First day of Christmas

We all came together at my grandmother's house. There's a beautiful simplicity to family gathering: we come, we eat, we talk, we laugh, then we leave. This Christmas, all (except one) of my mom's siblings came together for the first time in awhile. My grandma keeps on getting weaker and weaker, and we all know it and are cherishing the time that we have with her. At one point in the evening, all the girls were sitting around the table with my grandma. I don't remember what we were talking about, but suddenly we heard a huge roar from the living room, where all the guys were watching a basketball (football?) game. And all of us laughed, the type of shared laughter that keeps on going and going until we're all out of breath. I saw the same smile on the faces of my Grandma, my mom, and all her sisters and the same laughter in all of our eyes. It was beautiful.

On the way home, I sat in the far back of my aunt's car and read by the light of passing light posts on the freeway.

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First Day of Christmas: The Wonder of Creation

(Taken with Dad's cellphone, because the reliable camera broke down.)


We saw the sun go down with majesty on Christmas Day, marking the beginning of Christmastide.

The chilling ocean breeze danced around us. I leaned against Daddy's shoulder, with my youngest brother holding my hand tightly.

"Why does the sun go down at night and not up?"

"Because God made it that way."

"Oh, right."

In the distance, a solitary saxophone began its song. The clear, honeyed notes treaded gently upon the crashing waves.

Non nobis, Domine, Domine, non nobis, Domine.

The golden sun melted into the silver sea, and it is impossible to be there. Feeling my youngest brother's hand in mine. Watching Mom's face beam with happiness. It's impossible to be there and not praise God for His wonder-ful creation.

"A tree grows fruit because it is a magic tree. Water runs downhill because it is bewitched. The sun shines because it is bewitched." ~ GK Chesterton


Creation is truly a wonder.

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