Put a Little Holiday in your Heart

Have you  noticed a theme in the titles of the daily entries this year?  I am using the song title play list from Cher’s 2023 Christmas album.  For the last 2 years it has been my personal holiday soundtrack.  I am enamored of the combination of holiday classics and pop themed music like the popular DJ play a Christmas song, Angels in the Snow, and the title for today's entry “put a little holiday in your heart” - a duet sung with Cyndi Lauper.  The song serves as a catchy reminder during a busy time of year, when it is all too easy to get bogged down in the “to do list” of the season.

It is an annual argument at our house that I am “rushing the season” and that christmas talk before halloween is forbidden.  Certainly, I understand the point other people are making, and at the same time, as in the previous years, I am ignoring them. I admit, I go overboard, but I am not forcing anyone else to.  Mostly. 

I shared about Matthew and the lemon curd dutch baby holiday approach?  In the past I have shared that I am capable of dragging my family kicking and screaming through the holiday season with tinsel and matching pajamas, fuelled by egg nog and sugar cookies.  I can do it, but it is heavy lifting some years.  This year I am considering an alternate version of what is going on over here.  Maybe I am not trying to rush the season, or force joy and merriment on my family?  What if I am just trying to set the mood?

There are some painfully sad memories for my family in the months leading up to and during the Christmas season.  It is important to recognize that and honor the feelings that come with that.  My mom always said, when you are thirsty, have a drink of water.  AND, also, yet, however, still… for my immediate family it is sometimes challenging to open the door for the possibility of Christmas joy when you are experiencing sadness. Certainly, we aren’t alone.

I think sometimes, as adults, it is easy to get caught up in the regular life stuff.  Aren’t we already too busy on the day to day in a normal month?  So when December rolls around with parties, extra special church services, gift giving, decoration necessities and family expectations it certainly feels overwhelming.  I absolutely feel overwhelmed.  

This year, however, instead of dragging the family through the festivities and hoping something sticks, I am merely setting the mood.  Yes, I do play Christmas music in my car.  I’ll turn it down, and stop singing to you, but I’m not turning it off, I am setting the mood.  Yes, we are watching inane holiday rom-coms on tv at night, its background filler, because I am setting the mood.  Yes, as we prepare for our party, decorations have slowly been making an appearance at Matthew’s house.  I am not rushing the season, I am setting the mood.  Think of it as an invitation rather than an obligation.

I fully admit, I pulled the tree out of Matthew’s garage and set it up in his living room before November was over.  I am not rushing the season on him, I just needed it to stage the ornaments I have been crafting for the 25 days of day drinking and crafting videos.  I will get around to really decorating it soon.  I set it up, and I tested the lights, then I unplugged them when I was done.  I can not be held responsible if someone else turns them on and leaves them on in the background when he is home. We are just setting the mood.