nostalgia

I love Christmas. I love everything about this time of year. I love the street not far from me that has filled their lawn and house with every kind of lawn ornament and light display known to man. I love the food, the music, the tv specials, the shopping, my 8' tall waving Santa, Devin's holiday work party that has the same food every single year (I don't think engineers believe in variety) etc. etc. etc. As much as I love this time of year, I also get a small feeling of sadness in the pit of my stomach: I miss the memories. Here are my favorites:

-Opening up one gift on Christmas eve after church. It was inevitably new pajamas.
-The first time Eric and I really got to experience snow in Hinesville, GA. We didn't own any snowpants, but we came inside and watched Gummy Bear Adventures and drank hot chocolate while our jeans were in the dryer.
-Receiving my Barbie dreamhouse with the elevator
-Bon bons and Candy cane cookies that my mom makes
-My Christmas band concerts in middle school. I felt like some serious hot stuff playing "Jingle Bells" on my clarinet in my white shirt, black jeans and cumberbund.
-Christmas Eve services at various military chapels that always ended w/ dripping candles and "Silent Night."
-Learning the alto part to Carol of the Bells in madrigals senior year and singing in Old Ellicott City (MD). Hearing that song still gives me goosebumps. I love it!
-Going sledding senior year of high school with Dan and Leigh Ayn. I'm sure if you know her like I know her, you can imagine the facial expressions and screaming noises she made going down that hill.
-Exchanging Christmas gifts with Amanda A WHOLE MONTH EARLY in college.
-Christmastime in the dorms at K-State. They always put on this fabulous Christmas dinner for us and finals week was such a fun week of celebrating.
-Junior year of college when Aunt Shel sent my gift to my house in KS. It was taped shut with "DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THIS EARLY! I KNOW HOW YOU ARE!" slathered all over in black permanant marker. You know I had that bad boy ripped open in about 30 seconds! ;)
-Driving to visit the Rileys my sr. year of high school (a few days after Christmas) to see Devin, who was home from college. I was SO excited to see him. Every now and then I look at him, and am amazed and thankful that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man who made my heart jump out of my chest.

Merry Christmas everyone!