WhiteNoise: Christmas of firsts

Joe and I spent Christmas morning with our baby in our apartment. It was such a great feeling to wake up when we wanted and open presents in our pajamas.

Being that I'm at home on maternity leave, it was a huge blessing to be able to prepare for Christmas: both physically and spiritually. I felt like for the first time I was able to take it all in, not having finals or work or a wedding to plan.

Not only was it our first Christmas as a married couple, but also the first Christmas for Maureen. Although I tried to explain it to her, I'm not all that convinced that she got it.

I spent Christmas Eve putting the final touches on the apartment and preparing breakfast for Christmas Day. I'll admit, I was more than giddy.

It was funny to think that it was just the three of us here and that all the preparations were a little silly, but I stumbled upon a meditation that reminded me how important such work is:

Mary spend nearly every day of her life like millions of other women who look after their families, bring up their children and take care of the house. Mary sacrifices the ordinary everyday things -- what some people wrongly regard as unimportant and insignificant: everyday work, looking after those closest to you, visits to fiends and relatives. What a blessed ordinariness, that can be so full of love of God!
J. Escriva, Christ is Passing By, 148

With Joe at work I prepared the dough for the famous Christmas Day pecan rolls. I reminded myself that I wasn't just cooking for my family, but to welcome the Christ Child into our home.