I am like a busy squirrel this time of year, tangled in tinsel while I busily prepare my nest for winter. I hunker down and furiously prepare for the holidays, and find that I have not written nearly enough. So here's an update...
Thanksgiving flew by, along with the rest of November. The fall decorations were put away, replaced by twinkling lights and trees. I ate numerous turkey sandwiches and reheated mashed potatoes while immediately decking the halls. Guest beds have been made and then remade and relatives have come and gone.
The past few weeks have been full...
First, there was a bonus trip back to Wisconsin to meet this little lady...
Then, there was hanging out in green rooms with these guys when they were in Phoenix...
This room was literally green. Bonus.
It was my brother Ben's first visit since we moved here, and it was so nice to hang out and show him our new home. I absolutely loved the four days of tagging along for sound checks, watching them sign autographs, meet fans, and generally rock. They have to be humble about it, but I don't!They sounded amazing, and I am so excited for all that is happening for Citizen Way. They will be down in Nashville recording the second half of the album the week before Christmas, then touring lots in the first part of the year. The album is due out this spring!
Then, we hosted a very low key Thanksgiving with Jeremiah's brothers here at our place, which always includes grilling the turkey...
and watching this video multiple times...
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-Y3HJNU_s]
(If you haven't seen it, you're welcome.)
But sometimes in the midst of full houses, full plates, and full hearts, an emptiness is also highlighted. This time of year there seems to be a lot of wanting and wishing mixed up with being painfully grateful for what you have at that moment. Missing your family who lives too far away at this time of year, at the same moment that you are visiting with them. Sighing over memories as you pull out old ornaments while wishing you had more red ones for the very same tree. Shopping for others while adding items to your own wish list for Santa. Resolutions and improvement sit next to reflection and contentment.
For the first time ever, we will not be in Wisconsin on Christmas day. We are going back around the middle of December to have an early Christmas with my family. Then, Mr. Ladd's family will be out to Arizona right after Christmas to celebrate. This means more quality time with family and friends overall, and that we'll get to be at our own house for Christmas Eve and Day with some time for ourselves. But, it also means that things needed to be done earlier than usual and presents bought and shipped strategically.
I am so easily caught up in the holiday business, and I truly love nothing more than making Christmas magic. However, I inevitably wake up one morning, like today, feeling more than a bit frazzled, with laundry piled up and packing for Wisconsin left to do. I think of what's left to do, what I'm missing, and what isn't quite right. The truth is, I need to stop scurrying and decking halls and snapping at Mr. Ladd, and start focusing on what I have and being present where I am before I wish for anything else.
