Not-So-Silent Night

We decided to take J to the candlelight advent service at church last night. This consists of a lot of Christmas songs and scripture readings. At the end, they turn out the lights and everyone is holding a candle. Starting at the front, the first person in each pew lights their candle from the ushers in the middle, and then the light is passed from candle to candle through the church as everyone sings silent night. It is normally a very moving and sentimental time. But this year, with J’s lack of church experience, toddler hood, and the close proximity to bedtime…… it was anything but. James just screamed and cried all the way through the song, and kept trying to grab our candles and then screaming when we wouldn’t let him. No one seemed to mind, and I sincerely hope that it wasn’t as loud in everyone else’s ears as it was in mine. I hope it didn’t ruin the experience for them. Now I’m really not looking forward to the Christmas Eve service!