Christmas All Year Long

"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays — let them overtake me unexpectedly — waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: 'Why, this is Christmas Day!'" ~David Grayson, from “A Day of Pleasant Bread,” Adventures in Friendship, 1908.

The Christmas tree has been put away.  Finally?  Nah, sadly.  It was put away yesterday, right up till the very end of January.  So it was my Mom who was ready to finally put it away.  At one point I joked that we should at least have it up till February.  Push the boundaries a little.  Really, I just like the Christmas tree lights all lit up.  But she said if the tree is up all year around it would cease to be special.  She has a point.

(I should note that my Grandpa, who lived in Ventura before living with us until his passing, always had his tree up.  It was little.  Ornaments warn.  Still, the lights were never turned off, nor the tree ever put away.) 

It's funny, leading up till Christmas I'm always like, "Must enjoy the moment!  Must enjoy whatever particular holiday we're in!  Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet, I'm not ready for Christmas.  I'm not ready for snow. 0_0"  But once the tree is up I don't want to take it down.

There is something to be said about keeping Christmas all year long.  The spirit of it, not the commercialism.  The kindness.  The service.  All the getting together with loved ones.  There's a special spirit about the holiday season that really should be spread out.  

Earlier this week I was talking with my sister-in-law Krista.  Had a little get together with the fam eating frozen yogurt, and while I was enjoying soft serve blackberry with chocolate chips and strawberries--now I'm craving one--she was telling me that she and Michael with the kids are planning on still doing Christmas the normal way, but also having a personal celebration on April 6, the estimated true birth of Christ, to remember his birth.  That's a nice idea.  Honestly thinking of doing that myself.

So whatever you believe, I hope we can all have the spirit of love and kindness all year long.