this Christmas

I want to snuggle with my husband in our bed on Christmas morning and be thankful for our home, and for Christmas number 7 I get to spend with him. I want to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" while eating Oreo balls until I am sick to my stomach. I want to remember the Christmases of my childhood-- when decorating the tree meant eggnog and unwrapping ornaments that had been tucked away for year, when every gift was a new revelation of joy and excitement. I want to lie under the tree and look up at the lights like I did when I was young.

I want to make cookies from scratch with my mom and be covered in flour and frosting. I want to wrap presents with real ribbons and make giant, glittering bows. I want to string Christmas lights all over our house and leave them on all day and night. I want to clean my house to the sound of "Silent Night." I want to relive all the white Christmases when my sister and I would wake up at 5 and sneak a peek around the corner of the stairs to see the presents.

I want my house to smell like evergreens and cinnamon, and hang shiny ornaments from every corner possible. I want to not care where the glitter from the garland falls and not vacuum up the specks for months. I want to read the Christmas story everyday and write verses and put them all over the house and she will call him Immanuel-- GOD WITH US. I want to put cookies on a cheesy Christmas plate and wrap it in tinfoil and look at my breath as I walk across the street and deliver it to my neighbor.

I want to set up my nativity scene and still be creative with where I put baby Jesus like I was when I was little. I want to light candles and sing hark the herald angels sing. I want to fill Brent's stocking until it falls off its hangar. I want to make a snowman in my front yard and then run inside and drink hot cocoa in snowflake mugs with mini marshmellows and tuck my toes under Brent's for warmth while we watch "Elf."

I want to kiss Brent under mistletoe. I want to sing the song I still have memorized from a children's program at church when I was seven as loud as I possibly can: Christmas isn't Christmas 'til it happens in your heart. Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts. So give your heart to Jesus, you'll discover when you doooooo...that it's Christmas-- really Christmas-- for youuu.

I want to wear a cute scarf with every outfit, and leopard print slippers around the house. I want to take lots and lots of pictures of my family. I want to call friends I haven't talked to in so long and talk forever without worrying about the time. I want to ride around and look at lights while eating chex mix and listening to cheesy Christmas songs. I want to eat toffee, and frosted sugar cookies, and fudge, and caramels. I want to finish reading the 3 books I have started while I snuggle under a blanket.

And I want you to have a beautiful Christmas, full of laughter and hugs and blessings.
Enjoy Christ's birth.
I know it's been said many times many ways...

Merry Christmas, to you.