Christmas was quite different in our household this year. We usually head to my Georgia home to spend time with the folks but given my current situation, travel was ill-advised. So the CPA and I had planned on a nice, low-key weekend by ourselves here in DC. I was totally fine with that too, especially considering that I haven’t exactly been prepared for this Christmas season.
But when we got up Friday morning to open presents and do our usual holiday thing, I found myself a little bit “off.” I couldn’t figure out why either. At least not until I spoke with my family on the phone and the tears came. Honestly – I should be ashamed of myself – crying at my age because I’m not home with my parents! I think it was a little more than that though. I figure it was probably a combo of hormones, emotions gone awry, and a bit of nostalgia in light of so many recent changes.
That said, I actually enjoyed Christmas very much. I love spending time with my husband and it was a perfect day full of naps, yummy food, and relaxation.
We got some pretty good loot too, as far as Christmas presents go. As a family, we agreed to keep it in check this year due to the economy (not to mention our recent baby expenses), so we stuck to our budget pretty well. My sweet man spoiled me with a gift certificate to the Red Door Spa where I can spend the day pampering myself silly.
I, in turn, gave him the keyboard that he had been longing for. (Learning how to play it is completely up to him, however.)
But it was really my parents who stole the show with their creative gifts. My dad and step-mom spent about nine months this year putting together a cookbook for each of us kids.
In it are tried-and-true recipes that have been passed down for generations. The book itself is beautifully made and will definitely be used for years to come.
And to get me in the cooking mood, they included this beautiful apron (which I’m hoping will look better on me once I no longer have a huge belly). I’m totally set!
My mom and step-dad also made their presents this year, all of them in fact, and I am genuinely impressed. This beautiful blanket was handmade and even has our name embroidered in the corner. The CPA has already claimed it as “his” and since I’ve been unusually warm as of late, I didn’t put up an argument. (But I’m sure things will change as soon as I get really cold and am looking for a good blanket – I fully plan to fight for it!)
We also received this great binder that my mom put together which includes all kinds of family history and pictures of ancestors that I’ve never seen before.
Speaking of pictures, they had put together a collection of our family pictures in this lovely frame. There are even a couple of pictures of Oscar and one of our baby’s ultrasound too. In the center of the frame is the Family Proclamation which is a statement by our church that basically summarizes our belief in families and how important they are.
And lastly, I have to mention our “blessing box.”
This is a box where we are to store slips of paper on which we have written down blessings that we are thankful for, with the idea that we will open the box in December of 2010 and read through them. What a fantastic idea! I truly believe that, as a whole, people are more appreciative of the things that they have when they recognize them on a regular basis and I think this will be a great reminder to do just that.
Aren’t my parents amazing? Even though we weren’t able to see them in person during the holidays, I felt close to them simply through the creative things they gave us all because they were made with lots of love and thoughtfulness. They also reminded me of the importance of families and history and selfless giving, which are all examples of the Savior whose birth we were celebrating.
And isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
How was your Christmas? What did you do – anything special? Did you get/give a special gift?
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