Christmas Eve Gift!

Today is Christmas Eve. The day before we celebrate the birth of the Savior. 

This day for my family has a special tradition. We call it Christmas Eve Gift.

Since I was a young child, one of us has woken up early, and yelled across the house, 

"CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!"

You see, whoever yells those words, gets to open one present before anyone else. 

Only one. 

Over the years my brother, sister, and I have gotten this down to an art. My older brother joined the military when I was eleven, and this magic window opened up for us younger sisters to take the Christmas Eve Gift. We would fight with each other over who would get to say it. On December 23, we would think about it and no one would talk about it. 

No one wanted to remind anyone else about the gift, 

because then they could potentially steal it. 

The biggest rule, is everyone in the house has to hear it. 

If not, it doesn't count...so you better say it loud!

As we got into our teens, we decided why fight? 

We started teaming up against our parents. 

There was the year my brother snuck in a phone call at 12:01 am, and won...from Ohio!

 The other years my sister and I would team up. Waiting quietly in my room, nonchalant so we wouldn't bring attention from our parents onto us, and then at 12:01 am, 

"CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!" in unison. 

So we would both get to open something small.

Fast forward to this year. 

This year, my sister called my parents from Hawaii at 2:00 am, 

and yelled Christmas Eve Gift over the phone. 

Unfortunately for her she is too far away to actually win, but she "won" this year. 

The real winner this year was my sweet three year old. 

We have begun passing the tradition to our children and it is so much fun to tell one of them 

to sneak up to Grammy and Grandaddy, and yell it at the top of their lungs. 

They love getting to win.

Part of the reason this tradition has been going on so long is because in my family, we love getting and giving gifts. One of my love languages (if you do that sort of thing) is gifts. I love getting gifts. It doesn't even have to be anything big. However, I LOVE giving gifts. 

Normally, I plan Christmas presents half the year. 

This year, I waited till the very last minute. 

My husband and I got to my parent's house Thursday evening, 

and after the kids went to bed, we went to the store...till 2:00 am. 

To say we were tired is an understatement. 

But we got all of the shopping done! 

The best gift my parents shared with us, was the gift of a Savior. One of my other favorite traditions happens Christmas morning. My dad, or now my husband, sit down and read the story of the birth of Christ. 

This happens before we open presents or stockings. 

We refocus ourselves off of the pile of presents we are blessed to have, 

and we point our children to Christ. I would not change this tradition for anything. 

As much fun as it is to win the Christmas Eve Gift, the best gift was given a long time ago. 

I hope that today and tomorrow are filled with love and laughter, 

lots of food, and most importantly Jesus. 

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Bows my oldest daughter opened.