Repost: Taking the magic out of Christmas ... and bringing it back. Part 1.

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"Oooh fuuudge!"

"Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, 

the big one, the queen-mother of dirty 

words, the 'F-dash-dash-dash' word!" 


~Ralphie


My oldest making Christmas Cookies in 2003


It's no secret that I am a Christmas fanatic!!!  I love everything about the Christmas season, snow included.  Christmas in our house is so much more than just Santa Claus and gifts.  I encourage my children to believe in the spirit of a man who gave to those in need and instills what the real meaning of Christmas is.  


A real tree fills our home with the scents of the season and since 2007 I have hosted Christmas dinner at my house, each year making a new traditional Scottish cuisine dish. We have ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, the whole kit, and caboodle.  It may seem like a lavish meal fit for a king, but it's just one meal shared at my table among family. 


Since my divorce, my oldest daughter, Caitlin, and I have shared a tradition of buying a new ornament each year, we pick it out together and she hangs it on the tree each year.  I started this with my youngest, Laurana, in 2011.   Christmas has never been about the number of gifts under the tree or the money spent on them.  I have always tried to instill that Christmas is about sharing a special day and celebrating with family.


Around 2012 I began feeling I lost a lot of my Christmas spirit, without boring you with the fine details, let's just say I feel it was due to a period of needing to re-create myself.  I lost my way because I was so wrapped up in someone else's pain I barely enjoyed my favorite time of year.  I felt very alone and without much love in my situation which is what took the magic out Christmas for me.  2012, however, I felt soooo different!!!!  I had that giddy, little girl feeling back again and I am in love with the feeling!!!! 


In 2012, I fulfilled two bucket list items, to see the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center all lit up and to see a Broadway show, so what better show to see then my all-time favorite Christmas Classic, "A Christmas Story"!!!!!  I simply cannot explain how excited I was to go to NYC and enjoy and experience this magical place during the Christmas season!!!!


So, what brought the magic of Christmas back to me, you might be asking?  There are many things that have helped with that, keep an eye out for new posts as I unveil what re-sparked my Christmas fire.


Peace, Love, and Light, 


Christine

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