When do you start to celebrate Christmas? Before Thanksgiving? The day after? Not until December?
Yeah, well... I started early November! Haha, I went out and did all of our shopping, started thinking about what types of cookies to bake, when we could get a tree, looking forward to Brendan's Christmas vacation, and so much more!!
I haven't ever started looking so forward to Christmas so early before and upon reflection, I can see why.
This will be Brendan's last Christmas in college, it marks 4 months of my grandmother on a upward health climb, it means family who I always wish we had more time with, it means late night game nights, Christmas movies, Brendan's and my Christmas Vacation, baking, celebrating the birth of our Savior, and so so so much more! Oh, and peppermint mochas of course! ;)
Unfortunately, until Brendan's Christmas break starts, weekends have been so incredibly full of homework and finishing projects.
Fortunately, we have family that loves Christmas as much as we do and is as excited about the same things we are and make so many opportunities to include us in the early celebrations! And this weekend was full of opportunities! My parents decided to gift Christmas trees to both of my grandmothers. I picked the one for my dad's mother since Brendan and I are living with her and my sister picked the tree for my mom's mother. Then my parents picked one for their living room.
Growing up, decorating for Christmas was a big deal and we all had to be present for it - no pun intended! We would block out a night on our family whiteboard calendar and everyone was expected to put a pause on homework or friends and insure they would be home for the evening. We would set up the tree, taking turns every year to put the angel on top. Anna and I would set up the candy village and nativities. Dad and Alex hung up the advent calendar, pictures, outdoor decor. Mom was the director of the crazy and helped unwrap everything. We would put up the outdoor swags and wreaths. We would all decorate the tree together, typically last. When we finished, it was common to sit in the living room, all lights off aside from those on the tree. Sometimes with hot cocoa or wassail. It was no wonder Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year.
So we decorated. Made a whole morning of it! Then we dropped off my grandmother's Christmas trees. From there, we went out to the Oregon Gardens in Silverton. They had some absolutely stunning Christmas lights. It was a brisk night, but that didn't stop us from enjoying snowless tubing and ice skating. Warm drinks and vendors selling eye catching items. It was truly a magical kind of night. It made my heart sad to not have Brendan with us, but I knew he was working hard to reach his goal and I know we will have more opportunities to do things like that together the rest of our lives. Love that man so much.
It truly was one of those nights that you just inhale blessings and exhale thankfulness.
As you go into this Christmas season, keep Jesus first. Blessing and thankfulness don't run out when He is your source.
Blessings to you all!
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