Saturday 9 – Week 2

I KNEW there was a meme I do on Saturdays now. So here it is. Maybe we can re-up my page views!

1. Do you enjoy receiving or giving presents more?

Giving them, really. The thrill in getting them doesn’t have the purity it used to have. But I definitely enjoy giving them—seeing how the people react, seeing how they like it. Especially since most of the stuff for people outside of the family tend to be personally made—I mean outside of the 4 of us. My kids will not only get handmade stuff (which, after all, they can get year around), but certain select stuff they often ask for (though P didn’t ask. D came up with a list for Santa.).

2. What is you favorite holiday film?

It’s a Wonderful Life, hands down. Because it’s by someone local. Next, Just Friends (which was called Wild X-mas in Germany, no foolin!

3. Have you started or finished your gift shopping?

Finished all but the stocking extras for the kids. And if something comes up for others, I’ll do it (again).

4. What does this time of year mean to you?

There’s a lot. There’s the fact that 14 years ago (tomorrow, the 14th) is the day T and I were discharged from the Army and sent home. We spent our first Christmas as a married couple halfway across the country from each other. But now it means being with family. We don’t always get together with my parents and sister for any part of the holiday longer than the morning on Thanksgiving, but we will be spending a good part of it with them this year.

5. What is your favorite holiday song?

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” It’s so perfect on how to spread the Gospel. 😀 My favorite version, I’ve heard only once so far, is Carrie Underwood’s.

6. What do you love about the holiday season?

What’s there not to love? The acknowledgment of the gift we were given by God, the decorations, the sharing of God’s love, the time with family…

7. What do you hate about the holiday season?

The commercialization that has slowly seeped into the celebrating. Getting the “best gift” for someone, that’s usually advertised as having to be something big (how much bigger can you get than Christ and all those boys [and now some girls] dying for others?), it starting before Thanksgiving (you can play Christmas music, display Christmas things the very day after, but before is ridiculous!), and Black Friday. Because the glorification of it has literally become deadly (you don’t think the guy who got trampled in the Eastern part of NY was the first, do you?).

8. Do religious ceremonies play a part in your holiday traditions? If yes, how?

Yes! I LOVE Christmas Eve Service!!!!!

9. Who will you spend the holidays with?

My parents, hubby, kids, sister and her husband, and HOPEFULLY my father in law as well (which will be the first time we spent a major holiday—July 4th didn’t really count—together! We’ve MET, we just haven’t spent such a special holiday as this together. Birthdays are GREAT, and he was out here for his and P’s and D’s and my mom’s birthday—they are 2 days over the span of 3—but it’s just not the same. Oh damn, now what to get them/him if they/he do/does come!)