I’m so lucky. I always seem to get to write the Christmas post. It’s a good thing.

This year I got a chance to be a part of a simple country Christmas right here in Kansas City.

I went to visit a friend, just off of Holmes Road on the Saturday before the holiday. These are folks who grew up in the country; Way south of Kansas City in Bates County. I’m talking farm folks, cattle people, in a beautiful farm house off a gravel road.

They are grown now. Their children have children.

Some how I’ve maneuvered my way into their family circle and managed to get an invite to the family Christmas celebration. that is a good thing because I can't be with my brother and sister and their families  this year. Have you seen the price of an airline ticket lately.

Christmas at my housel welll lets just say I was sure it wouldn't be the same as those days when the boys ran down to the tree ready to tear into presents from Santa. They have long stopped that ritual. One of my boys is away in Atlanta with his God parents this Christmas. The other is here but he's grown and our Christmas will be morning breakfast together and  his gift from me will be tires for his car; not exactly an under the tree kind of gift.

The family I was visiting is beautifully blended with lots of beige, brown and white people. My kind of crowd.

Of course I went. I’ve been before. The last time I went the holiday gathering was held at the farm. But this year, since the matriarch is in her nineties, the celebration was hosted here in Kansas City. No difference, though, except there were no mooing cows in the back ground. But everyone who apparently usually shows up, showed up. Plus me.

Everyone brought a dish.

Not me. I brought two bottles of wine.

There was ham and turkey. There was corn pudding and mac and cheese. There was green bean casserole and salads, breads and lots and lots of home-baked sweets. And lets not forget the liquid libations.

Everyone was festive and happy and friendly, eating and drinking and having a great time.

When dinner was done it was time to open gifts. Gifts poured out from beneath the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. But there were no giant boxes of anything just little bags and small boxes wrapped in colorful papers.

The living room was a buzz as gifts were being handed out and every gift was a big deal. The children were the first to tear into their packages.

A tiny snowman with a battery operated light, hair clips, socks, onesys for the babies ( there were two babies there). A head band for one of the girls who had a head full of thick brown hair. ther were cookies covered in regular plastic wrap. And I think someone was giving out candy.  Someone else was handing out mason jars full of pickled vegetables and jams. No electronics, no expensive gifts from big-named department stores, just small, I-was-thinking-about-you gifts.

There were lots of oohs and aahs and thank yous. Everyone was happy with their thoughtful gifts.

I sat in a chair off to the side watching the giving and the receiving, a spectator I thought. Then someone called my name. It was written on a little red bag, the same kind of bag I’d seen others tear into. I couldn’t believe these people had thought of everything, even me. They had gifts for me. Cookies and pickled vegetables with my name on them.

This was Christmas. Really Christmas. Just a moment to say, you are thought of. It was special.

When the eating and the gift exchange was done, folks hugged and filled their arms with the loot that had been handed out and headed home.

I followed, climbed into my car and made the drive toward home.

On the way, I thought about what I had witnessed, what I had been a part of and realized. theses people got it. Christmas is a moment to say thank you for loving me. It is a moment for family and friends of family to come together and remind each other that we need one another, that even a simple  jar of pickled vegetables, a head band, a cookie is enough to say you matter, you are worthy, you are special, you are loved, Merry Christmas.

I smiled all the way home. I'm simling now.