Christmas 2017 is officially over. Sad times! This time of year is bitter sweet because I love the holidays so very much. I dread seeing it all get packed away
until next year. Plus I just plain hate packing it away. There is something about
the Christmas music, the joy in the air and the feeling that everyone is, if
only for just one passing moment, on the same cheerful, nostalgic page. Our
Lord and Savior reminding us of his eternal gift and promise makes my heart
swell! There is no greater Truth.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights with friends, a Chattanooga,Tennessee staple and where Aaron proposed in 2004. We go every year now.
Its a tradition.
Sawyer's Christmas Eve morning attire.
Four days of non-stop gift giving and
receiving sounds great until you are in the midst of the chaos and realizing it’s
downright exhausting! Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I also like the
downtime of just laying on my couch, after my kids are in bed, listening to the
carols from our Alexa , day dreaming into the lights of the tree and sipping my
pink moscato wine, ALONE! Yes, there I said it ALONE… I am awful, I know. But
you ladies with kids understand. I know you do. You know you do! It is all
about the kids, the baking, the crafts, Santa, the lights, the whole bit, but
that time alone is my un-wind/reboot hour for the next day of go, go, go. It is
required to continue on... Ya’ll know it’s true!
My husband, Aaron, loves the season too, probably more than
any grown man I know. Christmas music is nonstop in his car and our home. We
must always have colored lights on the inside and white lights on the outside
and all the gifts are from Santa, no debate. These are his Christmas
conditions. But he also loves his
downtime and sleep just as much…Which is why he doesn’t hesitate to gripe about
the packed schedule of parties, dinners and gift exchanges whenever he feels
our family has hit our limit. Christmas day, around 3PM we had hit our limit.
After the Christmas morning extravaganza of wrapping paper flying across the
room, multiple toy assembly and stealing batteries from remotes, old toys and
anything else we could find them in we were summoned to Ganmama’s house (not a
typo, that is what we call her) for breakfast, and then to my in-laws for yet another
gift exchange.
My Mother-in-Laws mantle...beautiful right?!?!
This is wonderful time! My mother-in- law is the best gift
giver. She always finds the perfect gifts for each person that will actually be
used and she spends her time trying to make us all feel so special with the detail
and love she puts into the holiday. Her
love language is definitely gifting. We
love spending time with everyone however when each event is only an hour or two
apart things start to get sticky! Taking us back to the 3 o’clock hour of
Christmas day, we are leaving our house for the third destination of the day
when my husband jumps into the driver’s seat of our minivan as if ready to hit
the road and starts the engine, yet my 2 year old, Sawyer, isn’t even buckled into his car seat. He’s
bopping around the back of the van still looking through the toys that litter
the floor. This is Aaron’s job, as he is on the same side of the car to buckle
him in. Jackson our 5 year old was already buckled, which I assume made Aaron
think we were ready to blast off. Not quite! When the hustle and bustle of
Christmas day leads you to forget to buckle the kids up… you got a problem
folks.
Me: “Babe, what are you doing? Sawyer’s not even buckled in.
You just hopped in car like you didn’t have a worry in the world.”
Aaron: “OH”…attempting to suppress his laughter, “sorry I’ve
buckled him in 6 times today already… I guess I forgot….!”
We weren’t even in a hurry. We had already decided to take
our time and get there when we get there. Evidently our brains had already shut
off for the day. So…I think it’s safe to say we all need some rest at this
point. Try not to overbook yourselves as we often do. It’s so nice to just be
in the moment and enjoy this time we have with each other. Let’s all just take
the time to slow down in January.
I hope your holiday and the New Year brings you the rest and
relaxation you need.
Talk to you soon.
Love, Heather
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