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| A wall-hanging stitched by my Grandmother, December 2025 |
I had a conversation with someone I love today. One of my favorite kinds - we wander from topic to topic spanning everything and then some. One of our landing places was around the question,
"What makes it feel like Christmas?"
Last week we carried boxes of ornaments and Christmas decorations from the attic. We spent an afternoon unwrapping the tissue paper and remembering the story of each special thing. When and where it was purchased, or who made it. What life was like when it became part of our collection.
Altogether they tell the story of our family. Unboxing again the physical reminders and tokens of all our years - seeing and holding them with care and placing them on the tree or around the house makes it feel like Christmas. The Holy family takes their place in the living room; angels greet us from the kitchen. Bright trees shine in the entryway, and nutcrackers stand tall in the dining room. A stack of Christmas books will soon find their spot near the fireplace. Through all is the spirit of warmth and belonging. It's something beautiful, something good.
