The Magic of Christmas: Joy, Laughter, & a Little Holiday Chaos
There’s just something about Christmas that brings out everyone’s inner child — the sparkly lights, the scent of cinnamon or pine drifting through the house, and the annual baking of Christmas cookies.
A few of my Christmas traditions with my children (who are now fully grown) were to drive around looking at Christmas lights throughout the local neighborhoods and baking our Christmas goodies to give to friends and family. In fact, my youngest son, when he was about 10 years old, told me, "As long as I have the recipes for all our Christmas goodies, my children will have the best childhood!" I cherish that memory!
As December rolls in, our homes start transforming into cozy little Christmas wonderlands. Maybe your tree is perfectly color-coordinated, has a different theme each year, or holds decades worth of sentimentality, like mine. No matter how your tree is decorated, it’s beautiful because it reflects the people who make your home feel like home.
My grandmother started a tradition long ago, one that my mother, and now me, all continue. My grandmother bought me a Christmas ornament every year, complete with my name and the year beautifully noted on it. And each ornament represented something about me, especially at that age. I still have all those ornaments and enjoy reliving the memories of time long past, every year when I hang each one lovingly on the Christmas tree. And I also have the annual ornaments my mother gave me each year, as well. As an adult, friends would also give me ornaments, as a gift. So my Christmas tree is decorated with memories. And I have carried on the same tradition for my children. While neither of them are married with a house and children of their own yet, I have continued to buy them each and ornament every year and I am keeping them all stored away, until it's time to pass them on.
This is the season of gathering close, laughing a little louder, lingering a little longer, and soaking up those small but sacred moments — matching pajama mornings, impromptu Christmas karaoke, Hallmark movies you swear you won’t get sucked into (yet somehow always do) because it's always the same general plot line, and that one relative who brings the dessert that disappears before dinner. I know we always try to steal a piece of my grandma's homemade Pumpkin Pie on Christmas mornings or sneak some of the Christmas goodies, before my mom woke up.
Christmas reminds us to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember what truly matters: connection, generosity, and celebrating God’s love in the everyday moments. And sometimes it's about forgiveness. For me, Christmas is often a time of reflection, as the year is winding down. I think about everything that has transpired that year and look ahead to what's to come and try to plan for the upcoming year.
So pour the hot cocoa or warm apple cider, turn up the Christmas playlist (I'm a sucker for good old fashioned Christmas music), and let the twinkly lights do their magic. Whether your season is neat and tidy or joyfully chaotic, may it be full of warmth, laughter, and the kind of memories that make your heart feel full.
Merry Christmas, from me to you! 🎁✨
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