Fa-la-la la la!

It's hard to believe that the Christmas festivities have come to an end!! I truly enjoyed the holiday season and tried my best to soak up every bit of it. I love going home to Williamsburg, where pineapple wreaths, magnolia garland, and colonial decor translate into a beautiful background for the quality time spent with family and friends. One of the benefits of living in Kingsmill is having Busch Gardens in our backyard. After Christmas Eve service at the Chapel we meandered over to the park's first annual Christmas Towne, where each country was decorated with a different theme. As we strolled through the Christmas market in Germany, I reminisced on spending Christmas in Heidelberg, opting for hot chocolate rather than vin chaud.

Christmas day was magical, as always. My traditional breakfast strata was accompanied by a Moravian sugar cake, compliments of Jarrett. This perfect combination fueled us for a morning of openings presents, each carefully chosen and wrapped to provide delightment. Christmas evening unfolded with the arrival of the Conleys. After round two of opening gifts, we enjoyed a savory meal in a dining room that could easily be featured in a spread of Southern Living. Laughter, playing with the children, and spending quality time with my family was a wonderful gift which I consciously do not take for granted. The Lord has truly blessed my life. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

The Nutcracker!

One of my favorite Christmas traditions of all time is going to the ballet to see "The Nutcracker." As I child, I would dress up in my Sunday best and watch in awe, captivated by the beautiful ballerinas and their extraordinary talent. I always looked up to Clara and daydreamed about what good friends we would be. As I got older, my festive flair shifted from frilly Christmas dresses to an extra hot half skim half soy peppermint mocha (hold the whip), to be enjoyed as I walked around Colonial Williamsburg before the show.

This year, I had the pleasure of seeing "The Nutcracker" performed by the dancers of the North Carolina School of the Arts. To give you a rough idea of the talent behind this production, I should mention Ethan Stiefel, a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre and star of the hit film "Center Stage", was the choreographer and director of the show. From the intricate costumes and elaborate sets, to the fouettés en tournants and pirouettes, this year's performance told the story through incredible talent and remarkable skill.

Christmas Lovefeast

Last Sunday marked the 45th annual Christmas Lovefeast and Candlelight service at Wake Forest University. The custom originated in Europe in 1747 and was established six years later in North Carolina. Today, people of all religious beliefs and backgrounds join in on this Moravian tradition.

Before this year's Lovefeast, I hosted a cocktail party at my apartment, which was outfitted in its Christmas best, with a cozy fire and elegant tree. We all enjoyed mingling and catching up, and I had fun making various introductions between different groups of friends. Several hors d'oeuvres and cocktails later, we bundled up and set off for the service, which was easy to spot, as it was landmarked by hundreds of luminaries lighting the way.

We gathered in the beautiful Wait Chapel and awaited with much anticipation for the event to commence. Music created by voice, flutes, and bells would soon fill my spirit with a feeling impossible to describe. The sermon incorporated a message of humility, a much needed spin on the original Christmas story. While reflecting on those powerful words, I stole a glance of both my friends and total strangers, and felt incredibly blessed to be in such loving company.

After partaking in the traditional coffee and Moravian buns, the lights dimmed to prepare for a moment that would capture the essence of the night. As we all held high our small beeswax candles, we sang with our hearts proclaiming "Joy to the World." This night is perhaps the most magical moment of the Christmas season- a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ, the love we have for one another, and the excitement and joy that fills us all in this wonderful time of year.