When Everything We Say is Christmas.

We walked up from the lake the other day after decorating the flower boxes at the clubhouse

and a huge hawk flew overhead.

I shouted back to the hubs who was carting Nonie up the hill in the red wagon -

"is that a red-shouldered hawk?"

And before the hubs could reply Declan said (in his most serious bird-watching voice),

"I'm pretty certain that was the partridge from the pear tree."

And then,

He stole a line from the Charlie Brown Christmas movie and tried to convince Nonie

that the Angel who sings in glorious melody to announce Baby Jesus' birth - that

Angel is named Harold. As in Hark the Harold Angel Sings.

And then, there is the great debate going on in our house about the order we light the

Advent Wreath. Purple Purple Pink Purple is my method. However I'm out numbered

3 to 1 in favor of: Purple Purple Purple Pink.

I mean it does seem right that the pink would be Christmas. But I didn't go to 29 years of catholic school to not know how to light an advent wreath.

Christmas has infused itself into the very depths of our family routine. Our conversations

are laced with talk of the little baby Jesus. The brilliant star that lead the shepherds over hill and dale - yup, we made that star and stuck in on our Nativity Scene yesterday after Declan noted its importance in the story and lacking in our Nativity Scene. What is a Nativity Scene without the star?

We talk about silent nights, peace on earth, joy in this world, and how something

as tiny as a baby, can really be a King.

During a time when it seems the whole world is spewing forth Christmas, it is nice

to digest what it means as a family. We take bits and pieces of songs, conversations, stories

dreams and swirl it into our Christmas.

It is this time together, the time it takes to make sense of the lights, the songs, the smells of the season - that always becomes my greatest and most un-wrap-able present.

Right now, and during these days, everywhere we go, everything we do, everyone we see, everything we say is Christmas.

Perfectly Christmas.