'Tis the season….

Ok, so almost a year ago, we uprooted our whole existence, the plans we had and the dreams we shared, and moved from the city to a small rural town.

A town where “Shopping Malls staying open till 8 at night” became a vague and distant memory for me, the café on the corner selling (the best) slap chips, fish and russians became a reality, a town where the Bottle Store in the main road is the local tourist attraction.

I have to admit, I was a bit negative about this place in the beginning, and it took some time to get use to it all.

But a few days ago, I saw a total different side to this town, a side that was filled with blinking lights and Christmas cheer. Streets in the centre of town where blocked off and closed down. Kids were playing and running around in the streets, laughing.

 

People came with cooler bags and fold-up chairs. And they all came to celebrate for the same reason.

 

The municipality erected a huge Christmas Tree in the centre of the town, which was decorated with countless lights and shiny decorations.

We all sang together as groups performed Christmas Carols from the stage. There was a huge stampede of little tiny feet as all the kids rushed forward to meet Father Christmas and his elves, some more enthusiastic than others. (I realised that my Biekies prefer to appreciate him from a distance, and they profoundly refused to go near him for a photo or two).

After an hour or so, the streets were littered with partially eaten candy canes, and we had to do all possible to keep littlest from sticking each and every one of them in her mouth.

  



Just before 8 the big announcement was made, all the lights were turned off, the streets turned dark…and then…and then we started the count-down from 10.

I could see the enthusiasm and excitement beam from Hanco’s face as he waited in anticipation, and then, as the count-down reached the end, town centre was illuminated with the brightest lights one could ever imagined as they turned on the lights of the Christmas Tree. We cheered, yelled, clapped hands and whistled. It was truly amazing.

And I cried, yes, I cried, cause since turning 30 I am an emotional mess-ball and I cry about everything…

I cried tears of happiness, because even thought it was for just one evening, we managed to move all our issues and differences aside and celebrate the joys this season bring.

But I also cried some tears of heartache, thinking of those near and dear for who this season will not be as festive, for those in grieve, for those longing for just one more moment of laughter, one more moment of joy, one more moment of love. And it is those that I will keep close to my heart in this time, for them I will pray that they find comfort and that they will be embraced by our Heavenly Father’s healing hands.

Most of our Christmas shopping is done, only a few more gifts we need to buy, but not only will we be buying gifts this season, we will also be buying school shoes, a school bag, school outfits and stationary as we are preparing to enter a whole new stage in life. Because as of next year, my Biekie will be a Gr. 0 student…be still my heart…

So, as our kitchen window proudly displays his own set of blinking Christmas lights, we are anticipatingly awaiting the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa Botha for a long awaited and much needed visit