Holidays-Past and Present

It’s that time of year! Cold weather in Missouri, delicious food, family gatherings, holiday shopping and Christmas magic.  I love driving around town and looking at all the Christmas lights and appreciating the creative minds that decorated their homes.  Decorating my home brings so much joy to me.  My favorite thing to do is sit in my living room with no lights on except for the glow of the Christmas tree.

When my kids were younger, Christmas was magical! It was my favorite time of year because my kids were counting down the days Santa would be visiting our home.  I loved reading their letters to Santa with their sketchy spelling and sweet words, asking for the gifts they wanted and thanking him for gifts from last year.  Asking questions about the North Pole and reindeer.  I still have some of those letters and I chuckle when I read them.

Christmas Eve was the BEST! We would leave cookies and milk out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer with their letters waiting to be read by the big guy.  I would have to visit their rooms a few times and tell them they had to go to sleep so that Santa would come.  Once my kids were finally asleep, my husband and I would lock our bedroom door and put toys together and get them all wrapped up in the special wrapping paper from the North Pole.  By the time the kids woke us up the next morning, my husband and I may have gotten a few hours of sleep.

Oh, the excitement when the kids walked into the living room, only the tree lit, seeing the presents from Santa!  We would take turns, starting with the youngest, opening presents and oooing and awwwing over the gifts.  Our little town has a tradition of Santa riding in a firetruck, stopping at every, single house in town giving  out candy and fruit to the kids.  We would hear the firetruck coming down the street, throw on our robes and slippers and run outside to say hi to Santa, maybe give a hug or two and collect our goodies.

Once we opened gifts, we would have breakfast and head out the door to have Christmas with family.  We would have several Christmas gathering with all our family within a couple weeks of Christmas up until a week after.  I LOVED all of this.  As I type this, I have tears and am seriously trying not to “ugly cry”.  My Christmas’ are a lot different now.

We have 2 kids living at home and 2 out on their own.  My son is in the Army and stationed on the other side of the country.  He will be spending time with his dad this Christmas and I won’t see him.  I won’t have all my kids under one roof.  We don’t have all the family gatherings like we used to.  It’s all so different and I’m not used to the changes yet and I’m very sad about that.

I was talking to my husband about this a couple of days ago.  He reminded me to be grateful for what we DO have.  I have 2 kids at home.  I am grateful.  My daughter lives close by. Though she might not be waking up in our home Christmas morning, I WILL see her on Christmas day.  I am grateful.  We may not have all the family gatherings we used to have but we have my sisters family, my brothers family and my dad who have chosen to spend time with us and come to my home next week.  We have my mother in law, father in law and my husbands siblings, nieces, and grandma to gather with Christmas eve.  I am grateful for his family.

We know too many people who won’t see their kids, mom, dad or grandparents because they have passed away.  This breaks my heart and our thoughts and prayers are with them.  I am grateful for what I have.  I can’t promise I won’t feel sad but I can promise I will be grateful.  I know for a fact Christmas is about reflecting and feeling overwhelmingly grateful that God sent His Son, Jesus, to live here on Earth and later suffer and die for my salvation.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I pray for many blessings this coming year!