I kind of don’t like Christmas.

There. I said it. I’m the youth leader who doesn’t really like Christmas.

I mean, I like hanging out with my brothers and sister and family, and I like my Uncle Glen’s twice-baked potatoes because those things are like heaven and fairy magic on a plate, and I LOVE that we’re celebrating Jesus’ birth and whatnot because he rocks.

But there’s just so much other crap that goes with the holiday and I kind of hate all of it.

First, everything happens when it’s so freaking frozen outside. What kind of idiots decided blizzard season was the best for shopping, driving long distances, and Santa parades? It’s just too freaking frigid for all that crap.

Also, everything cost so much and has so many calories. I can’t deal with it. WHY did I spend $13 on a SOCKS for my sister? WHY did I eat 47  Mint Meltaways on Christmas? WHY did I spend $198 on Peppermint Mochas, each with 4,000 calories, this season? I don’t know, because I suck at life?

Another thing I hate is the assumption that I will get to see every single person I want should during the season. I did not go to any non-family Christmas parties this year and I don’t think that makes me a loser, all right?

Of course, New Year’s Eve is even worse. A billion times worse. I hate New Year’s Eve with all my heart worse.

So what if I’m not going to be kissing anyone at mid-night all right? ALL RIGHT?? Exactly. It’s none of your stupid business that I’m going to be alone. It doesn’t make me a bad person. It doesn’t even make an iffy person. It just means that I will probably be getting a really fantastical night of sleep. So ha!

Back in high school I at least had an excuse for that stupid holiday. I always had to work at Wal-Mart at like 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day so I never went out. But now. This year. The expectation that I have something fun to do makes me sick.

Why do I always have to have fun things to do? Huh? I can do fun things at 3 p.m. on  Thursday if I want, so why can’t 3 p.m. Thursday be a stupid national holiday when everyone and their dog and their Chia Pet are supposed to kiss? That seems like just as good a time to celebrate newness and what not, and in fact it’s probably better because everyone will be wide awake.

Actually, maybe Obama should get on that. I bet he knows a guy or something that could change that.

But ya, anyway, my friend Ron told me once a long time ago right before taking the youth on a mission trip last summer to just let go of any expectations and everything will be awesome.

And I did, and it was.

And in fact, today, Ron and his wife Lynn and their two kids Kris and Chelsey came to visit me, and up until the moment they walked through the door at my church, I wasn’t really expecting them to come. I mean they’d said they were probably going to come, but it was a long drive, and so, for whatever reason, I just didn’t let myself expect it.

And so, when I saw Lynn come in from the snow, I screamed pure joy so loud that I teared up and I gave her the biggest hug ever because I love her so freaking much.

It was perfect. And unexpected. And awesome.

And I need to do that more with Christmas. And life. And everything.

I’m pretty sure it would lead to a lot less stupid crap and a lot more awesome.