Monday, March 9, 2009

Gratitude Monday - Christmas Is When You Make It


We celebrated Christmas this past weekend.
We drove to Edmonton to see our friends, the Webjeks. (The name is a compilation of their surnames, and a damned fine one.)
We’ve had Christmas together each year for several years now, more than a dozen.
We get to it when we can. It’s often well after Christmas proper. We’ve observed it later in March at least once, but we usually get to it during winter.
What matters is getting to spend the time with friends. The food, the gifts, activities, they’re all great, but the point is being together and spending time in one another’s company.
That is what matters. It is what makes it Christmas no matter what the date may be.

17 comments:

Hilary said...

What a great idea. And the spread looks delicious. I'm glad you got to spend fine time with good friends.

Anonymous said...

that is VERY COOL.
not the same but we celebrate halfbirthdays (with my toddler...did growing up) and any holiday or time for friends and family is when you MAKE it huh?

Tom Rooney said...

Traditions that you make on your own are the best. My brother and I exchange one Christmas card each year. When I have it, I put a line through his name add my signature and send it to him. The following year he does the same and sends it back to me. I now look for that card each year and it has become special. Last count there were 22 strikethroughs.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks Hilary, it was. He made a perfect turkey and he has the gift when it comes to making gravy. I am not good at it and love gravy so it was all I could do not to tip up the gravy boat and drink it.
They are both excellent cooks and love to entertain. All that aside, it was wonderful to spend the time with them.

MizFit, I love the idea of halfbirthdays. I occasionally think of mine and have a mini-observation of it.

Leah J. Utas said...

Tom, personal traditions are the best because they have the deep, emotional charge to them that designated traditions and calendar dates can't touch.
What you and your brother get up to each year sounds like a lot of fun and very special.

the Bag Lady said...

Looks like a marvelous meal, cousin! And I'm sure you had a great time, as always.
I like the idea of celebrating a half-birthday, especially because my own falls in the dead of winter (like yours) - perhaps the time has come to celebrate in the summer!!

Leah J. Utas said...

It was a wonderful Christmas, df Bag Lady.
This halfbirthday idea is really growing on me. May have to do it.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Very cool! I used to have an annual Christmas in July party.

If one wants to get picky about it, the odds that Jesus was born in December are pretty slim, if the Bible is to be believed. So celebrate when it seems right!

Leah J. Utas said...

Christmas in July sounds like fun, Bunnygirl.
I suspect our weekend celebration was closer to JC's real birthday.

Reb said...

What a lovely spread. Christmas in March is a great idea too. My 1/2 birthday would be in March and the way this one is going, I think I'll pass - I'd much rather have it in September. Maybe a 3/4's for me.

Leah J. Utas said...

It was wonderful, Reb. You could always go for quarterly birthdays.

Anonymous said...

Well, Merry Christmas! :) I'm glad you and your friends had such a nice celebration.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you so much, Thomma Lyn.

Redbush said...

The food looks scumptious! What an excellent idea! It's great to get together and spend time with friends no matter what time of year! With that spread, it's even better!

Leah J. Utas said...

Oh, Redbush it was. The only thing better than a turkey dinner is having these two cook it for you.

Barbara Martin said...

Meeting with good friends over a dinner is very important.

Leah J. Utas said...

Yes, it sure is, Barbara.