The Old Grinchy Claus Hissed

So, I've been in Holiday Hiding. Now that the holidays are over, and we find ourselves safely trucking along into 2008, I finally feel a sense of normalcy slowly returning. I also finally feel the liberty to show my mad blog face again. And I'm just gonna state for the record, one more time, that I am really happy that the holidays are over. I know, I know. How can a Christian dare utter such a thing??? In my defense, I haven't always been this much of a humbug. Up until last year, I eagerly anticipated the holidays as much as any child. I love decorating. I love presents. I love Christmas food and festivities. Yet, the past two Christmases have just been incredibly stressful for us. Money's always tight. There's always some major, expensive malfunction needing attention, be it vehicular or of the household variety (Last year it was the septic tank--"It's the crap, crappiest season of all!"). There are always no less than 100 engagements in which to attend, and only two of which are actually fun. Oh, and I did I mention the fact that we're in the peak of flu season??? Yeah. That's a barrel of fun with 3 kids, ages 4 and under. And this year, once again, I find myself with child. So all of this, and I can't even enjoy a stinking glass of Christmas cheer. Aptly named due to its capacity to make you forget momentarily all about your Christmas woes.

Not that there haven't been moments of fun, excitement, and joy. This year we had an beautiful just-before-Christmas-service at our church. And last year, we welcomed the birth of our son, Oliver, 5 days before Christmas, in a whirlwind birth story that would make anyone's head spin. It seems, however, that I find myself enjoying Christmas in snapshots, but not overall as a whole. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. Maybe my heart just needs to grow three more sizes. I'm up for it. Whatever the case may be, I think one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2008 is that I am GOING to try to enjoy Christmas a little more this year. Maybe that would mean not celebrating it at all...

Bah. Humbug.