And So...

We rest.  Two small people tucked in, one big person hopefully also tucked in at a firehall and one contented other full of quiet gratitude for the grace of goodness in these last twenty-four hours.

I forgot the part where the one thing we are really good at, SJ and I, is carving out a space that is only ours. Because of his schedule, the timing changes from year to year, but every year since we were married, we've found a space that is sweetly ours alone, and it girds us for the rest.  This year, it was all of Christmas Eve day.  This day has always been "ours" so it comes full of rebellious freedom sewn into its edges.  Some years have had more space than others though, and this year had extra lovely because there was no work at either end for the boy.

This year it started with a quick trip to the mall for a liquor store run and last minute remembered things at a store or two.  Our children were cute and happy and easy to be with and so of course we had to go out for lunch.  We wandered over to a favourite spot, The Tomahawk where our children remained of the dreamy variety, pleased and happy and cheery with all.  Nate even asked the server for more juice, an accomplished feat for a child who can't speak a language any of us understand.

After long naps for these small people, Uncle Andy came upstairs and we spent the afternoon drinking tea and icing cookies for Santa and watching Christmas movies and then sipping rum & eggnogs and then ordering Chinese food for dinner and then watching more Christmas movies. Once tiny bodies were tucked into bed (an epic endeavour), it was a wrapping extravaganza.  Stockings were stuffed by the chimney with care and even mommy kind of hoped Santa soon would be there.  And then at eleven, mommy taped the last edge and scooted down to St. Agnes, our local Anglican church, and celebrated midnight mass in that lovely space.

To repeat the words of faith, confess with the Body, commune with the saints was what my soul needed to seal the sweetness of the day.  That God provides a collection of people to Be With and taste the wonder of God With Us through their presence - it is a miracle worthy of our celebration.  And my soul was glad to celebrate through the Eucharist, moving in its personal-ness and comforting in its universal anonymity.

Armed by our With Each Other, the fullness of Christmas day was so possible.  A quiet easy morning with Grandma and Poppa was dreamy and light, with Auntie Katie keeping an eye on us thanks to the miracle of Skype.  Over the rest of the day, more family became more of everything else and still, there was a quiet gratitude in my heart that I had already received the Grace.

And now, here we are, mostly tucked in (although at 10:36, someone keeps getting up to check on the fish - thanks Grandma C.) and mostly tidied and mostly still at rest. 

It really is Good News.