December 13 was Christmas night at our house.
That’s when James got to open his Christmas presents from our side of the family. He left the next morning for Montgomery to spend Christmas with his grandparents there. (And go to Disney World!)
After a couple of years of trying to split Christmas day between Athens and Montgomery, we all came to the conclusion that every other year was a better way to share. So I’m trying to put my big girl pants on and be happy that we got to spend as much good pre-Christmas time with James as we did. (But there’s no consolation prize to New York this year. Bummer.)
We had a sweet evening decorating a gingerbread man, reading Christmas stories, and having a little dinner party with James’ great-grandmother and a precious family friend. My friend “Miz Buddy” (whom James adores) even stopped by with her dog Maggie for James to play with. He’d been begging me all week to go see her, so that was a special treat.
We sang a song or two, then James tore into his Christmas presents.
For a second, it felt like Christmas morning.
After lots of dessert, we came upstairs to brush teeth. I went to get the new toothpaste and toothbrush I’d bought for James that day.
When I came back into the bedroom, I saw something brown on the rug:
In the rush of the day, scissors and tape had been left on the bed with the wrapping paper.
James decided he needed a haircut before his trip.
I think he was going for the tonsured monk* look.
Somehow, I think that’s fitting.
He's just a little St. Francis of Assisi.
*tonsure: the part of a cleric's head, usually the crown, left bare by shaving the hair.
***************
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
St. Francis of Assisi
(1182 –1226)
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3 comments:
James is too funny, Kim!
I know it is hard to be away from family at holiday time. The consolation? From this day forward, next year, Christmas 2012, is YOUR year :)
Hope all is well and you are enjoying the season!
xo, misha
Y'all got off easy on the haircut! They usually butcher the front. It is one of those rites of passage that seems to happen in every house.
Oh, James! He got really close to his scalp--glad that there was no blood shed!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kim!
xxoo
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