A Time To Rest

The past six weeks have been so hectic, haven't they? Do you sometimes feel like you are in fast forward mode through the holidays? Someone asked me earlier this week what I had left to do before Christmas. I didn't even know. This year I'm been taking one thing at a time. For instance, I focused on the ladies' Christmas meeting. When that was done, I focused on special music we had coming up. Then there was the adult Christmas party. Then the cantata. I told the woman who asked me that I didn't know what I still had to do for Christmas. For that day I was focusing on finishing work so I could go home and cook dinner. The rest would come later.
Fortunately, everything fell into place and all the "musts" of Christmas were done on time. True, I was up until 1:00 Christmas morning, but it got done! Even that was enjoyable, though. There were presents to wrap, and my two oldest boys helped wrap while my husband took charge of filling out tags and placing bows. We got it done in pretty short order.
I also wanted a clean house. I tell my kids every year that's all I want for Christmas. Thankfully, they don't listen and get me presents anyway. LOL But somehow I just enjoy the day better if I'm not looking at everything that needs to be cleaned and cared for. So the day before Christmas (the first day I didn't have to work) I told my boys I wanted some help because I wanted a clean house for Christmas. Joel gave me a very sweet smile and said, "Yeah, you know you're not gonna get that, right?" I gave a sweet smile right back. "The house will be clean. Of course, if I have to do it myself, I won't have time to wrap presents or make cookies for the rest of you."
I had a clean house for Christmas.
This year was difficult because it's the first time we weren't all together for Christmas. I was dreading the day without Stephanie, who is not able to get home for the holidays this year. Thankfully, we had some dear friends who, I think, sensed how hard it would be. They invited us over for Christmas dinner. When we got there they absorbed us right into their family. We had a fantastic, traditional Christmas dinner that I didn't have to cook. We chatted and laughed and teased and joked. We played games and did dishes and munched and nibbled and watched movies. When it got dark we piled into the van and drove to the most fantastic light display I've ever seen. Traffic was backed up all around, but we got out and walked through the neighborhood to see this house. The owners of the house have a walkway they set up so that you can actually walk through their yard and see their displays up close. Then we headed back to the house for leftovers and more cookies and brownies and pie. We finally left about 10:30 last night and headed home, all the boys falling asleep on the drive. It was a perfect, perfect day.
And now it's the day after Christmas. I feel no post-holiday let down. There's no press of things that need to be accomplished in a short amount of time. I slept in a little bit, although not as long as I would have liked. I'm off work for a while and my boys are off school, so we have time to just relax and enjoy ourselves and each other.
I doubt I can vegetate for an entire day, but I can managed a few hours without a problem, easily. Next week we have some New Year's celebrations to go through. I have to pack things up for Stephanie to take to college since she's starting her first semester in January. There's a few projects around the house that I want to tackle. Christmas decorations to take down and pack away.
But for today ... today I'm going to breathe. I'm going to rest. I'm going to enjoy my kids and my house and the wonderful weather Florida offers at this time of year. It's almost like a second Thanksgiving. Except without the turkey. Today I'm enjoying life.
Happy Day-After-Christmas. I hope it's as restful and trouble-free for you as it will be for me.