countdown till Christmas

it is Christmas eve and everyone is in bed. i have accomplished the tasks i had for myself today, and so magnificent and i will shortly head to snooze-land as well, knowing the tablewear is out, the flatware polished and ready, the broccoli sliced, the turkey brined and in the fridge since 6.30pm, the happy birthday Jesus cake frosted and 12 candles located and placed in a location where i can easily find them tomorrow (famous last words). there are a couple last minute gifts to wrap, but i can manage those in bed because none of them are for magnificent.

we went to st john's cathedral tonight for their family christingle service. although union church is the oldest church in hong kong, st johns is probably the most famous. it is a gorgeous cross-shaped building

http://www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk/home.html

and beautifully furnished inside. because of it's age and size, it costs approximately us$5,000 to maintain the building DAILY.

the Christingle family service was at 5pm, and union church's service was at 6pm. knowing that my kids needed to be in bed by 7.30 sharp, we decided on the st john's service, and headed into central with chad, andrea and adam, ella and ashleigh. the building was crammed with people, and charles and chad got us seats at the very back of the building. even then, we only had eight seats, so ella and sela shared a seat and jasper happily planted himself on my lap. i had brought crayons to divert the kids in case they got noisy.

about five minutes into the service (right after the first hymn), sebastian and carys needed to use the toilet. charles offered to take them and adam decided he needed to go too. the sermon began. it was quiet indeed as the rector asked, rhetorically,

who was born on Christmas Day?

and all of a sudden, the voice next to me, screams out happily and confidently in the silent cathedral, "BABY JESUS!" it's jasper and he's thrilled. (and paying attention???)

heads turn, laughter swells, and the slightly shocked rector says, "that's right!" and jasper nods. satisfied.

a couple of other kids now decide that it is open mike nite, and they answer the next few questions. (jasper doesn't because my hand is over his mouth.)

and just when i think it is safe, i remove my hand just as the rector says the word, "shepherd". well, that's just too much for jasper.

"i am a shepherd!" he bellows. "i can't wait to see baby Jesus!" there is so much laughter (majority from chad) that the second part of his sentence is largely not heard.

the rector continues on, and asks someone else (we were so far away, that i couldn't tell if it was adult or child,), "what do you think, cameron?

and of course, ding dong double damn it, whose party did jasper go to on thursday? you guessed it.

"cameron?" jasper says incredulously. "cameron's my friend!"

shortly after the sermon ceased, we got our Christingle candles (candles placed in an orange) and we held them up and sang songs and of course one of the carols was "away in a manger" and if you remember from a few days back, someone in our home loves that song.

and jasper turned to the person behind him and said, "i like this song!" and belted out the words to the first verse throughout verses one, two and three.

in our defense, it does say the Christingle service is a family service.

i'm just glad they didn't sing jingle bells.

happy Christmas.

Comments

[Tammy]

In this morning's words from Sir Bubba, "Happy Merry Christmas" to you too, my dear.

[Dad aka Granddad Blake]

Any truth to the rumor the rector has checked into a clinic that treats innocent question posers?
Love to all...Dad

[Sheridan]

From a loooong time lurker,via Tertia,but first time commenter - a very happy Christmas to you and your family, Tess. This post made me laugh and laugh and laugh. I love your stories about the kids and life in Hong Kong. I have a 2.5 yr old ICSI boy and I so admire your honesty about motherhood, and how much you put into it. I love the fact that you update so often, and I enjoy every post. Keep up the great work, and all the very best to all of you in 2008.

[Isabel]

This was hilarious! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

XOXO

[mel]

Hilarious!

[berlin]

Gut!