Christmas Eve, yo. It's where it's at.
I honestly was strangely apathetic about coming home for Christmas this year. It seemed like I had just seen my family at Thanksgiving, and I just didn't miss home that much. I was having a good time with all my friends in Provo, and I almost wished that I could stay and enjoy the school-free days with the Utah crowd. Almost. Sounds pretty heartless, I know. I'm a pretty terrible person.
But as it turns out, I underestimated home. First off, Minnesota is at its ridiculous snowy best, with over a foot and a half on the ground and more on the way tonight. I love this state so dang much. Looking out the back sliding door at the snow-covered lake and trees is such a familiar thing that it almost makes me cry. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
My friends are another thing altogether. I had almost forgotten how insane these kids are. I love the social life down at BYU, but I just can't entirely be myself (yet) with them. I have history with the people here. We could write entire books of our inside jokes. Though we all believe different things and have different lives now, we can still see each other once or twice a year and act like the good times never ended.
And my family . . . what to even say about them? So freakin' weird, for one thing. So freakin' awesome, for another. My little (and taller than me) sister Rina and I just made a Christmas Eve dinner centerpiece out of plastic chickens and vegetable leftovers. You can't buy Kodak moments like that. Though I've changed over the past few years away from home, I can still come back and know that these stinkers have to love me no matter what. It's great.
Tonight and we're going to celebrate a Christmas Eve of the Watts variety. Activities and appetizers will include, but not be limited to: open-faced sandwiches, fancy cheese, sushi rolls, the infamous rice pudding with the hidden almond (whoever finds it gets good luck!), opening one present early, acting out the Christmas story (which is an adventure on its own. The wise men tend to turn out as hippies...), singing Christmas hymns around the piano, and the traditional sauna with its following glass of cold juice.
After we go to "sleep" tonight, the parents will stay up wrapping last-minute presents and putting them under the tree. Tomorrow morning, we'll wake up nice and late, line up in the hallway in order of age, take the mandatory picture, then commence with the very extensive task of opening presents one by one, again in order of age.
Afterwards will be stockings (with that coveted chocolate orange) and a light breakfast of those weird little one-serving boxes of cereal. After a day of lounging around with our presents and trying not to eat our chocolate oranges all in one sitting, we'll once again sit down together at the dinner table for Christmas ham and all that other stuff.
So this is Christmas. You know what? I'm kind of a fan. Not to mention the fact that it's a time to celebrate the most important birth the world has ever seen. Without Him none of this peace and joy would be possible. I'm incredibly grateful that it is. I hope you all keep the message of Jesus Christ in your hearts throughout the whole year. Never be afraid to share it; it's the greatest news in the world. I'm so fortunate to have it in my life.
Well, I'm off to find that almond. Merry Christmas to all :)
