelope out of the car and slip it under the tree.

I would fall asleep on the 2 hour ride home.

NOW THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS!