Well, girlfriends, have you been asked the question a thousand times this week, “Did you have a good Christmas and holidays?” It got me thinking about what the definition of a “Good Christmas and holidays” truly is.
I am not known to be truly eloquent with my words. However, I do tell the truth. As my children would say, I give out too much information most of the time. I am working on that, but sometimes I feel if I don’t share all the details (even the not so good ones) I am not being truthful. But, this year, I have to confess, my home was not the picture of “Christmasy stuff” that I like to have each year. I kept it to a minimum, because of time and that “dry socket” I had after the dental work I right after I finished decorating the houses I had already booked to decorate.
The pain I had while my family was here was at times, horrible. And so what posseses me to tell everyone that asks me how my Christmas was that “my Christmas was like a storybook Christmas.” And that was the truth.
As I looked back on the festivities I remember all the festive lights I enjoyed all the decorations that others had put up in the churches and I was so grateful for their labor of love. As I remembered how my sister had opened her home on Thanksgiving for all of the family, I so enjoyed being with them all. I so appreciate the time spent getting their homes ready as well as the clean up afterwards. And as I remembered the many different dinners I attended and held, I was grateful for each person there and the hands that had worked so hard to prepare the meals. (Even if I was the hosting the dinner, my family was always there with their generous dishes that they brought to each of the meals.)
I so enjoy the memory of the Christmas Eve service as some of my adorable granddaughters sat in front of me. And some on my side. There they were in their beautiful dresses singing the old Christmas carols and waiting for us to light the candles we were holding in our hands as we sat waiting for that moment in the service. The pain I was experiencing from the tooth was draining me and “they say” I drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, I was awakened by the snickering in front of me and to the sides of me. All of the granddaughters in front of me were turned around looking at me while the ones to my sides were laughing at me. “Grandma, one of the ones said, “You were snoring!!!” But of course, I KNOW I don’t snore.
And I love the memory of my extended family coming to my shop and having our final Christmas gathering of the season there. It was so much fun and by then, the pain was about to subside. Not everyone could be there, but oh how we enjoyed the ones that were. Yes, it was quite a job clearing the shop for that dinner, but it was so worth it.
And there you have my perfect Christmas. Well, by many standards some would not say it was perfect. But, it was perfect for me. I was with the people that I loved, and they didn’t care if everything was perfect. We just wanted to be with each other. I’m so grateful for a God who can make imperfect circumstances perfect for my life. Maybe I am living in a “dream world” but it’s great being here and with imperfect people that love me even in my imperfections.
Well, now, let’s get ready for spring!!!! We’ve got lots of great stuff at our little space in ReLove-All Things Shabby. Maybe you an stop by there and see the specials. The Addded Touch, April, has a table of items 60% off. My space has items reduced also……Movin’ it out to get ready for spring.
Next week I’ll tell you of some of the changes we are bringing to the shop. I hope you’ll like them.
Love to all
-Debbie
