Hey lookie, turns out I have one of those blog things

Ah, my return to blogging. Very exciting, I tell you. The holiday knitting is done, and, thanks to one of my Christmas presents, a digital camera, I will be able to show the scarves to you! I am very excited. The one of my dad gave me fits. I ordered the last skein in what I thought would be plenty of time, but it didn't some in so I ended up tacking black on the ends. He liked it and in truth, as kind of odd as it seemed, it looks good, and totally intentional, on.

Christmas was nice. Christmas eve we went to my aunt and uncle's home for dinner and a talent show. (My family's talents were reading out loud. My talent was looking up their readings.) It was fun, and we sang lots of Christmas songs that my cousin's daughter, Laura, sight-read. She's very talented.

Christmas was spent at my cousin Mark's house. They have a fun house with a great family room big enough for the whole (extended) family.

I do tend to become cynical about the modern Christmas. We all stress out too much about the gifts we're giving and sometimes forget that our attention is the best thing we can give people. But, that having been said, I have a cousin, a wonderful person, whose equally wonderful husband has recently changed jobs. He holds a position of no small responsibility (Stake president) in the Church and he's very busy, so my cousin bears the bulk of the burden of raising the 5 kids on her own a lot of the time. She's not one to complain, and she's really very proud of her husband and the work that he does, but with his new job it's not been easy for them. On Christmas Eve, when they got home from the party, they found 40 $25 gift certificates to a local grocery store. Totally anonymous.

Comments

[Margene]

Some people really do 'get' the meaning of Christmas. I too have become totally disenchanted with all the commercialism of todays giving.

[Laurie]

I hear you. I'm kind of disenchanted with Christmas, actually, but that's a different issue. Kindness like you mention makes one weep. Nice post.