Constantly I hear people complain about how early the Christmas decor gets put out at places like Hobby Lobby. Why is this a shock to people? It's been out before Halloween for as long as I can remember and I happen to LOVE it! This time of the year contains my favorite weather AND my favorite two months. November with Turkey day and remembering all that we have to give thanks for (including Christmas decor that gets put out in September) and December with a two week break from work and my favorite holiday ever, Christmas. Last year, Christmas just did not feel like Christmas to me. This year I'm determined to make my home cheery and bright and surround myself with family! Sure, I decorated last year and I kept those decorations up until after the holiday. I decorated my front yard right along side the rest of the neighborhood complete with a blowup character and everything. I even hosted "Gogo Christmas" where the whole Bell was together for the again, which hadn't happened in years, and am very thankful that I did. I was ready for the holiday and was sure it was going to be the best one yet! Somehow, though, it fell short of my expectations.
Thanksgiving was spent on a cruise boat sailing with the Disney Cruise Line, just my hubby and me. We had a BLAST! It was such a great experience we're planning on going on the exact same cruise next year just the week after Thanksgiving! BUT, with as much fun as we had, we were not with family. To me, holidays mean family time. I think that is what started my holiday funk. Thanksgiving was not spent at a table surrounded by family with the kids running around taking about what they wanted for Christmas. We missed the annual discussion of what sales people were planning on hitting the next day and we were not there to eat my mom's Mashed Potato Souffle.
This year, we'll be home for it all. We already have some plans made for Thanksgiving and we're talking about the dinners we plan to have with both sides of my husbands family to celebrate dinner. We have some family members who want to join us on our annual Christmas Eve Asian food tradition, and we're starting to plan out what gifts to buy each person. We're surrounding ourselves with our family and that is how I know this years holiday season will start us out good and ready for the Christmas holiday. I have learned that even if my decorations are perfect and we are having fun, the holidays just aren't the holidays with out being surrounded by family. So, as people start the daily I am thankful for XYZ on Facebook, I am going to say a little prayer of thanks for my family. When the hustle and bustle that is the holiday season begins to take over, I will remember to stop and surround myself with family. I will remember that family is what I am thankful for and that a holiday would not be the same with out the people I love and care about.
May you all find some Christmas Cheer in this holiday season and surround yourself with family.
XOXO,
Christina (your not so newlywed but defiantly a slacker blogger)
