This post is going to be a bit more personal this time.
Christmas is an amazing time of year. This is a time that people re-connect, celebrate families, friends, and good spirit towards others. I am not a religious person, but I do have a spiritual side, and I do have faith. My ideas of what governs the universe may be vastly different from a lot of people, and I am not going to put down anyone who believes differently than I do. I enjoy hearing about others ideas of faith, philosophy and religion, using conversation to increase my awareness of other cultures, as well as that person as an individual. For me, Christmas is not a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and it is not about presents. It is about family, friends and loved ones.
Don’t get me wrong, I love getting presents as much as the next person, and I enjoy giving them. When I was younger and the wonderful gadgets we have now did not exist, we were thankful to get a few little do-dads, toys, candy, and the mandatory socks and underwear. Now that I am an adult with nieces and nephews to give to, I try to think of what would make them happy and what would they enjoy. I’d hope they would look at their gift and think “Auntie Carla knows me and I love what she gave me” not “I wish there was more” or “Is that it?” etc. While I do remember thinking that when I was a kid (who didn’t) but as an adult, I appreciate this time of year in a whole new fashion.
I live a few hours away from most of my family, while my husbands family is local. Seeing everyone at Christmas is just not an option, so Mike and I will do Thanksgiving at one family, and Christmas with the other, and we switch them up the next year. This year, we are travelling to my home town to see my extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles. This makes Christmas even more special for me, being happy to see everyone who I’ve missed.
I think about my friends, I think about my family, I think about what I have, and I think about what others don’t have. I am lucky to be surrounded by wonderful friends, wonderful family, and an even more wonderful husband and furry children. I am thankful for everyone who appreciates me, those who I help and those who help me. My Christmas wish for everyone is to be loving and respectful of each, and have a love filled holiday.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours
Lots of Love – Carla, Mike, Mace and Norris
