Why holiday magic is necessary...

I really like the new location for the Christmas tree. It's far enough away from heat vents and the pellet stove that it might not dry out as quickly-- that's a practical consideration. It's also right where it's the focal point of the room, which is nice. And, from where I sit at my desk, I can see it, at least a little, through the glass door that separates the "front room" from the living room proper. Usually, we can't see the back of the tree because it's up against a wall-- not so this time; I can see it from my desk. 

I like decorating for Christmas, even though I don't go quite so crazy with it as I used to. I no longer hide nutcrackers in every direction, for example. The bathrooms are blessedly deco-free. I don't worry about the holiday finger towels-- really, who was I kidding? I do have season-specific kitchen/table linens, and the plates we use daily are changed by the season, too. It hurts no one, and it makes me smile. 

The best part of this whole transformation into a holiday-wonderland is the way Holly is enjoying it. She loves, loves, loves Christmas (as she says repeatedly). I am so glad. She enjoyed decorating her little white tree with some plastic ornaments I picked up on a whim this weekend while I was out and about. I saved a few for her to put on the "big tree" as well-- she was so happy to do so, and to help Papa put the tree skirt under the tree. And to hold the shiny beads for me while I finished that part of things. 

She and I moved the wise men along their journey to the nativity scene yesterday, too. (We emphatically do not do Elf on the Shelf.) Holly declares that she "loves the baby Jesus, because he's so cute!" Hey, that works. Her child-like understanding is fun to watch unfold; she knows that she is loved, and she loves what we do in turn. On Christmas Eve, Holly will have the honor to put Baby Jesus in the manger scene. She did that last year, too. It's a way to make the holiday focused, and she loves all of it so much.

And for Holly, Christmas is not all about presents and Santa, though those are definitely top-of-mind. She loves the lights and glitter and the baking and the special movies and all of that. I guess the time spent creating a sense of wonder and awe last year paid off. We were all so fraught last year, due to Tim's heart crisis, and Holly was in our special care for 45 days over the entire holiday season. So much stress and worry... and we took it upon ourselves, as Papa and Memere, to make sure that we would create a Christmas that would balance that for her. I'm glad we did, and it's worth every minute we spent last year. She loves Christmas, when it could have had a lot of negative and fearful connotations for her. Amen.

Christmas is not about the glitter, I know. But for a child-- a family--in a stressful situation, the faith and magic are what saves us all.

Have a good day!

C