This year has been hard for me to get into the spirit of the Season. Partially because, once again, Christmas has snuck up on me. How does that happen every year?? Some of this lack of spirit has to do with the country we are living in this year. Tunisia is approximately 98% Muslim and have many other holidays to celebrate and don't usually go nuts with the lights and tinsel for Christmas like we do. I have spent many Christmas' without snow and can completely feel "in The Spirit" in warm weather. However, without the lights on the houses and music in the malls it is just feeling like any other time of year. We decided not to bring any of our Christmas decorations from home (except our Stockings, of course!) and did find a couple trees and some lights for the house. So our upstairs living room looks festive. And you can see our little tree and lights from the street. I'm hoping it perks up some folks walking by our house (and doesn't offend anyone).
Tonight while putting Hunter to bed, I asked her what the most exciting this about Christmas is. She said opening presents and seeing Santa. "Maybe I'm going to wake up and see his reindeer!" Oh, how I forget sometimes how fun it is believing in Santa Claus and his elves and Mrs. Santa and the reindeer. We talked about his magic sleigh that can slide on snow at home in Canada or on sand in the desert. And luckily we have a flat roof that he can land on safely so he won't slide off! ;)
Yes, Hunter is VERY excited about getting presents. However, she has been just as excited about finding things to wrap for everyone else in the family as she is about inventorying who has the most gifts under the tree. We all have little wrapped gifts under the tree filled with stuff Hunter found in the house and thought we would like... again. It is such a sweet and selfless act and is the true meaning of Christmas all the way. She is thinking of giving and isn't worried about how big or expensive the gift is or what she will get in return. She only wants to give something the recipient will enjoy.
She was so intent on finding the right gift for Elliot. Yesterday as we walked toward the Souk in the Medina she whispered that she wanted to find a purple baby shirt for Elliot for Christmas. We looked and couldn't find one. Today, while we were in the Carrefour mall, she and I shopped alone to find gifts and she took me in to a toy store (usually one I avoid because of the overpriced, cheaply made toys) to find something for her little sister. As much as I really would rather not have another crappy toy with a million pieces in our house, I just couldn't stop Hunter as I saw how much love and caring and thought for Elli she put into finding just the right gift. She pulled toys out from the shelf thinking this was just the right one, and then put it back realizing that it might not be what Elliot wanted. Finally she decided on a set of hospital tools for dolls. The big decision then was the get the one in the blue or pink cardboard box (all the actual toys were exactly the same). She chose the blue because that is the one she figured Elliot would like the best (although Hunter would have preferred the pink box). She was so proud and looked so grown up paying for her lovingly chosen item. She will be beaming when Elliot unwraps her gift on Christmas morning. My heart is full. <3
Elliot on the other hand just wants to tell Hunter all about the gift she is giving every time Hunter walks in the room. She does understand it is supposed to be a secret but she is just too excited to surprise her big sister! It will be a fun Christmas!!! I just hope my girls sleep in more than I did. I think I was still waking up at 5am well into my teens.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!
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