Jake and I decided early on in our marriage that we wanted to celebrate all twelve days of the Christmas season. We loved the idea of being able to relax a little more on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, toning down the presents and lifting up Christ. It’s not that we wouldn’t exchange gifts just that, with twelve days at our disposal, it would be much easier for the gifts to be a very small part of our Christmas traditions.

Also, as a soon-to-be pastor’s family, we knew that the Advent leading up to Christmas would be a hectic time, not a time of rest. Since Christmas Day itself will likely be a work day, having the rest of the season as a family would be important. This is our first real year in “Church work” mode. Jake is a vicar rather than just a student, so he’s actually in the thick of it as far as working alongside Pastor this Christmas. And I’m so glad we have our twelve days…

Tonight there are two Christmas services, one at 5:30 and one at 7:30. If we were laypeople we would just go to the 5:30 service and get home in time for enjoying pie and opening gifts from extended family and friends before bed – one of the traditions we want to continue from my childhood. But Jake will be in both services, and Evie usually is down by 8pm. There’s no way we’ll be able to fit it all in tonight.

So perhaps this year is my lesson in being flexible… one of many to come I’m sure. But I’m not fretting about it; there are twelve days in this Christmas season, and plenty of time to eat pie and open presents. We’ll get around to it. In the meantime we are going to enjoy our Christmas services, receive forgiveness for our sins, revel in the miracle that is our salvation in Christ and look forward to the day we can finally meet Him face to face.

Blessings on you and your family this Christmas season, Dalas

Sorry kiddo… not this year…