There's something about Christmas Eve that makes it better than any other day of the year. Katie and I have been cooking all day. The house smells of cinnamon and cloves and chicken and noodles. The fridge is stuffed with food. While we were working on our Christmas Eve feast, I ran to the store for a diet coke. I know, I swore off the stuff, but come on....it's Christmas. I drove along the same old icy streets and looked at the same lights and decorations I've been looking at for weeks, and yet everything looked different. The lights were brighter and the air was crisp. People were gathering inside the neighborhood homes and I watched them as they arrived with the brightly wrapped gifts and platters of food.
The air was electrically charged with the excitement and anticipation of hundreds of children anxiously awaiting the arrival of the red suited one. It seemed even our canine children could sense the excitement and nervous thrill in the air. Somehow it's hard not to feel the quiet glow of love and goodwill that surrounds this time of year. It would be hard to look around at the unity of friends and family, of the kindness and sense of giving and not be grateful for a year full of blessings. The hard times, the sorrows, and the pains of the previous year seem to fade away as I look at the pile of beautiful Christmas cards and delicious homemade sweets, and as I read the kind wishes of joy and happiness for the coming year that are offered by friends, neighbors and family.
We are looking forward to the arrival of all the kids and grandkids. We invited a special guest this year and we can hardly wait for all the little granddaughters to meet her!No matter what the coming year brings, I know that once again, a year from now, I can always count on the Magic that is Christmas Eve.
