The Holidays, already?

With Christmas just around the corner, I have found myself searching for the butterflies I should have fluttering around my stomach in anticipation for The Holidays. Those butterflies are nowhere to be found. I am doing my best to spark some excitement, like wandering around the seasonal section in the stores, attempting to do a little online shopping, I have even considered buying ingredients to make my favorite Holiday treats. But I've been unsuccessful... so far, there's not much there. I just keep wondering when that old familiar feeling that I love will come back around.

What I have come to realize is that as I've grown older the true meaning of Christmas has gotten blown all out of proportion and in the process of that, nearly lost. It's really not about buying gifts for everyone you care about, it's about spending time and keeping simple traditions alive. With Thanksgiving only one week away, I am normally itching to put up my tree by now! But not this year, maybe a little Holiday music will help get me into the mood... Carol of The Bells is a favorite at our house. It makes me feel like sitting by the fire, sipping hot cocoa, and watching Harry Potter (weird, I know, but Harry Potter movies and Christmas go hand in hand)

I have to take it back to my childhood to realize what Christmas means to me.

As a child, I couldn't wait to get to Grandma Jane's house and see my cousins. No matter how many times we got to see each other throughout the year, being in their company on Christmas Eve was always the greatest gift. I can still smell Grandma's kitchen filled with the aroma of sweet ham and fresh rolls. I will always remember the colorful assortment of cookies and treats spread across her tiny little kitchen. Even when I think about the gift giving part, which every child looks forward to.  I don't think about what the gift was, I think about the memory of Grandma sitting beside the tree handing out the gifts one by one. No matter what was in it, there was no doubt, her heart and soul went into picking out something special for each of us.  After gifts there was usually some sort of performance put on by us girls in our new night gowns. Mine yellow, Leslie's pink, and Rachel's blue...

The drive home on Christmas Eve we always took Main Street from Bountiful to Farmington and we always looked for Rudolph's red nose shining in the sky. We even saw him a few times and had to race to get home and in bed before Santa passed us by.  It's not about what Santa brings, it's about the magic of it all and to really BELIEVE.

Christmas Day is always beautiful, regardless of the weather. It is the company, and the food, and all of the memories mixed together to make the perfect day. On Christmas Day, we were always blessed with a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Allen.  If they didn't come to our house then we would go to their house where I would sit and admire their Christmas Tree.  I thought theirs was the most beautiful Christmas Tree in the world, so much color, so sparkly! It was so great to share this time with them. As we grew older into our teens and even into our twenties, Christmas Day became a day for our family to all go skiing together. Those are cherished memories, never to be forgotten.  

Oh wow, I think I finally found that spark I've been searching for. I feel much better now. I guess I really needed to think (or write) this through. Christmas is something to look forward to. I look forward to spending time with our family and sharing, and celebrating.  My children are blessed with a wonderful family and some wonderful traditions just as I was.  

K~ I'm ready now, bring on the Holidays : )