Nostalgic Christmas
From My Corner:
Last week, I mentioned this story, but after spending time with family over Thanksgiving and all of the overwhelming amounts of emails we all received (I apologize for bombarding your inbox as well), I think it might have been lost in the chaos. So, I will give a little twist on the thoughts from my reading corner last week…
Lately, I’ve been seeing so much online about ‘90s-style Christmas—the nostalgia of colorful trees, old movies, mismatched décor, and all the cozy chaos that comes with it. And honestly? I love it all. I love my hand-me-down Santas and thrift-store treasures. I love the handmade ornaments and the way my kiddos’ trees are decorated entirely by them. There’s real beauty in the imperfect.
But as I reminisce about past Christmases, especially from my childhood, there used to be a twinge of disappointment that lingered. Not because I didn’t get a particular gift, but because I didn’t have the picture-perfect family you see in holiday movies. Kevin McCallister was left home alone by two parents—and an entire busload of extended family. When I was little, I longed for that kind of big family, with a mom and dad sitting together in the audience at my holiday programs.
I’ve grown and healed a lot since those days. But a couple of weeks ago, driving to my daughter’s Saints program, that old ache resurfaced—this time coated in guilt. With schedules and meetings piling up, I thought I might be the only one able to attend her performance. As I slowed to a stoplight, I noticed a familiar car in front of me. Could it be?
It was.
My husband had managed to sneak away for a few minutes just to see Ella’s big moment on stage. She only had three lines, but she had been practicing nonstop and was absolutely buzzing with excitement. When you’re four years old and there’s a stage and a real microphone involved, it’s a very big deal.
Following his car into the parking lot, I had to blink back tears—not from sadness, but from gratitude. It was yet another reminder that I married an incredible man. A man who shows up. A man who makes his daughter feel seen.
As we keep creating magic for our children this holiday season, remember: it’s not the gifts under the tree or the décor on the mantle that makes this time special. The real joy comes from showing up for one another, from being together.
Those are the memories that last a lifetime.
What We Are Reading:
I have talked about my “book basket” previously, but it is one of my favorite things, especially during the holidays. Put any holiday or winter themed books you have in a basket in the living room and watch the magic of the season come to life. My kids grab books from the basket constantly. Sometimes they ask me to read, sometimes they flip through the pictures on their own, but either way, watching them with a book in their little hands brings me so much joy.
Tuck’s Bookshelf: The Red Sleigh
Ella Bella’s Bookshelf: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell
My Bookshelf: I have been doing word searches instead of reading a book lately, because it feels like a better choice than scrolling, but if I get interrupted, I don’t have to find my place or reread a page.
What are you reading?
Craft Corner-Disguise a Gingerbread Man:
My daughter’s recent take-home task from pre-school was to “disguise a gingerbread man.” They gave you a cutout of a gingerbread cookie and you decorated it like anything other than a gingerbread. She decided to create a “Christmas Fairy” using construction paper as the dress, glitter, and holiday foam stickers. We added curly pipe cleaners as the hair for a little extra flair. If you are looking for a simple version that you don’t have to print out, draw a basic gingerbread cookie shape and have your kids go wild with imagination.
Let me know if this is a crowd pleaser.
