Tis the Season

Classes are done and all assignments turned in, except for a paper due January 10th.  That means it's time to enjoy the holidays with Seth and take a bit of a break!

We have a dinky little Charlie Brown tree set up on the side of the desk with a small pile of packages underneath.  We've gotten some packages in the mail from our families, and the rest of the boxes are presents we bought for each other.  While we were together.  So there won't be many surprises this year since I know exactly what Seth bought for me, but it was really the easiest thing to do.  When you can't just hop in a car and drive to the store, it's much nicer to have company during the walk into the city centre. 

Christmas really isn't about the gifts this year (not that it is any year, but even more starkly this year).  There's no point to accumulating "stuff" for Christmas when we won't be able to bring it back home.  We bought each other things that were either edible or small things that we needed (a 2012 daily planner for me, new slippers for Seth, etc.), and asked for things we missed from home from our families (Kraft mac & cheese, Caribou Coffee, etc.).   Our real gift to each other is a trip (hopefully) to Edinburgh, Scotland for a week.  Since we're living off of loans anyway, we might as well enjoy our access to travel that we won't have again for ages.

But Christmas itself is going to be most likely the only Christmas that will be relaxing and commitment-free.  It will be just Seth and me - nowhere to go and no one to see.  In all actuality, as much as we're going to miss our families, we're really looking forward to Christmas.  Sleeping in, opening gifts together, cooking Christmas dinner... that kind of relaxed holiday doesn't come around that often.

Last Sunday, we went to a candlelight Christmas carol service at Ebrington.  It really was a beautiful service: carols alternating with scripture readings and accompaniment by a Flute band.  Since church is at 10am (instead of 11:30am) on Christmas day and we have a 45 minute walk, we're not going back until after Christmas and going to that service was a good reminder to get my priorities in check for the Christmas season.  Hopefully, having a nice quiet Christmas will also give me the opportunity to reflect on what Christmas is really for without all the normal distractions.

So, here's to a Christmas season of firsts: first Christmas with Seth, first Christmas away from home, first Christmas in another country.  God has done so much for us this year, and I know we'll be in good hands for 2012.  :)