De-Christmasing

I remember being a small child and dreading the day we took the tree down- I wished we could keep it up all year long. The tree for me was a symbol of all things good. All things happy. All things exciting. I would walk by it and be filled with anticipation.

And next to the tree, lined up perfectly in a row, were 10 homemade red felt stockings. My most favorite stocking? Well, it was mine of course. It was a patchwork angel of sorts with blond curly hair and a glittery halo. It was the caboose to that long line of stockings. The stocking was one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I was always excited to find what small treasures awaited me there. Everything was wrapped right down to the candy bars and yummy treats.

The day would finally come in late December where brown mismatched card board boxes littered the family room floor. It was time to de-Christmas. It made my little heart feel sad each time an ornament got placed back gently into its box...

Fast forward 20 some odd years, the de-Christmasing time has come (and gone). But this time it's a little different. I don't mind taking the tree down or even the stockings... in fact it actually feels kind of good (gasp!). I love December. I love the excitement and all the anticipation, but I welcome January with open arms (insert Journey's Open Arms). It feels so good to pack up Christmas and kind of start all over again... it's a fresh start to a new year- a new year, full of new experiences, new challenges, and new goals.

Now don't go and get me confused with someone who makes new years resolution... because that I don't do. But, what I will do is find my word for the year. It is very hard to find just one word for one year, but I think I managed...

Enjoy! (It was a really close running with my other word idea looseweight). The word enjoy encompasses all aspects of my life... enjoy motherhood. enjoy being a wife. enjoy the little things... just enjoy. And maybe, just maybe, even enjoy cleaning the bathroom and doing the laundry (but perhaps that's being a little too optimistic).

So, what's your word? I'd love to know. Maybe I can steal it for next year. ;)

*Disclaimer: I reserve the right to revoke my word if at any point in time I hear the phrase, "But honey, I thought your word for the year was ENJOY" out of my husband's mouth. I do not want to be reminded of the word enjoy when I'm complaining about cooking dinner, putting the kids to bed, or cleaning pee out of the carpet.

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