The Best Christmas Ever

and the best Advent ever, fell this year in my household. Finally, after thirteen years of doing this in various ways, I've finally figured out the secret to the Advent and Christmas I've always wanted....

The quiet one.
I spent less than three minutes on the entirety of Christmas shopping for the children this year. It's no secret we we don't buy lots of things for our children at Christmas time, but this year we did less than ever before. And they were just as happy as ever before. Maybe happier.
Having been deprived of good food for four weeks, the Christmas meal tasted better than it ever has before. It was so, so delicious. We found ourselves extraordinarily grateful. After the meal we discussed how blessed we are to have such rich food, and watched a montage we've seen over and over this Advent, right there at the dinner table, shedding tears of gratitude and joy and sorrow all at once.
So grateful, so hungry for His Coming I wept in joy right there in front of everyone. And I didn't even care.
Foregoing usual holiday outings...the Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, the performances, the parades...for quieter time at home, pouring over good pages, handcrafting Jesse tree ornaments, pressing cookies depicting angels and nativity scenes....brought meaningful discussions about all these things and more.
We still enjoyed many usual traditions...
and I don't have to tell you that new babies make the best Christmas presents ever...
as does a beautiful bouquet from the man you love...
Today we are all terribly sick and as I was getting up this morning I wondered aloud how I would get through this day....so many things to do....grocery shopping, that trip to the post office....and then I remembered these past few weeks and just smiled. Of course...we'll hold each other close, stay in our pajamas all day, pour over good pages, awe at that Baby still in our manger, and be quiet to the world. It is still Christmas and we can still be quiet.

It really was the most wonderful Advent and Christmas ever. My word for 2011....

Quiet.