We, intentionally, decorate late for Christmas. There are pros and cons to this. The biggest con is that one week before Christmas, things look pretty bleak around here and there is a moment of despair when we think that it won’t all get done. But once we begin to decorate, it’s magic. And then all the reasons why we decorate late make that moment of anxiety melt away.

It’s amazing to me how a bedroom with one string of colored lights haphazardly woven between the dresser mirror and the window and the shelf on the wall seems magical. For a moment I thought we ought to leave them up year round and then I remembered that’s it’s magic is special because it is rare.

So, as Bill is crooning in my ear: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas..” I agree and begin to get excited too. And that’s the biggest pro to waiting….the excitement is just now building and we won’t be done with it on December 26th. We know so many people who spend the time between Christmas and New Years undecorating their house. They’re sick of it, since it’s been up for a month already. But around here, January is cheery for a few weeks since we can’t bear to pack up things which we only just labored to put up.

And of course, what gets me most excited? Buying all the special foods – CHEESE glorious cheese.

Happy Holidays!

Yes, that’s right, Happy Holidays. Whatever you’re celebrating, well, I hope you have the jolliest of time celebrating it.

And what are you celebrating? For me, right now, I’m observing Advent. “Merry Advent” doesn’t really roll off the tongue, you know. Christmas is quite a ways away, but by the time I begin to celebrate THAT, everyone seems to be wishing “Happy New Year” and I celebrate that too.

I’m all for wishing people Merry Christmas and certainly hope that they have one. But, I’m really opposed to the movement to “take back the holiday – put Christ back in Christmas”. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 90% of Americans celebrate “Christmas”…but probably 90% of THOSE people celebrate that holiday where Santa drops down the chimney and leaves loads of stuff. Yeah, my kids think Santa comes, but the gifts have labels that say “From Mom” and “From Dad” not “From Santa”.

Freedom of religion….let everybody do their own thing. I don’t want to force people to fast during Advent or decorate with purple ribbons. So, unless everybody wants to celebrate “Christmas” MY way, then I suggest we leave it at “Happy Holidays”.