Third Day

Well. The third day of Christmas. We have had a beautiful week. The snow on Christmas eve felt like the perfect gift, as we headed off to the Christmas Eve service at St. Stephen's, the tiny Anglican church just a few doors down from our home. St. Stephen's used to be its own parish, I believe, but was amalgamated into the larger Anglican community of the Gagetown area, and now the Christmas Eve service is the only time the church is open. But on Christmas Eve, the exquisite little wooden church was packed.I have been going to church regularly with Horus. (A friend: "I thought you didn't believe in church." Me: "I don't believe in church, or the Bible, or religion, or the concept of God that is usually promulgated by zealots... but I still find it worthwhile to go to church. And I like to sing.") So Horus knows the drill. 

And the service was beautiful. but I guess because it was Christmas Eve, and everyone was wired and tired...the whole experience was excruciating, on account of the fact that my two children were completely losing their minds, and finally, after singing and visiting with what seemed like the entire population of Queenstown--the apple farmers, the neighbours, all the lovely people--we left a bit early once Horus began to make his version of dinosaur sounds. But overall, it was nice, and we felt warm, and loved and I felt access to the miracle of Christmas, which is, in my mind, the perfection of our original face; the newborn child, the profound simplicity of birth, and the choice that we all have: to love. 

Santa was a bit grumpy after the church meltdown, so once we had read a couple of stories and sang a few Christmas songs, everyone was sent to bed, and I helped the elves clean the house, and arrange all the look just so; ready to be discovered by Horus and Treva in the morning. This really is the first Christmas with full comprehension from Horus, and because of this, Treva is more aware of the occasion than she would be without a big brother. 

When the kids woke up at 6:30 in the morning, they came into our room, and I asked Horus, groggily, if Santa Claus had come, and he said, I don't know, so I told him to go downstairs and take a look. It was still dark, but we had left the Christmas tree lights on. Horus' expression, when he ran back upstairs, was a perfect and sincere rendition of the cliche of childhood Christmas wonder and elation. "Mum. Mum. Dad." He is breathless. "Santa Claus DID come. He really did. And he brought me trucks and a guitar [ukelele] and ice skates!!!". Well. We had better go downstairs and check it out. And Santa Claus certainly had arrived. The kids both got skates (and helmets), and a variety of vehicles (one of which, from Gramy and Grampy Clark, makes an extremely loud, penetrating and persistent battery-powered sound. Help.). And Treva received some lovely outfits and a beautiful hand-made doll, and we all got gorgeous books galore. 

And from Lee, whom I often underestimate, I received a ring--a stunning, gold and faceted onyx ring, which I had admired off-handedly in a shop several weeks before, and which had NEVER crossed my mind as even a potential xmas gift for myself. I had not even hinted--it was just a passing comment. but when I opened the huge box, then the slightly smaller box inside, then the tiny clamshell jewel box...I was *totally* floored...and thrilled. My new ring is elegant, and retro, and gorgeous, and slightly flashy, but also understated, and I love it. 

Christmas Day unfolded in the usual Christmas Day kind of way. We feasted and lounged and played and the turkey cooked and by dinnertime, the food was done, and delicious, despite the fact that only the top element in our stove works, and therefore everything tends to cook drastically on the top half, while remaining miraculously raw below. It was fine.  I missed my family, and I think Lee missed his, but we called everyone and talked, and thanked them all for the wonderful gifts, and it was good.  

Now, the feast continues, and the quiet mellow sinks in a bit, although Horus has been going strong on the ukelele since Christmas morning, and seems destined for the stage--although I leave this entirely up to him, of course. Lunch today is turkey soup with ginger and cilantro, and we are going to find a place to learn to ice-skate--Gagetown, if their rink is open. And the year is coming to a close, and I am resolving once again: 

 *to be happier 

 * to be more grateful 

 * to be more tolerate (or to just be even a little bit tolerant) 

 * to be kind * to be more organized 

 * to dedicate a portion of my time each month to those in need--I am thinking of volunteering to teach or play piano once a month for the special care home up the road from us...hm. 

 * to take time to nurture myself amid the chaos 

 * to slow down, just a little bit 

 * to write every single day 

I know the New Year brings changes and challenges. I start another new job at the Fredericton Public LIbrary in the new year, and I will be completing several certifications as a fitness trainer, Pilates instructor, and the course I am taking to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. And we will be welcoming another child into our family in the summer season. And we will be re-building our kiln here in Queenstown, and firing several times. And Lee and I have a pretty major exhibition at the Circle Craft Gallery in Vancouver in September, and we will also be organizing and participating in a show of New Brunswick woodfired ceramics at Gallery 78 here in Fredericton. So much going on. Life is full. Holy crow. Enjoy the Christmas Season, everyone.Love, YO