This Christmas was different. It was the first Christmas that my husband and I woke up in our home without a single other human being here. I thought I would cry when I pictured this day years ago. I was in love with the Folger's commercial when the son came home from college and the house was full again... I was in love with that house as well. I don't live there.
We allowed our first daughter to open her gifts just after the big family party a week ago. The middle daughter decided to spend Christmas Eve with her sister & family... So, we stopped and helped load up a gift that was hidden at her home to take to the house of many children on Christmas eve. While we were there, we decided to exchange gifts with her right then and there, and I was glad because I'm fairly certain she'd have only opened one before her nephews (one in particular) opened the rest... all at once.. in less than 3 seconds. We got the television into the back of my Jeep, (Jack felt very honored to carry actual Christmas presents this year. She's a sentimental Jeep) and arrived to see 3 little kiddos in adorable robes and jammies, and one beautiful chubby baby in a cuddly blue striped onesie. Gifts were exchanged... with help from that one certain grandson, who apparently also tried to open the puzzle he gave me for Christmas because it had little strips of the label all torn off... It was adorable.
Christmas morning was beautiful. We made breakfast together - delicious omelets - which you can never get in a restaurant as good as you can make at home, opened our gifts, watched a movie, cuddled, called our parents, waited for our kids to catch their breath and call us. Santa was good to everyone.
I received a gift that I'm not sure what to do with, though. My daughter gave me a handmade leather journal, with handmade paper, binding, everything. It's beautiful. There are a limited number of pages in it, and I would fill that thing up in less than a week with my everyday journaling... so I need to find a special use for it. A few options presented themselves - a holiday journal (for one or all holidays to be recorded and remembered in), a blessings journal - a dated list of the things I'm most grateful for (that would fill up rather quickly too), okay... I guess just a couple options came to mind. I could use a suggestion or two or 4.
Now, the day after Christmas I have a confession or 3... I have to "redo" my gifts for Laney & Linda & Jeanene... because last night... my husband and I ate Laney & Linda's chocolate covered pretzels, and I have a feeling Jeanene's aren't going to make it through the day. Penny's Christmas ornament gift is still in my kitchen. I can't find the ice skate accessories I bought for my husband's new skates - thought they were wrapped and under the tree!!! Somewhere in my house is a gift for my granddaughter Grace... I don't know where, nor do I remember what it was - I just know I left Wal-Mart with 2 gifts for her, and I had to reshop because at gift wrapping time.... I only had ONE!
I'd like to go buy a new tv today, because we received a surround sound system with a blue ray DVD player and our TV isn't up to those standards. I'd also like to buy gift bags at a discount - NO PAPER, I found that I had over 30 rolls of wrapping paper stuffed in my cedar chest!
I loved reading about your holiday experience. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteSome suggestions for the journal: (1) a "current journal" where you record a short list of things that represent your daily routine (weather, wear, drink, read, listen, etc...) - I did a post on that about a month ago. (2) a "word of the day" journal where you write down a word that comes to mind at the end of each day and no more than 2-3 sentences explaining why did you pick that word. (3) a "marvel of the day" journal, where you jot down one think that got you blown away that day.
I hope that was helpful.
xoxo
Avital
Creativity Prompt
Thank you! Very helpful... I'm off to read your archives. ;-)
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