Yes, I love raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens as much as the next person, but there are so many other things that I treasure each and every holiday season.
Bundling up to stroll through our neighborhood after dark looking at lights and decorations, and wondering which neighbors will have the best-lit house on our court.
Seeing the excitement on the little faces of neighborhood kiddos at the first significant snowfall and again on the last day of school before Christmas vacation.
The December First Friday in our downtown, when stores are open later, the Christmas tree is lit in the town square and carolers wander the luminary-lined streets, serenading everyone with Christmas carols. Everyone is feeling festive, wandering in and out of stores and shops that they may have passed by before. The sense of community is heartwarming.
Baking cookies that make the house smell like the holidays, making candy and sweet treats to share with friends, smiling when I think of someone enjoying something that I’ve made especially for them.
Finding that one special gift for each family member, maybe big or possibly small enough to tuck in a stocking that they will ooh and aah over.
Sending boxes filled with goodies to our troops overseas, knowing this may be the only gift that some of them receive from home, hoping they can feel the love that went into it.
Spending the cold winter evenings watching old Christmas movies with my daughters, with only the lights on the Christmas tree lit. White Christmas and Holiday Inn are two favorites. Our favorite more recent holiday movie is Love, Actually but at the same time, the holiday wouldn’t be complete without Clark Griswold.
I miss spreading gifts, papers and ribbons out on the living room floor for an evening of wrapping while our basset hound Fred made himself at home smack dab in the middle of everything, stepping on paper and getting ribbon wrapped around his stubby little legs. We lost Fred a little over a year ago and the pain of losing him has finally softened to warm memories that make us smile.
Friends in the romance community, some very dear, some simply acquaintances and others I’ve never met and may never meet, but they never fail to lift me up, make me laugh and touch my heart. It seems that my life must have been far less complete before they all came into it.
Some of our traditions have been adjusted over the years with one daughter or the other away at college for the past six years, sometimes moved forward or back or enjoyed (not quite as much, of course) without said missing daughter. Regardless of the holiday you celebrate, are there traditions that you repeat year after year? What makes you feel warm and fuzzy during the holidays?
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Love your Christmas thoughts! I am awash in my own. See you soon!
Oh Laurie, you made me teary-eyed. You are SUCH a special person. I hope you always know that.
I’m so looking forward to having you and our other dear friends over for a holiday visit! Can’t wait, can’t wait! I think that might be one of my most favorite “new” traditions – getting together with all of you.
This year was special because my grandson, now 4, helped to decorate everything. It was a hoot, and far more chaotic than if I’d just done it myself, but I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything.
Merry Christmas to you!
Lori
Thoughtful post Laurie. Some of my favorite things are shopping with my friend for presents for the kids we got from the angel tree…did this las night.
Watching all the Christmas classics on tv each year. Love decorating the tree, this year I have a purple tree well actually it’s more lavender and I decorated it with purple and pink lights and a few of my vast collection of frog ornaments. It’s very cute if I do say so myself.
Am loving my secret santa gift I have been geeting each day at work…we did the 12 days of Christmas and each day we get a surprise in our stocking from one of the participants. It’s really fun…something we started last year and it mokes coming to work during the holiday season just a little bit nicer.
Love the general happy feeling many people get during the holidays…seems people are just nicer to their fellow man during the holidays. Wish the feeling would carry over longer in the year. So anyway those are a few of my favorite things abouth this time of year.
I love when we all go to mass together and seeing the church all decorated. Also getting together with my siblings and parents every year is so nice and I really enjoy just talking with them in a group.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
For me, it’s curling up on the couch with a cup of cocoa and watching A Christmas Story — and, of course, reciting the entire movie along with the characters. *g*
Hi, Laurie – as always, thoughtful, emotional, and beautifully written. Christmas is an emotional time of year for anyone, and I think it makes us look at family and friends with more warmth, the kind that we sometimes forget to see with at other times of the year…. To everyone who had someone to love and hold close, remember that every day and cherish it…. it is the true wealth of our lives….
Laurie – always – a special and wonderful lady who Blesses my life with her friendship.
Love to everyone…. and the happiest and riches of Holidays.
Richest… I can spell, really I can…. LOL
I can’t wait to see you soon. Its been way to long.
SOme of my favorite things are shopping for family and friends. I love shopping for Amya who is 2, christmas is going to be fun this year.
I love wrapping presents. I have a 4 legged helper, Sammy. LOL
I do like writing up christmas card. I love getting mail and this time of year it rocks.
Thanks for your friendship for another year.
Great post, Laurie!
Two of my favorite things around the holiday season is giving and receiving holiday greetings. I don’t know why, but giving and receiving those simple words, “Happy Holidays!” makes me feel really happy.
Happy Holidays!
Patricia
This is the first year I’m loving this season. Probably because my daughter is a toddler (and infinitely more enjoyable than the infant phase), we have a live tree that smells so good, and it might be a white Christmas this year!
Why do pets climb into the middle of the paper you spread out? My cat loves to curl up in gift boxes.
Finding those special gifts are so much fun. So far I found them for two out of four kids. At a loss on the others. I love that first snowfall when it’s at night. We’re in the country and the snow makes everything so seem so quiet and peaceful.