Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Our first Christmas Day as a family of five is drawing to a close.  It will be one of the best Christmas celebrations I can remember.  Primarily because we were celebrating the hope that christmas is intended to bring. 

Our family has not had much time this year to keep up on the latest trends in decorating, shopping or hosting for the holidays.  The kids hadn't seen any of the commercials for the best toys of the season, at least not since October.  The one night I went out to do a little Christmas shopping, I spent more time in my car, driving less than one mile to the store than I did making any purchases.  We had even considered waiting until the January 7th Orthodox Christmas to have our celebration.  After all, It would be the right thing to do to incorporate some Ukrainian customs into our family now, wouldn't it?

In spite of our lack of time or energy, Christmas came.  Even though I had very few gifts wrapped, Jesus was born again in a manger.  He showed up in spite of the fact that most of my Christmas wishes are still in my heart and not in cards or letters sent in the mail.  He didn't even wait for us visit Santa or to bake Christmas cookies to set out with carrots for the reindeer.  He came and it was Christmas.

I took Nikita up to the manger at church and showed him the baby there with Mary and Joseph.  He insisted that the baby was actually himself, with Mama and Papa.  The shepherd became Michael and the Angel was Genna.  He pointed out a fluffy white lamb named "B.J., " a cow named 'Bascha" and a dark grey donkey was "Murphy."  I told him he was absolutely right.  And that we love him just as much as that baby was loved on that night. 

I don't know if Nikita realized it but his gift to us today was that he was a very good boy, and a joy to be with all day.  He behaved better in church today than he had the day before.  We had only one hair-pulling event and this time it was Mommy (I can deal with it.) and not Genna or the woman in the pew ahead of us.  He listened carefully to the singing and even stood and knelt at the appropriate times.  My favorite moment was after Eucharist when the choir sand "Silent Night" and I could close my eyes and just listen and pray.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying a few gifts that Santa had left under the tree.  Michael is now the proud owner of a full sized skateboard and Genna found some travel accessories under the tree for her Felicity doll.  I think the travel bug has bitten her hardest of all.  Mama got "house shoes," like those worn in the homes of Ukraine.  Daddy got a nutcracker and some walnuts to share with Nikita.  Nikita got PlayDoh, a remote control car and his own sunglasses and cell phone so he won't have to "borrow" ours anymore.  I really think these simple toys will go a long way in preventing boredom in the house.  And, best of all, Nikita went to sleep for both his nap and at bedtime with relative ease.

I have really enjoyed this cozy family Christmas.  The older kids have Santa all figured out.  And Nikita has no idea what he is all about.  So this Christmas the Christ-child, and our new child took center stage, as it should be.  When I consider what we have gone through just to be here today, all together, I can't help but be excited about what this next year holds for us.  God has given us a new home, transformed our family and reshaped our faith.  I wonder what he wants us to do with all of it now.  I'm sure it has got to be good. :-)