christmas post #1--my christmas favorites

in no particular order, the things i love about the christmas season:

• 24 hours of a christmas story on tbs. my favorite!
  
• mom's cinnamon rolls
  
• grandma ann's dream cookies (i have the recipe!)
• the annual christmas photo cards and making fun of that one braggy newsletter mom used to get from a college friend
• sending out christmas cards to friends
• getting to see my far-flung friends!
• christmas music--carol of the bells, oh holy night, baby it's cold outside, just to name a few.
• wrapping up gifts in brown paper and tying with yarn, just like the song says
• smell of christmas trees
• driving around looking at lights
• candles in windows
• watching old christmas movies from when i was a kid
  
• christmas day steaks
• waking up at 4 am because i still can't sleep through christmas eve
• downtown all lit up
• when we were little, watching the weatherman "track" santa's sleigh on tv
• finding that perfect present
• avoiding all malls by shopping online
  
• matching pajamas
• learning more about the advent season
  
• remembering christmas is not about gifts, or santa, or reindeer. it is a reminder about our Gift, Savior to the world, He who was sent to redeem. so often that story is lost in the story of santa and the worldy christmas of spending money on empty present promises. it is a reminder that there is a Hope and a Future, and for us to live accordingly.