Savoring the Season

Clearly I shorted everyone 2 days of blogging this year.  I shorted everyone a day last year, but Kat keeps reminding me about it.  I admit that I have been putting off finishing this year because I am trying to hang on to this season as long as I can.  Technically I think I have until January 6^th right?  That is epiphany the day the wise men showed up with their gifts.  I think as long as I get my Christmas gifts and cards sent off by then I am ok right?

What am I holding on to the season for?  It just seems like it went so fast this year.  I know I was preoccupied in early December with work, but even after the DM retreat was over it just seemed like the time flew by.  I hate that really.  I want my life to be quiet(ish) and focused on my family and decorating my home and baking cookies and seeing friends all the time.

 

I mentioned on FB that this year we had a last minute surprise hay ride at our party.  Our new friends Jerry and JC apparently do holiday hayrides every year.  They have a flatbed trailer, (I think for hauling hay for their horses) and they did it all up with lights and hay bales to sit on, and speakers for holiday music.  They showed up to our party on their way home from another party and drove us and our party guests, mostly Paul and Matthew’s guests at that point, through the neighborhood.  There was snow and everything.  It was pretty special.

The next evening Jerry and JC had their own party and invited us.  It was really a very special evening.  They have a nice home and friends who clearly care a lot about them.  They even arranged for Santa to show up and give gifts to all the children.  I know, I know, I am pretty vocal on the whole Santa thing.  But I tend to forget that when children do believe, it can be so sweet and so special when they see Santa like that.  Not the mall Santa, but a Santa that shows up and gives them a gift and a hug.

The hayride was like that, it was special, and surprising and sweet, to be out in the cold, with my family, listening to holiday music and laughing and looking at lights and even singing along.  So that is what I am trying to hold on to.  Even though Christmas is over and it is time to pack everything up and go back to the routine.  Maybe that is what my new year’s resolution should be?