simple gifts, warm hearts

I always look forward to attending our church service just before Christmas: everyone dressed in their holiday best, warm greetings, beautiful songs, special musical numbers, and all emphasis on the birth of our Savior. Our service today included violins and flutes along with the choir, organ, piano, and Primary children. And M was nearly perfectly behaved the entire meeting. Hallelujah.

The evening brought visits from many friends. All bearing treats of some kind, all welcome. I welcomed the snowy shoes puddling inside my front door, the coats piled on chairs, the laughter and banter, the over-stimulated antics of my little one who loves company. We are learning, little by little, of the many reasons we moved here. Reasons of which we were not aware when we moved in 2007. Tonight, some of those reasons gathered in our home as people, as blessings, as friendships, as all things that make life rich. Though it's chilly and snowy, our hearts are warm because of the many wonderful souls we've come to know this last year. Souls who reach out, who give selflessly, who bring laughter, talents, conversation and wisdom and homemade wheat bread or coconut breakfast syrup or designer sugar cookies. Or who arrive unannounced on 4-wheelers to plow our driveway, though we are capable on our own. Souls who love my child and make him feel safe and welcome and super cool. Who offer to tend him when mommy has to visit the doctor or visit-teach. Souls who drop by with special gifts and sincerely beautiful notes full of grand compliments (Joy: ditto you). Souls who "help" B install an entire bathroom--and by "help" I mean they did it mostly themselves while B watched. Or those who allow us opportunities to share and to give. Tonight, as these dear ones came and went or came and lingered, I felt Christmas in a way I haven't in a very long time.

When the house was once again quiet, B expressed how much he loved having a house full of friends, how good it felt to open the door to so many. I concurred with misty eyes. Our gift--though we are rather undeserving--from St. Nick this year: the gift of wonderful friendships near and far. A simple yet immeasurable gift for our simple little family in our simple little home, filling our simple little hearts as all the sweets have filled our not-so-little tummies. And making me feel like a lame friend for only giving the gift of simple homemade fudge (made with love) to all our dear ones.

PS: and we are grateful to those who pushed my SUV, in 4WD, out of a snowdrift in the middle of the road, 1 block from my house, even if they were laughing at me the whole time.