thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I have always loved the traditions my family has-- wednesday night bowling, thursday morning fox hunt followed by a day of football, card games and lots of eating. and we get all the boxes down from the attic to decorate my grandmother’s house for christmas. this year I’m particularly jealous of my pittsburgh family meeting in charleston for a fun packed weekend at the beach house with kayaking, turkey trots, and oyster roasts. I’ve been known to be one of those stubborn people that are easily frustrated by christmas lights out too early and the commercial christmas that starts after halloween. but I’ve been thinking about it lately and the christmas season is the biggest extension of thanksgiving. the gift of Christ is the thing to be most thankful for, so why not allow some christmas to coincide with your thanksgiving celebrations. 

a few weeks ago, my coffeebreaks french podcast was about the holiday season. afterwards I asked the girls to help me learn vive le vent, a french song sung to the tune of jingle bells. josephine and I were on a walk that afternoon and she made me sing every american christmas song I could think of, and during joy to the world I got tears in my eyes, picturing singing it throughout the years with my family at the end of our christmas eve service. and from that moment, my christmas cheer has been undeniable. I’ve been listening to jazzy christmas music on 8tracks nonstop. the girls and I have watched the rankin-bass rudolph the red nosed reindeer and santa claus is coming to town movies, with big plans to tackle the 25 days of christmas schedule. I had forgotten how sweet charlie brown’s christmas is. we have driven in the car to look at all the christmas lights being put up in our surrounding neighborhoods and I’ve made a point to go on runs at night so I can see them in all their glory. I have loved things like holiday cups at starbucks and window displays being decorated for the holidays. 

I have 5 weeks left till I fly home for christmas. I am looking forward to every bit of it here-- the christmas markets that open this weekend, ice skating, decorating the christmas tree with the family, shopping for gifts, maybe a gospel dream concert or the nutcracker, parties and more. I am thrilled to be able to spend a big portion of my holiday season in the most beautiful and fantastic city in the world. but there is no denying that I will also be thinking of all the things I cannot wait to do with my family and friends once I get home. so mom and dad, you can go ahead and get all the decorations out from under the stairs, but please postpone decorating the tree, hanging lights in the trees outside, collecting stuff for the wreath and making it, and christmas wrapping (we know that’ll be happening frantically christmas eve). and thank you for getting me a ticket home-it's the best christmas gift a girl could ask for. 

image via alifeofbeautyandgrace