It is finally Christmas Eve! The night we have all waited
for so impatiently. I’ll be lucky to get my son to sleep! Here’s our typical
Christmas Eve routine. We get all dressed up in our fancy Christmas outfits.
Then we go pick up my mom for Mass. Hopefully we are on time (usually we are
not). If we aren’t, we have to squeeze into a packed pew or split up rows but I
don’t mind. I love seeing the church full! Our church has Mass every Saturday
night in our town. Most people like going on Sunday so it’s not too full each
week. However, on Christmas Eve, you are lucky to find a place to sit! We love
going to Mass but something about the Christmas spirit and the great company
make Christmas Eve Mass so great! My kids aren’t quite at the age that they can
sit still long though, so all three of us are usually wrestling the little
ones. Anyway, we get through Mass and then drive around to look at Christmas
lights. This is one of my greatest memories growing up. We always drove around
and looked at lights as a family. My parents are divorced but there were a few
years that we all went to Mass together (we have a picture of my dad to prove
it! ha!) and looked at the lights. Now that I am an adult I can look back and
remember these little details. It’s not the presents that I remember, it’s the
time well spent with family. Sure I remember getting a bike one year but
overall, I forget what I got when. I know my kids will too but I want them to
have these memories. After the lights, we go home and get ready for bed. Last year
I started a little tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve (my parents
always let me open just one!). My son gets to open it for now but its usually a
big box packed with PJs for everyone, a blanket, new movie or book, slippers,
etc. That way we all get new Christmas PJs and get to spend some time together
before bed. We tuck the kids in and then Santa goes to work. If I can, I lay
awake early in the morning waiting for the kids to get up (or I wake them up!).
Then you get the idea, presents, cookies for breakfast, whatever! I just love
it all but my favorite part is Mass. It didn’t use to be but I really
appreciate it now. There are many churches around but a shrinking number of
priests to reverend them. Our priest currently covers four parishes each week.
He’s a busy man! Last weekend at Mass, we had a seminarian come visit (a person
studying for priesthood). I was surprised to see it was a guy my age that I
went to college with for a couple years. I was completely surprised to see what
he was doing with his life. He explained his studies and a “day in the life”
kind of thing. Each year, they take up a collection at our church for retired
priests and soon-to-be priests. That is what our 11th day of giving
will be. We giving our tidings at Mass each week but tonight is special and we
want to give what we can for the past and future leaders of our church. My son
even pitched in some leftover change he had from the library donation (I think
he really just likes putting money in the collection baskets!). I know the
priests work hard and it’s a lot of sacrifice but they do it with a smile on
their face. It’s not just Catholics that make sacrifices but every religion and
we should all be thankful for that – whatever our beliefs are! So tonight, we
are going to bed with full hearts, tremendous blessings and anticipation. I
hope your Christmas Eve is as magical and blessed as ours!
