Part of my "Winter Break" was staying with my family in Portland, OR for Christmas. It's been a year and a half since I visited my "homeland" and two years since we spent Christmas together as a family. Two years without unloading my red and green stocking or seeing the most delicate, cherished ornaments on Mom's tree--like the photos of us together with Dad, or the little tin men from Grandma and Grandpa Gustafson; two years since her Kirkland Christmas Village was hand-placed carefully on the sparkling "snow" or since we sat around the candlelit table Christmas Eve laughing and quoting movies together; two years since we crammed into the couches and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" or went caroling in four-part harmony to a few of our oldest family friends.
And this year, my brother had a bit of a Christmas surprise for us--the hubs and I got to meet his girlfriend Chloe, who also loaned us her beautiful pure soprano so that we had a record-breaking number of Gustafsons singing to doors and delivering cookies this year! HUZZAH! I was also impressed when Ben asked me to take some photos of the two of them to mark their first Christmas together--I'm so proud, my little spud, now such a spud-MAN! It's definitely surreal to snap your baby brother kissing someone, though, gotta admit--she bought me a Christmas gift though, so she's a good egg in my book. ;) (That's right, Chloe!)
There's nothing quite like caroling on Christmas Day. You've just opened presents and eaten a good many stocking stuffers and then you pick up piles of paper plates loaded with traditional treats a la Gustafson (we take our sugar cookies very seriously--I'm talking hand-placed sprinkles here, people) and jump in the car (showered first of course) and then spend a few minutes singing, continuing the cheer and wishing more of your dear ones a Merry Christmas in their brand new Christmas P.J.s (all of which were quite cheery and matching, I might add!) It's how Christmas feels. Like Joy to the World. Like Peace on earth, goodwill to man.
So to you, reader, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope you choose to be with your loved ones this year and that you cherish every second. Choose your love, love your choice.
