12/4/07 - Night to Remember

We've been out tonight doing Christmassy things, and trying to be a normal family who actually does these kinds of things together. For the night we tried to pretend that we weren't in an eternal state of freaking out that it was 7:00 and the kids weren't in the bath. It's 8:30 and the kids aren't in bed! It's 9:30 and we're just driving home!

Can you imagine that there are things to do in Oklahoma around Christmas? Knock us over with a feather, but there's this tiny town about 40 miles away that is apparently the biggest attraction in the state around Christmastime. Over 3 million lights, a pond, bridges, hot chocolate and carriage rides . . . we were in a Christmas wonderland. It's actually a wonder that we made it out of the car, since it's something that you can drive or walk through, and Jonah was asleep. Tim, "I though we'd just drive through, you know . . . since we don't want to wake Jonah." Me (being pouty and sarcastic in a really communicative effort to portray my true feelings), "Fine, if that's what you think is best." Communication issues aside, we ended up waking Jonah, taking a carriage ride, snapping several dozen pictures and having a great time. Joshua asked in amazement, "Is it so silly that it's the middle of the night and we're not in bed?" Yes sweetheart, it is.

And thankfully the batteries to the camera died in the middle of everything so that we were forced to look around and enjoy the night. To actually be there with our kids, and not spend the evening trying to take the Greatest Christmas Picture of All Time. Which is, of course, what I would have done. Do you ever do that? Get so caught up in the logistics of things that you forget to be fully present, fully aware of the wonders around you? Because I do. And then I look at Jonah's face, gazing intently and in awe at the lights and the people, listening with rapture to the Nutcracker symphony over the loudspeakers. I see Joshua running with abandon through the tunnel of lights, dancing in circles. I see my husband's eyes twinkle as he watches them both, and if I could pause time and stay forever in that moment I might. Just me and my family, lights and swirling all around and we're in a vacuum of ourselves. Forget job worries, house worries, car worries. Let us be, just for tonight, young again and in awe. Fully present and aware, fully loving and loved, creating joy and life for these children. It's what they deserve. Merry Christmas.

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