Quiet Christmas

If you read this blog regularly, you know how much we love Christmas. Every little thing is so wonderful, and it really is my favorite time of year. But this Christmas the stockings are hung, but will remain empty. And there are no gifts under the Christmas tree. It wasn't even planned this way. It's just that as the season continued on, we realized it was getting later, and we didn't care about the gifts.

This weekend will be spent just the three of us.  Tomorrow night we are having a pork loin roast with green beans and leek and potato soup. Then onto mass where most of the parishioners will be seeing Nora for the first time. And finally home to cuddle up all cozy, drinking hot cocoa with the marshmallows I'm hoping to make tonight. I've got cinnamon rolls planned for Christmas morning, to be enjoyed with hot coffee in front of our electric fireplace. It will be quiet, calm.

I bought Christmas cards last year, managed to write out 2 and then gave up.  Nora has been fussy and wanting to be held nearly 24/7 lately, and it was just too much.  I planned to make edible treats for some family members this Christmas (and caramels for T!), but those will have to go out for the New Year.

I think, "I should feel guilty, I pretty much disregarded all the Christmas things this year."  But I don't.  I feel content.  The tree is beautiful.  We'll enjoy carols and good food.  And I'm more than happy to just enjoy this little family of mine's first Christmas.  I stumbled across an old post while looking for something and it was the reminder I needed again that this home, this life I'm leading is Holy ground.  And what better time to remember that than at Christmas?

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas or Hanukkah.  Being where you feel most loved really is the best gift, a reminder of our blessings.