Christmas at the Stanleys, part 1

(I wrote this post a while before Christmas, but never got around to posting it until now.) 

This is now our second Christmas together since we got married.  Neither of us are die-hard “traditional-ists,” so we are still figuring out what exactly “Celebrating Christmas” looks like for us.
Isaac did not bring any particular Christmas tradition to our marriage. I, on the other hand, do have a few things that I look back on as a part of how we celebrated Christmas growing up:
- Making a big batch of peppernuts soon after Thanksgiving is a must in order for it to “feel” like Christmas!
- Almond toast, Grandma Lehrman’s cheese ball, Christmas punch, and home-made summer sausage also come to mind. 
- My family did do a gift-exchange.  While at times it did feel like it was easy for it to become all about the gifts, I do remember always reading the Christmas story Christmas Eve before ever opening any presents.  Reading the Christmas Story is a must!
- In Brazil, we did not have relatives around to celebrate with, so many times, it became an opportunity to get together with the other missionaries who lived nearby.  They were, and still are, practically family!
- It almost feels like something is lacking without some kind of special service at church—if not on The Day, at least sometime close to Christmas.  Brazilians love having special services at church, so there was always a Christmas program.  Some years it was more elaborate than other years, but there was a program nonetheless.  I think this part of “Celebrating Christmas” is the part where I am the most stuck on “this is how it is supposed to be!” and I realize how how much it is still very much a part of my mentality!
- In the more recent years, I have been struck over and over again during this season of the year, how incredible Christmas really is!

Think about it: God. Became. Man. What?!?!? No religion ever portrays its god to be in equality with those who are in subjection to him. But the One True God did that very thing: Lying there in a manger, helpless and utterly dependent on His earthly parents, the glory of the Father was revealed to mankind in human flesh, Jesus Christ! 

Do we have reason to celebrate Christmas?  You better believe we do!  It really is not about whether or not we get all  of the particular traditions right. If it involves traditions for you though, go right ahead and have fun! I like how one person says, when writing about celebrating Christmas and understanding the balance between traditions, as well as remembering the very reason there is Christmas, something along the lines of “If you godliness does not imprint on fudge, it is not true godliness.”  

Rejoice!  Emmanuel has come!