“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, Brown paper packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favorite things” ~ Lyrics, My Favorite Things. Sound of Music.
Hello Beautiful People! I don’t know about you, but there has been many days lately that I am not singing happy songs about Christmas, but it’s more like…
“Where are you Christmas, Why can’t I find you, Why have you gone away, Where is the laughter, You used to bring me, Why can’t I hear music play?” (Lyrics Faith Hill or Cindy Lou Who).
As my children grew up and started their own families and started their own traditions, Christmas just didn’t “feel” the same. I think it’s because I wasn’t “needed” to make the magic anymore. I love seeing my kids do things for their kids, but something was missing.
Now, something tells me if you know me you won’t be surprised by this next sentence. I was at Disneyland, and I found the Christmas magic. I know you are thinking, “Of course you did, it’s the happiest place on earth.” But listen, it isn’t what you’re thinking. I love parades and fireworks. I love fireworks so much that when I die I want part of my ashes put into fireworks so people can say, “She went out with a bang,” and/or “She really sparkled.”
Anyhow, back to what I was saying. Matt took me the other night just to watch the Christmas parade and see the fireworks. As we are standing there, I am not really watching the parade. I have seen it a few dozen times. I love it each time, but instead I am doing my favorite thing to do at Disney, and that is people watch. I am watching a mom who is there with her daughter who looks to be about 18 months. She is smiling so big at her daughter who is waving at all the characters. She’s jumping up and down in her mom’s arms to the music and the mom is fighting back tears watching her daughter. Now that baby will never remember that moment, but that mom will never forget.
Oh, but it got even better. Then the fireworks and light show started. It really is beautiful. At the end of the fireworks, it started to “snow.” As I was looking out at everyone, there was a couple dancing under the snow. She was crying, he was giving her forehead kisses. There was a dad wiping away tears because his little girl hugged him and said, “Thank you, this is the best,” as she twirled in the snow. There were 3 ladies standing beside Matt and I who were giggling and one of them said, “I needed this. It really helped me not feel so alone.” Needless to say, as I stood there in Matt’s arms, crying, I felt the magic of Christmas. Maybe, it’s just the magic of Disney, but I was able to bring that feeling home and let it carry me over.
I’ve realized as I was feeling the Christmas magic, I saw more of it in everyday things. Life is made up of unique moments that feel like magic, if we stop long enough to take our eyes off of us and look around. Maybe that’s just for me. Whether you have felt the Christmas magic every day this season, or if you are still looking for it and hoping to just get past the 25th, please know I understand it all. I hope next year will be different, and I will be ringing my jingle bells all season long. But no matter what day it is, or what season, we can always Find The Good In Our Lives.
Find The Good In Your Life 