So this should have been posted in December...
I was lucky enough to have four Christmas celebrations: One with my community, one with the Priests next door, one at home in Vermont and one at Siena House.
Christmas next door with the priests was short and very sweet – we had a delicious dinner all together with fancy china, candles and beautiful music. We helped them decorate their (real) Christmas tree… I got ‘yelled’ at for breaking a glass ball, but Father Joe assured me that breaking a decoration was obviously a sign of good luck. His sarcastic nature leads me to believe he was harassing me, but ill take it for what it was worth. Although our Christmas celebration with the Priests was short it was wonderful to sit in company with them. Talking about their memories of childhood Christmas traditions and fond experiences. We cut out 30 snowflakes out of white paper both large and small and hung them around their dining room as a surprise from Jack Frost. The men literally could not stop talking about how crafty, creative and mostly thoughtful the simple act was. We did it to spice up their lives, through a little womanly touch into their community of all males; they saw it as a miracle. The snowflakes are still hanging to date (middle of March) and they constantly refer to their beauty, simplicity and how thoughtful we were, meanwhile we were being silly bored girls cutting shapes out of paper. Its sweet to see how such a small gesture can go such a long long way.
Christmas in our community was held the very last night in the Bronx before we all flew to our respective home states. We had a miniature fake Christmas tree in our hallway closet that we decorated with small glass bulbs. Katie took wrapping paper and wrapped the pictures that we have hanging in our communal spaces – Kendra and Andrea hung Christmas lights throughout the front room and I cut an Angel out of paper for the top of our tree (she was African American and quite beautiful if I do say so myself). We all made and hung Christmas stockings in the kitchen and we cut out hundreds of snowflakes out of white paper and hung them from the ceiling.
“Christmas Eve” we sat around our teeny little Christmas tree and exchanged gifts, nothing big, nothing expensive, mostly enjoying the presence of each other. We braved the snowy unplowed roads and took each other out to dinner. I have always had wonderful friends, and we have each had wonderful traditions, but sitting beneath our silly Christmas tree throwing nerf balls at each oher (Andreas gift to the community to encourage us to play more) I really realized how blessed I am to have these girls and this community.
Christmas in Vermont was magnificent as always! It was filled with love and joy and family and snow, the four things I wanted. Colin was back from Montana and we spent time just hanging out. Its great to be at an age where we can be not only siblings but friends. We spent Christmas Eve night at Evans house (our 10 year old cousin). We went to church as a family and I really finally found its significance in my life. The church community was so welcoming and so loving, extending a hand in friendship, a hug in homecoming and love for all. I felt at peace knowing that although I love my job in the Bronx and I love my roommates, I have a wonderful support network back home. We went back to Evans house to prepare for Santa’s arrival- set out cookies, milk, and candy canes for him and carrots and a large bucket of water on the front steps for the reindeer.
We were awakened very early to open our stockings and marvel at the gifts that Santa had left, as well as the chewed up carrots and empty bucket from the reindeer. The rest of our day was relaxed and we really just took time to enjoy the company of family. The best gift I received with Tim agreeing to officially adopt me. It’s a simple procedure considering im 23 years old, but it is something I have wanted and a role he has played for a long time. I am honored to call him Dad and to be a part of his family <3>
I was lucky enough to have four Christmas celebrations: One with my community, one with the Priests next door, one at home in Vermont and one at Siena House.
Christmas next door with the priests was short and very sweet – we had a delicious dinner all together with fancy china, candles and beautiful music. We helped them decorate their (real) Christmas tree… I got ‘yelled’ at for breaking a glass ball, but Father Joe assured me that breaking a decoration was obviously a sign of good luck. His sarcastic nature leads me to believe he was harassing me, but ill take it for what it was worth. Although our Christmas celebration with the Priests was short it was wonderful to sit in company with them. Talking about their memories of childhood Christmas traditions and fond experiences. We cut out 30 snowflakes out of white paper both large and small and hung them around their dining room as a surprise from Jack Frost. The men literally could not stop talking about how crafty, creative and mostly thoughtful the simple act was. We did it to spice up their lives, through a little womanly touch into their community of all males; they saw it as a miracle. The snowflakes are still hanging to date (middle of March) and they constantly refer to their beauty, simplicity and how thoughtful we were, meanwhile we were being silly bored girls cutting shapes out of paper. Its sweet to see how such a small gesture can go such a long long way.
Christmas in our community was held the very last night in the Bronx before we all flew to our respective home states. We had a miniature fake Christmas tree in our hallway closet that we decorated with small glass bulbs. Katie took wrapping paper and wrapped the pictures that we have hanging in our communal spaces – Kendra and Andrea hung Christmas lights throughout the front room and I cut an Angel out of paper for the top of our tree (she was African American and quite beautiful if I do say so myself). We all made and hung Christmas stockings in the kitchen and we cut out hundreds of snowflakes out of white paper and hung them from the ceiling.
“Christmas Eve” we sat around our teeny little Christmas tree and exchanged gifts, nothing big, nothing expensive, mostly enjoying the presence of each other. We braved the snowy unplowed roads and took each other out to dinner. I have always had wonderful friends, and we have each had wonderful traditions, but sitting beneath our silly Christmas tree throwing nerf balls at each oher (Andreas gift to the community to encourage us to play more) I really realized how blessed I am to have these girls and this community.
Christmas in Vermont was magnificent as always! It was filled with love and joy and family and snow, the four things I wanted. Colin was back from Montana and we spent time just hanging out. Its great to be at an age where we can be not only siblings but friends. We spent Christmas Eve night at Evans house (our 10 year old cousin). We went to church as a family and I really finally found its significance in my life. The church community was so welcoming and so loving, extending a hand in friendship, a hug in homecoming and love for all. I felt at peace knowing that although I love my job in the Bronx and I love my roommates, I have a wonderful support network back home. We went back to Evans house to prepare for Santa’s arrival- set out cookies, milk, and candy canes for him and carrots and a large bucket of water on the front steps for the reindeer.
We were awakened very early to open our stockings and marvel at the gifts that Santa had left, as well as the chewed up carrots and empty bucket from the reindeer. The rest of our day was relaxed and we really just took time to enjoy the company of family. The best gift I received with Tim agreeing to officially adopt me. It’s a simple procedure considering im 23 years old, but it is something I have wanted and a role he has played for a long time. I am honored to call him Dad and to be a part of his family <3>
The tags I made for each of the Christmas bags, if nothing else this year I have learned I have a talent for working with construction paper and glue sticks :)
The Lounge where we sorted all the gifts for each mother and child...
I have never felt so good about watching individuals open Christmas presents, the generosity of the individuals giving gifts was inspiring. They got everything from umbrellas, slippers, robes, $50 cash, jewelry, make-up, body spray, clothing, hats, mittens, scarves, and I cant even being to explain the children’s toys – books, games, light up thingy’s, puzzles, stuffed animals, noise makers, sing song battery operated wildly loud gidgets and gadgets.
Yes the women were blessed with gifts and yes materially speaking the overabundance of gifts was so impressive, but I learned so much more than the warm feeling of giving a gift. One of the newer women looked at me, tears in her eyes and said "I feel loved, I have found the meaning of Christmas and I found it in your heart." In the middle of me telling her that we all worked hard on giving them each gifts we knew they would appreciate and like she stopped me and said... "the best gift I got this year was love"
He who has not found Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree...
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