Christmas Cheer!

Ah, Christmas.  It is both the most magical and most frustrating time to have one toddler, let alone three.  I just wonder if my mother ever went through the nights of blissful sleep just to be jolted awake by the date on the calendar popping into her dreams.  Seriously folks!  I have like three maybe three and a half weeks before the jolly red giant graces us with his presents.  By the way... Spoiler alert!  That's me!

I hear ya, lady! 

Holy Crap.  Christmas is here!  I'm having a hard time being jolly and remembering the reason for the season when I look at my calendar and wonder when I'm going to get the time to pull my christmas bulbs from my attic so that my tree downstairs in the living room has more then just a string of lights on it come Christmas morning.

It's not supposed to be like this.  It's supposed to be fun. Christmas is supposed to be magic!  It's the one day a year where you can actually believe in miracles.  Because for the first time ever it is actually surrounded by a real miracle.  Even if you don't yet know of the glory of God there was a moment in time that you believed in Santa.  No matter what happened during the year, Christmas morning restored your faith.  Your faith in people, your faith in love and yes, even at 12 years old, your faith in magic.

So where's the magic?!  I have nothing but amazing memories surrounding the Christmas holidays.  There was never ending parties, and get togethers.  I remember coming home to Christmas cookies and doing Christmas crafts.  I even remember sitting under the Christmas tree watching the lights until I fell asleep.  I am fearful that my kids are missing out since it is increasingly more difficult to keep up these traditions.

It seemed that Christmas 10, 15, or 20 years ago was a different creature.  Toys cost 10$ not 50$ plus shipping.  And parties were friends, family and eggnog.  Not just another inconvenience.  Christmas was never just "one more thing you had to do" before the kids went back to school.  Why is it like this now?  How can it not be?  

I see those "Keep Christ in Christmas" bummer stickers and I think, "Yeah, that is the point right?"  but those fancy shmancy stickers don't tell you how.  They don't tell you how to not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season.  They don't tell you how to decompress after spending hours online trying to find a gift for your four year old that's not going to blow your entire budget.  They don't tell you how to schedule your calendar around your friends calendars so that maybe just maybe you can all be in the same place at the same time for a night of merry-making.

It used to be that you just had your holiday party and everyone came.  You just got the cutest toy with the most colors and they loved it.  You just made cookies and "God forbid" brought them to your kids school to share with the class.  I'm only 30 years old and I'm thinking about the good 'ol days.

Not in my classroom kid!
Peddle your cookies some place else!

This is terrible!

I tried to find a toy catalogue from Toys "r" us.  I called every store in a 50 mile radius, plus I went online and even called the 1-800 number.  And I got the same response with everyone I spoke too.
"Why would you want a catalog?  The coupons aren't valid anymore."

What?  Really?  That's not what a toy catalog is for!!  It's not about the coupons or the overpriced gadgets!  Its about making a letter to santa.  It's about relishing in the idea of tinsel and holiday making. It's about dreaming and wishing and asking and when Christmas morning comes, its about receiving!

Receiving something that you don't deserve.  Just because you are asked.  Just because you are special. Just because you are loved.

Isn't that's the real story of Christmas?

...

I think I just rediscovered Christmas for myself.  I guess I just needed to see it written down.

Antenella