Day Before Christmas

Was asked on Sunday if I was excited for Christmas.  Couldn't honestly say I am.  It's different when there are kids around, even when they're teens.  Now that we're heading into senior status (actually we've been there for a while) it's more of a spiritually focused day, our thoughts are more often toward the entire reason for this celebration.  For me personally, it's a better perspective.

We're missing being with family.  This particular area that we live in is challenging when you don't have family around to celebrate with.  We ran down to Utah County yesterday and had a wonderful visit with our son and grandson.  Precocious 4 year olds are so delightful.  I loved that he wanted me to read to him.

Tomorrow we'll have a quiet day here at home.  Ran to Costco yesterday for some meat to grill - am I the only one - or does it seem like most people are just running around frantic this year?  Spend-spend-spend on stuff they don't need and will be back at the stores to return-return-return and buy-buy-buy more at the post-Christmas sales.  I definitely sound like a scrooge.  I'm just finding myself anti-materialistic this year. And I am continually reminded how differently I think from "mainstream"  Americans (is that really such a bad thing?).  But I'm getting slightly more comfortable with that the older I get.

And I definitely don't want to sound grouchy, grumpy or sour.  In my heart I'm not really.  My heart just has some pain from people, culture, the political and economic climate (I'm so weary of all the hatefulness).  I often wonder if Heavenly Father isn't just sad because of our collective behavior.

Had to laugh this morning when the lady at the Sr. Center where I attend yoga, reminded me to check in with "health and nutrition" as my reason for being there (as well as exercise - they say it's a funding thing, who knows if that's really true).  And I said if she could only see how full my kitchen counters are of goodies and sugary treats she'd know that was a total fabrication. Made her laugh, too as she pictured her own counters laden with treats galore.  Thankfully there's always tomorrow to make another attempt at being nutritionally healthy.  And I will try.

It'll be a quiet rest of the week for us.  And hopefully it will include some contemplation and gratitude for the gift of Jesus Christ, the Savior of this world. Of each and every soul.