The Magic of Christmas as a Child. I liked the magic of getting up the morning of Christmas when I was a child and seeing the tons of presents that had suddenly and magically appeared around the tree. Santa had come. Even the cookies had bites out of them. I was usually up early and had a while to ogle the presents and try to figure out what they were before my parents woke up.
Midnight Mass. Not my favorite (cause I hated staying up late the night before Christmas), but I am definitely nostalgic about it now. Falling asleep in the choir loft at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve....listening to my Parents and Grandmother (among other choir members) singing "Carol of the Bells".
Christmas Movies. Among my favorites are White Christmas, Elf, The Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen, Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon version), Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas, Mickey's Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, Scrooged, and all those old clay-mation Christmas movies with Rudolph, Frosty, etc. I love watching them each year.
Christmas Music. I love listening to Christmas music each year. I love it more when I can listen to it while watching it snow outside. It's the best. I love radio stations that dedicate their line-up to entirely Christmas music. And now, I'm loving Pandora and Spotify Christmas stations. Plus, I have my own extensive Christmas music MP3 collection on my iPod. I love Christmas music.
A real tree decorated in my living room. I love the smell of pine needles. I love to watch the blinking lights in the dark. I love to see all of the memorable and homemade Christmas decorations on our tree and reliving those memories.
Gifts. I know, Jesus is the reason for the season. But, I can't help it. I love gifts. I love getting and giving them. My "love language" is gifts, so this is probably why I am the way I am. Almost as much as opening them, I love playing with them afterwards. I am a child at heart.
Being a Daddy. It's awesome to relive the Christmas magic in the eyes of my boys each year. I love watching them open presents. I love watching Christmas movies with them. I love watching them in their annual Christmas program at church each year. It's just so much fun to be a Daddy this time of year.
Being a Husband. More than anything, I enjoy spending Christmas with my wife. Joi and I have had 14 Christmas' together and I cherish each one. The holidays are just better with people you love and even better with the one you love most.
Being in Colorado. It just never felt right growing up in Southern California when it was 80 degrees and sunny on Christmas. Now that I am living in Colorado, I get to experience the joy of living in a place that is actually cold and snowy on Christmas. I never want to go back. I LOVE actually having a White Christmas. LOVE IT!!!!
Food. I like food. Holiday food is usually even better because it highlights so many of my favorites. Turkey, Ham, brown and serve rolls, yams, pie, stuffing, candy, and cookies. Yum! Plus, for leftovers I get to use the ham to make my Split Pea Soup. Mmmmm....good.
Family. I enjoy seeing family and friends around Christmas. Now that I live in Colorado, that list is a little smaller. I do miss being able to see my family and friends from California on Christmas. It seemed like Christmas was the only time of year we could get everyone together. I miss hanging out with everyone and having conversations with people I don't get to see very often. But, when we buy a house, you are welcome to come visit us in Colorado. Free White Christmas thrown in.
Jesus. Last on my list, but certainly first in my heart. We celebrate Christmas because of the ultimate gift that Jesus gave us when He came to earth to eventually die on a cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Christmas without Jesus is empty and pointless. As I said, I am a gift person. With that being said, there is no greater gift than for a person to lay down his life for a friend. That's what Jesus did. As God, He loved us so much that he gave up his life for us. So, that we can come before God sinless, spotless, and holy. Thank you, Jesus!
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