Christmas Games

This year we hosted a Christmas party for our church small group, which has actually become quite large. It was a really fun night, although we cannot take credit for the festivities. Phil and I, lacking in certain talents, asked others to perform songs and reading and such. Our friends brought so much food that we ran out of table space (and second table space, and third table space). Our “talent” went out of their way to make the evening special, with music and singing and a great version of the twelve months of Christmas (a parody on the twelve days), which even included fun props.

We decided that the fun thing WE were going to contribute (since it did not take the ability to play the clarinet or guitar) would be an Ugly Ornament Exchange. You know, we all have “THOSE” ornaments. If you are newly married like Phil and I, they are out on the tree. For others of you, they are tidily packed away in the boxes – the ones you “couldn’t quite fit” on the tree this year. Riiiiiight.

People were quite delighted to bring us their worst tree ornaments. About half of the ornaments were nicely wrapped, and it was a good idea, because even as it was, they were groaning over the ornaments they ended up with.

Phil and I, being a bit short- sighted, thought only of the fun that would come from seeing what was in the “bottom of the box” for each family. We did not think of the ramifications of asking people to take home someone else’s ugly trinket. And, as a result, we laughed quite heartily as people opened their ornaments, cringed, and chuckled with the story that went along with it. But when the whole group started congregating around our own tree, we got a bit nervous. We don’t know who started it (although we suspect our pastor) but, one by one, each Ugliest Ornament was carefully placed on our tree. “You can keep them here!” they collectively (and excitedly) said.

So, all in all, it was a fun game…to play at someone else’s house.