Pure Magic All Year Through

I listen to Christmas music all year. I listen to it especially when I am studying. It brings an instantaneous happiness and somewhat of a comfort to me no matter what I am doing or where I am. 

I have just always loved Christmas. I think it's because it was always so magical. I know, everybody says that, right? What's not magical about a man that comes down the chimney and carries toys to all the good girls and boys and then flies off on his eight tiny reindeer? I might add, that he probably weighs MORE than those eight tiny reindeer after consuming so many cookies in one night. But, I'm not going to judge, Santa, because you are so magical. 

Or maybe it's the fact that the magic lies in the story from the Bible about how God gave Mary a gift. But all Mary knew was that she was going to be pregnant out of wedlock and would have to explain to everyone that the baby she was carrying was not Joseph's, but instead God's. And she accomplished this and gave birth to the Prince of Peace. And that's magical. I love how still and silent the world seems on Christmas Eve-- so holy and pure and all about Him.


It could possibly be the fact that this holiday can bring so many people together. While not everyone celebrates Christmas itself, it's the season that binds everyone, creating an atmosphere of pure love and joy adorned with red and green, silver and gold. Friends and family reunite.

My last theory is that, for me, Christmas is magical because it beckons people to be compassionate. It creates a feeling in people that drives them to give. I am not talking about running out and buying presents, though all of America does take part in that. I am talking about giving of themselves and serving others. Completely giving up time to help people who may not have a lot this Christmas. Or serving food at the local homeless shelter. Or donating their money to the Salvation Army cans outside of Wal-Mart. It's like everyone's heart seems to stretch a little bit more during the Holidays than it ever would have before. And that makes my heart sing a bit. 


I just wish that people would do that... all the time. In one of my favorite holiday songs by the band, SheDaisy, it says, "It's not the things you do at Christmastime, but the Christmas things you do all year through."


Maybe I am just dreaming out loud. Or maybe I have a point. How much of a better place would this world be if everyday throughout the year we gave a little more to others and stopped with the busyness, just like we do on Christmas?

It would be so magical.

A Very Jammie Christmas

^{So, I need to tell you a secret. A BIG secret. Promise not to tell?}

^{I have legit always been this darn excited about Christmas. In fact, I was named "Christmas Chair" on the Overall Committee for UNC Dance Marathon. A title I will never fail.}

^{I have also been compared to this woman:}

^{Or this man…}

^{I am just going to say that I am not ashamed by either of these comparisons. I'm silly. I can take it.}

^{But that isn't the secret. Oh, no. Every kid loves Christmas. (Or Santa?)} 

^{The secret is what my family has done for years on Christmas. Our tradition.}

^{You see, every year my family travels to be with my mom's sister for Christmas (Aunt Donna and Uncle Clay and their two kids (my cousins)-- Kelly and Doug). They live in Aiken. Then Nana comes down from Durham. When I was younger, we would all just go to Nana's. This year they are all coming to our house after Christmas (I'll get to that later). Got all that?}

^{So every Christmas Eve, we all open presents. We are all spoiled rotten and eat way too many of Nana's sugar cookies and Aunt Donna's Rum Cake and then...}

^{Out comes a box for all of us. A matching box. Wrapped in the same wrapping paper and in the same size box. And we all.... well, the Dobbins girls LOVE it. The Jones Kids? ...not so much....}

^{Yep, every year all four of us (and most recently Aunt Donna, Nana, and Mama) are dressed in matching pajamas.}

^{And we proceed through a terrorizing photoshoot. You see, Dad and Uncle Clay are professional photographers. Did you know that about my family? I know, multi-faceted.}

^{And the shoot can last for what seems like hours. Especially when you have me (the ham), Heather (the how does my makeup look?), Kelly (the when do we outgrow this?) and Doug (the when will I get a male version of these jammies?).}

^{Some years we manage great, sweet pictures like the one above.}

^{Other years, we manage awkwardness and dissatisfaction.}

^{As I mentioned earlier, our traditions this year are a-changing. This year, the Dobbins family will be at home for Christmas Eve. My mom's family will be coming to Kinston instead after Christmas so they can spend time with my sister and her new family. I know, WHAT are we going to do about the pajama tradition?}

^{Great Question. I am not quite sure.}

^{Maybe we’ll start a new tradition? Now that we have Collin (the new baby of the family—I have officially been replaced). And although I do love “the Jammies”, new traditions are refreshing. I could dig new traditions.}

^{Just as long as matching braces aren’t the new tradition, I’ll be fine.}

^{More Holiday memories to come!}