When I was younger, Christmas was about presents and fun.  I didn’t grow up in a religious family, so my Christmas focused around Santa.  I knew Christmas was a big deal, and I felt it in my heart, but my understanding was an infantine one.  Since I converted, I’d like to say that my understanding of Christmas has matured to be solely focused upon the birth of the Light of the World, but I think that saying that would be a bit premature.  I’m still very much a work in progress, and I remind myself of this on a daily basis.

This year, though, I think I might finally get it.  I didn’t really care about gifts or food (though, if we’re being honest, they don’t hurt).  This year, all I cared about was coming home.  I haven’t seen my family in over a year, and I hadn’t met my baby niece yet.  I was anxious, and I was fidgety.  I just wanted to come home.  Then I met my niece, and I got it.  After spending a year anxiously awaiting the arrival of one baby, and then finally meeting her, I finally understood.

Christmas celebrates our invisible God becoming visible to us, coming to us as a poor, defenseless child.  He became tangible.  We believe, but He heightened that belief for us, just as Church services play on our five senses to make the experience more real for us.  This year, God used Alice unto that end for me, and I am so very grateful.  I’ve never fully been able to grasp the magnanimity of Christmas (or babies, really) before, but I can now.

Before, I felt the importance of the occasion.  Now, I understand that feeling.  Now, I relish that feeling for fear it will fade in the coming years.  That’s the best Christmas gift I could ask for.  I’m feeling quite blessed today.

A most joyous and merry Christmas to you all!

My little, sweet Alice lay down her sweet head.

So small and vulnerable, entrusted to our love and care.

But making it really, really easy to love.

Carrying each other in very different ways.

Alice stops for Mickey Mouse.

And pauses to think about the baby who saved the world.  She’s thinking that she’d like to be very good friends with this baby.  She may be little, but she thinks big thoughts.  She also is suddenly feeling like those are some pretty big shoes to fill.

“I’d share my playmat with Him.”

“And karate chop anyone who tried to take this many pictures of Him.“