As I get older, it seems as though the "magical" feeling of Christmas lessens with each passing year - and to be perfectly honest, it makes me sad. I keep asking myself, what has changed? And then it hits me....everything. Since husband and I got married almost 4 years ago, things have shifted for one reason or another. So the following is my list of the things that I don't like that have changed followed by those things that I am grateful have changed.
Crappy
1. No more going home to my parents house for our typical Christmas day festivities
2. No more Christmas eve service at CLC
3. Extended family celebrations have shifted to either too far before or too far after Christmas
4. The passing away of family members (specifically grandparents)
5. Everyone's life shifting, which means people are moving, which means we all can't be together at the same time
Blessings
1. Bigger family (married into and other people coming in)
2. Having kids and starting to be able to see the magic in their eyes
3. Coming up with new traditions
4. Learning to appreciate that it is more about time together rather than the stuff we accumulate
5. Knowing and remembering how blessed and loved we all really are
As challenging as growing up is because people leave us and we grow out of our traditions, there are just as many blessings that come from it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! :)
P.S. NEVER forget about snow angels :) These always leave you feeling like a kid again
