Christmas 2022 is now in the past. I am not sure how I really feel about this though. Yes, I was not looking forward to this Christmas, but now it is missed in some odd way. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good Christmas, even with the absence of my mom’s laughter and smile. She loved Christmas and had such an amazing childlike approach and anticipation of it every year. It always gave me a little extra spark to do something special, above, and beyond if I could. Just being able to create a moment, a smile, etc. always had me looking forward to this special day.

I came to the “party” late this year and with not as much love or excitement for this day, but I am glad that I was able to be genuine and found some excitement and love it in still. It was more than just honoring her; it was still about my love for this day and season. It was about how I love my family and others the best I could this year.

This Christmas it was my beautiful wife and amazing son for Christmas, using his words – we “hung out” ate some food, played some games, and watched tv and went to church. Oh, and we opened presents!

It was nice, really. Plus, we had snow on the ground –so a white Christmas too!

This year we did something different as well, we attended a Catholic Christmas Eve mass – 11pm. I grew up going to midnight mass at St Francis Woods in Frankfort IL. This was one of the rare times mom, dad and I went to church. It was always very special to me. This year I took my family to Saint Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in O’Fallon, IL. It was another very special evening to me. The music was beautiful, the church itself is just amazing in structure and space and Father Jim shared a great sermon with the church.

(Inside Saint Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in O’Fallon, IL)

Christmas always brings up conversations such as; “what presents are buying, who are you buying for and what if any traditions do you have?” I experienced all those questions and the traditions one has been a struggle for years for my wife and I. When you have a special needs kiddo, it can be challenging to create / start traditions of any kind. We tried making cookies, shopping together, etc. It just never really was consistent as you never quite know what frame of mind the kiddo (lol he is 38 now) would be in.

But, Christmas Eve after mass, as the family slept, there in the dark of the night I started thinking about all the things we have done and still do. We do have some “traditions,” ones that I pray will continue for many years to come.  My wife and I make it a point to go down to old St Charles, Mo where they have vintage Santa’s walking around sharing their stories, there are carolers, horse drawn carriages and other Christmas characters walking around along and all the shops you can visit. It is a very special place this time of year. We will walk around, usually stop somewhere to eat; this year we sat outside by a firepit and enjoyed some yummy food and drink from a BBQ place.

We also will drive around looking at Christmas lights listening to Christmas music and just enjoying this time together as a couple and as a family. I think other “traditions” of finding the right card or gift, trying to surprise one another, and even decorating the house all come into play here as something we always do and find joy in it.

Maybe these aren’t the traditions most look for, but they are ours. I was thinking about growing up and if we had any; my mom and I would always make Christmas cookies and dad would drive us around to look at lights and Christmas Eve mass was attended, even at its coldest. One Christmas it minus 20 and we still went to Christmas Eve mass, those were the days!

So, Christmas was very different this year and the reality is our family is not getting younger (we don’t age …giggles) so you never know what the next one will bring, but I do know this: Christmas with my wife by side is the best gift ever and spending the time together with our son makes it special too.  

So, Christmas 2022 has come and gone. Now what? Well New Year’s Eve approaches quickly. My wife and I have a tradition here, dinner and a movie and home to watch the ball drop. We will be doing this again this year and I cannot wait! It’s a wonderful date night, its time spent together doing something we love and honestly, we don’t do much of during the year (going to the movie) so it’s a special night!

So, my friends – Happy almost 2023. May your 2022 go out healthy, calm, and quiet, with love and peace to all.

Now, off to plan Christmas 2023! Yes, seriously. Something I have always wanted to do is take my family somewhere during Christmas, but family “obligations” work “obligations” seemed to not allow for this. Well, 2023 we are going to a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, I think, I hope, I pray! Going to take some planning and saving as it will not be an inexpensive Christmas, but it will be one that I want to be fun and special and who knows, maybe a new tradition will be going somewhere every other year for Christmas or near that day anyways. Last year my wife and I went to Franklin TN for some early Christmas fun, let’s see what I can plan next!

Thanks for stopping by the fire,

Pastor Dennis

PS .. How was your Christmas?