The Eve of Christmas Eve

Here we are on the eve of Christmas Eve 2024. As I reflect back to September when my Christmas decorating began I never quite envisioned the impact this holiday season would have on me. In 2023 I was entering a new chapter of my life and the Christmas season came and went just like all the previous years but the feel was different. I was growing into a new season of my life and Christmas was evolving right along with me. Fast forward to Christmas season 2024 which seemed like it was taking forever to get here. As usual I started my planning at the end of Summer and when Fall hit I was already 8 days into decorating for Christmas. September 14, 2024 was the day I put up my 7 1/2 foot tree. I didn't start decorating it until a week later. This is the first year I only put up one tree. I usually would have no less than 3, last year I put up four. As you age you energy level changes as well as your schedule of doing things. For many years I spent countless hours and energy pulling tons of Christmas stuff out but this year I kept it as minimal as I could and gave my son and I a rest. He is my heavy lifting assistant and I knew he had to be tired of year after year of lifting, dragging, shifting, moving and carrying things up and down those basement stairs. I had to remember that he too is now up in age and I didn't want to put too much on him as I didn't want to on myself so we both agreed on the one tree. After all it was huge and tall. It was this year's show stopper. It almost touches my ceiling. I would say its about a foot or a little less of space between the top of my tree and my ceiling.

We had to do some rearranging and relocating to get everything to fit in its place the way I wanted. That in itself was work on top of the fact that I was preparing to decorate my main two rooms. If you stand at the threshold between my living and dining spaces to your left is more of a winter wonderland theme and too your right is full on traditional. The view from my sofa is the best of both worlds. I sit center in the winter wonderland room but with a slight turn of my head I have a view of colorful Christmases of the past. Although I love the white, gold and green in the front room I equally adore the green and red in the dining and kitchen areas. It is almost like a child's Christmas in the two rooms in the back of the house. You will find colored lights, Santa, Mrs. Claus, nutcrackers, reindeer, ceramic Christmas trees and gingerbread people. On my dining room table a Spode Christmas tree table setting is displayed; table runner and all. The winter wonderland room in front has all clear warm lights on my tree and all the garlands.

This year was truly different and the cherry on top was that all my family was in attendance for Thanksgiving. There was extra joy in the air,  a different feeling than 2023 and I was loving and soaking in every minute. Yes, I had my moments of thinking about my Dad who has been absent from our holiday celebration since 12/20/13 but he lives on in my heart and mind. Christmas was our favorite time of year. I miss him enjoying it with us in the physical. I am all too grateful to still have my mom with us and memories of my daddy. Thank you Jesus. 

It is less than 30 hours till Christmas. Christmas Eve will be here in less than 3 hours. Tomorrow children around the world will be bouncing off the walls and not being able to fall asleep waiting for santa to make his deliveries tomorrow late night, Lol. I have a day of cooking ahead of me so I can rest Christmas day, Lord willing. I hate to see the holiday season dwindling down to a little over a week till the new year when the mood changes and Christmas will be forgotten by many. All I can do is the same I do every year and that is keep Christmas with me all through the year. You can be sure that when its over I am saving some of it to carry me through to the following year, Lord willing, when I start preparing all over again for the holiday season. I wish you all a happy, healthy, safe holiday with your family and friends. Cherish every moment because life can change in a instant. Love one another. God loves you and expects you to love others as well don't forget its one of His commandments.

Peace and Love and Merry Christmas