The Celebrations

December is full of celebrations.  

the work Christmas party, so proud of all your husband is doing.  

 the night you attend the Nutcracker ballet.   

Your 19th time.   

His first.

You cherish the moment of revisiting a childhood memory with your child.

Your sisters.

Your niece and nephew.

and the woman who started the tradtion.

Granny.

Your heart feels full of all the holiday magic Christmas brings.  

Then you celebrate a tradition so important, so foundational, that a gathering once seen as a "cookie exchange party"  seems more like the glue that holds sisters, siblings, memories, family, love, and Christmas alive.  

These three "Martin" girls sure make their mama proud, with their ability to cook.  love.  laugh.  and live as a family.  

 

and when the bliss of baking 5 dozen cookies and exchanging them for more equally delicious delights fades into yesterday you may find yourself staring at a magical breakfast straight out of the North Pole via your elf on the shelf.  

You watch your niece and nephew love and play with your children, and long for your childhood.  You wish that you lived closer; that you shared these moments more often.  You realize your wonderfully blessed to experience these blessings and enjoy the high volume of life filling the walls of your house.  

The moment you celebrate Christmas with your second family.   Not the one you were born into or married into, but the one you do life with.  The one that knows your birth stories, your college stories, your proposal stories, and your messy stories.  

Welcome Christmas welcome.  

"Fahoo fores, dahoo dores

Welcome Christmas, come this way

Fahoo fores, dahoo dores

Welcome Christmas, Christmas day

Welcome, welcome fahoo ramus

Welcome, welcome dahoo damus

Christmas day is in our grasp

So long as we have hands to clasp

Fahoo fores, dahoo dores

Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer

Fahoo fores, dahoo dores

Welcome all who's far and near

Welcome Christmas, fahoo ramus

Welcome Christmas, dahoo damus

Christmas day will always be

Just so long as we have we

Fahoo fores, dahoo dores

Welcome Christmas, bring your light

Welcome Christmas, fahoo ramus

Welcome Christmas, dahoo damus

Welcome Christmas, while we stand

Heart to heart and hand in hand

Fahoo fores, dahoo dores

Welcome, welcome Christmas, Christmas day"

-The Grinch by Dr. Seuss