Christmas Lights

When I was growing up, one of the things we did just before Christmas was this:

Daddy and I would pick Mother up from work on Saturday night to go riding around the county to look at Christmas lights.

Some were beautiful, some were awe inspiring, and some (which I loved the most as a kid) were downright gaudy.

Comments such as "Wow! Look at them!" From me.

"Lord, I'd hate to be the one to pay their power bill." From Mother.

"I wonder how she got him to put all them lights up there on the roof." From Daddy.

And so on.

When Daughter was little, we'd pack her, Niece of Same Age of Daughter, Nephew, Mother and whoever else was willing to go (always female) and head out to the great beyond and go light looking.

If someone had heard about an especially spectacular scene that wasn't so far away two preschoolers couldn't hack it, off we'd go, oohing and ahhing ourselves silly.

Of course, we always had to stop somewhere for food. And potty breaks.

By the time we got home, Niece and Daughter were usually sound asleep and Nephew almost.

We were tired, sticky and satiated.

We can't do such extravaganza at our house, we're lucky to get some of the inside done. This year it's taken us five days to get the tree done.

If we attempted to do outside lights and such, it'd be February before we'd finish.

 At least Valentine's is done up in red too.

But there are still some neighborhoods who go all out (Brother of Many Surgeries lives in one), and we usually get at least one drive by to some.

You may not believe in the Christ Child, Messiah, the Light of the World, Son of the Utmost God.

But you cannot deny the magic.

Because He makes Christmas Magic. You can see it in every child's face.

You can see it in every Christmas Light.