Christmas Stirrings...

Aah...it's been a few days since I've posted anything, fa la la la la, la la la la! I wonder how many people would say - "sure wish I was busier," or "you know this Christmas season just leaves me with far too much time on my hands." That's just not going to happen. BUT...just in case, if you can say that, then well done, friend!

Our family adds to the holiday rush by having major announcements (grandchild #2 on the way!), birthdays (nephew and husband), and anniversaries (brother/sister in-law, ours) added to the mix. That's ok, though, it's all good.

I finally finished my Christmas cards and got them in the mail. To me, writing out the annual cards is a bittersweet task. Something which causes "stirrings of the soul." I think of these as "Christmas stirrings." Some thoughts that came to mind this week...

• It's wonderful sending greetings to those near and dear. A reminder of good times, good relationships, perhaps neglected due to our perpetually overscheduled lives. And of course, there's the inevitable "we need to get together for lunch..." line that you find you can't even bring yourself to write...yet again.
• A curiosity sending to unmet friends, relatives (by marriage), former co-workers, neighbors. Also a bit of a sadness. To be so separated; by time, distance, oceans, and unawareness; oblivion. I have the same thing with my extended family. While not exactly unmet, I've certainly never been a part of their daily lives.
• I send these greetings and wonder at the missed relationships. More than wonder, actually. As the years go by I find more and more that I'm resentful of what I've missed with regard to extended family. I find I rely on memories from years gone by to tether a feeling of family. I, at least, have some connection with these branches of my family tree. I feel even worse for my children, grandson, nieces, nephews, etc., for what they will miss.
• Mostly, I hope the recipients know that they are in our hearts and our thoughts - we are remembering, wondering (how you've been) and wanting to bridge the gaps of time, distance, oceans, and unawareness.
• Finally, we want to share the miraculous joy of Christmas with you and sincerely wish each other "only the best" in the coming year. Raise our glasses, share a toast, and embrace all that the threads of life connect us to.

Maybe one of these days our Christmas cards can be a stepping stone to re-establishing relationships and instead of writing "we should..." we could write "it was great..."

"Merry Christmas," and, "Only the Best" in the coming year.

Note to KW: "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!"