The Magic of Christmas

***I just read another blog about moving forward during these times of tragedy and hardship.  She quoted a book that she had read on this subject in the past, and how important it is to "lean into joy" and not fear these moments of loss that we all will feel personally at some time or another in our lives.  Such a great reminder.  Feel the joy that we have NOW, really feel it and delve into it!  It makes us so much stronger when hardships do arise.  So with that, here is my post I wrote last week: The Magic of Christmas!***

It really is the most wonderful time of the year!  For me, the reason I love Christmas *so* much is because of the magic my family created around the holiday when I was a child.  Yep, my mom was gaga over Christmas spirit too and definitely passed it on to me.  Some of our Christmas traditions were typical for the American family (i.e. going to look at Christmas lights, putting up the Christmas tree, opening presents) and others were absolutely unique to the Howells (i.e. going to see a movie on Christmas eve, eating a delicious New Mexican breakfast on Christmas morning).  I love traditions.  I'm just one of those sentimental people.  A big part of Christmas, to me, is sweet nostalgia and reliving those memories from years past.  I am so looking forward to carrying on my family's traditions with my own family now, and also creating new ones.

Apart from these things that we did every year, there was also just that intangible feeling of Christmas.  A feeling of love, abundance, family, wonder...with a touch of what I can only describe as magic.  Intangible magic.  Like a fragrance.  Now, I think I have been waiting my whole life to finally have the opportunity to create the Christmas magic for my own children.  I never was one of those girls who was planning my wedding my whole life; however, I  am one of those girls who has been planning for my entire existence how I can spread Christmas cheer with my children.  Oh yea, I've been banking ideas for 27 years, people!  I am over the moon with excitement to give my children the most magical Christmas experience, just as I had.  To me, it has very little to do with the jolly man that comes down the Chimney on December 24th...it's much more about the love, wonder, and magic you feel in your heart all December-long.  While Harper is too young to comprehend the excitement of Christmas this year, it's only the very beginning for our family.  I very much look forward to fostering that sugary, cinnamon-y, peppermint-y, snowy, glittery, wondrous, Christmas-state-of-mind with Harper for years and years to come.

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more."