Somethin' About Christmastime...

Bryan Adams was right...there is something about Christmastime. Some years the "thing" isn't necessarily a good one, but chances are you can find ONE good thing to smile about. This year seemed on the verge of defeat and actually, it turned out to be one of my most favorite years in recent memory. Christmas 2004 had the odds stacked against it...my husband has been deployed since summer and won't be home until spring. We had a record snowfall in a 24-hour period (even beating the Blizzard of '78) in my area for a total of 16-inches of the white stuff. My designated shopping days were canceled--first by the unexpected death of my dear friend's father and secondly by Mr. Snow. Therefore, I went into Christmas Eve with NO GIFTS...not even for my own kids--you see where this is headed. Things started to look up, though, when I started to get it together yesterday. I took my girls to the grocery store & we bought stuff to make a nice Christmas Eve dinner. My sister-in-law decided not to brave the roads to head to our hometown so she could look after the girls while I shopped. M1 and M2 both slept deeply and well. Our friends, Jon & Rita, gave us an open invitation to come over anytime Christmas Day. So, today we woke up, opened gifts and then...did NOTHING. That never EVER happens on Christmas. It was blissful, relaxing and not the least bit sad. I talked to my husband twice today and that was wonderful too. No driving around. No missing meals b/c we're in between people's houses. M2 napped in her own bed. M1 had a chance to play with and apprecate her toys. We had a leisurely afternoon and then headed to Jon & Rita's for a few hours of egg nog, holiday movies and chit chat. Exquisite. This is the first Christmas in a long time that made me wish it was Christmas every day.