The magic of Christmas

Photo taken by me outside the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

It has been a whirlwind holiday and similar to the years before where the month of December passed too quickly. Not to sound like a holiday Hallmark movie or an elf that works for Santa at the North Pole but it really is "the most wonderful time of the year." I can't speak for everyone but for me the glow of my Christmas tree, the holiday lights, the crisp cold air all seem to wake up my soul and reminds me to take pause to appreciate all that I have been given. It is the only time of year that you can stand in the cold fallen snow and feel the warmth surrounding you. This time of year reminds me to be inspired and to be inspiring. Being inspired comes easier to me than being inspiring. I say this because I have had a lifetime of being inspired by my family and the traditions they have created. Each year we have gathered around dining room tables, family Christmas trees and a holiday story that reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.



Sugar Cookies - 2012
Created by:
 myself, my mother and my sister-in-law.

As far back as I can remember the Christmas holiday season started promptly after Thanksgiving with my grandmother and the tradition of making homemade sugar cookies decorated in powdered sugar icing and sprinkles. Through my child like eyes I was always amazed at the wonderland she created during this time of year. Before she would invite us over for our traditional cookie decorating she would have her house decorated as if she were Mrs. Claus. We would enter the wonderland to a six foot tree in the window of the formal living room. Their stocking were hung by the chimney and the mantle was filled with sparkling garland where the snowmen, elves, and reindeer's called home for the season. The kitchen table or otherwise known as the "cookie workshop" had a Christmas table cloth (plastic for easy clean-up) that was covered with rolling pins, cookie cutters, sprinkles and bowls of icing ready for the little grand-elves to make holiday magic.






Mom's Holiday Tree (after Santa)

The cookie decorating tradition was only the first of the holiday season. The weeks to follow were filled with shopping, holiday light looking and another favorite family tradition of decorating our family tree with my mom. My mother very similar to my grandmother could take a simple thing like decorating a Christmas tree and make it magical. As we strung the lights and hung our favorite ornaments on the tree we would sing at the top of our lungs "I believe in Santa Claus" by Dolly and Kenny. At the end, just before we would put the star on and place the tree in it's corner we would "Rock around the Christmas Tree" for one final performance. Then for the finale we would turn out all the lights and sit in the glow of our beautiful tree while sipping on egg nog.


Now that the cookies were made, the tree was trimmed and all the shopping at been done. The night that all children wait for with anticipation had arrived. It is Christmas Eve and the magic of the holiday season was far from over. In fact, Christmas Eve was always the most magical of our traditions. We would arrive at my grandparents just after dark. I can't remember the time as a child but as an adult I now know it's around 6:00 pm. We would bust through the doors with excitement as we once again entered the wonderland my grandmother created for the holidays. In the midst of the family greetings you could hear the popping of my grandfather's record player spinning out the sounds of Bing, Brenda Lee and all the Christmas classics. The evening was filled with family sharing stories of a year that had past, favorite foods, gift exchanges, family pictures, and my grandfather walking through the middle of a living room and grabbing the first girl in his path for a little spin on the imaginary dance floor. When the night was winding down because all the good little girls and boys must get to bed for Santa there was just one more thing to do before saying goodbyes. All the children young and old would gather around my grandfathers feet to hear him once again tell the story of "T'was the Night before Christmas.' In his deep voice he would tell us a story we had heard a thousand times and could probably repeat back by heart. But in these moments not a word was spoken or a movement was made. All eyes were on him as he brought us all together for our final moments of the evening and in those moments we were a family.

 

 

These images play through my head so clearly as if I were still that six year old girl experiencing it for the first time. Now that I am all grown up and have an understanding of how much effort it was for my family to create a holiday filled with strong traditions and magic inspires me each year to carry on the magic. Since I don't have little ones of my own some of the traditions are harder to keep than others. But each year I listen to Christmas music as I put up my tree and when I am done I sit in the glow with my egg nog. I am also an active elf on Christmas Eve making the wonderland come alive for one more year. Each year I try to inspire not just my family but those around me to remember the Christmas magic. You never know what kind of family, friends or life one has experienced. A smile, a hug, a cookie, a donation of a toy, a warm coat, or your time could be all the magic that is needed for someone to smile, to believe or to be inspired.

 

As I said earlier, being inspired at Christmas will always be easier for me than being that one that inspires. Each year my hope is that for all the effort I put into saving the traditions that I might be passing on some of the inspiration, the wonderment and even a little Christmas magic to at least one heart, one bright eyed child that still believes. To pass on what I was once given and will carry with me for the rest of my years.

 

Merry Christmas to ALL!

I hope that your holiday if full of love, laughter, family and friends because after all isn't that truly the magical gift of Christmas?!

Our Gifts theme this year -
"Brown Paper Packages tied up with String these are a few of my favorite things."