Afterward…

Hello, friends!  I hope you’ve been enjoying your Christmas week!

The hubs and I celebrated a lovely Christmas with my in-laws in South Georgia and I returned home yesterday, while he headed to a duck blind somewhere in Arkansas to finish off his holiday. 🙂 If you follow me on Instagram, you got a peek at a few fun things from our week, including the wild turkeys that my MIL feeds just outside her back yard fence!  Once I recovered from the 24 hour nasty bug that laid me out, I was able to really enjoy some time with everyone.

In a blended family, Christmas looks a little different.  I don’t get to spend every Christmas with my children or even my “steps.”  And while a Grown Ups Only Christmas can be restful and lovely, I always battle a little sadness on the years the kids are not with us.  This year, my kids are on a family trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee with their dad and his family and my “steps” are in Florida with their mom.  It’s great quality time with the hubs and my in-laws are always welcoming and fun.  But still…

Yesterday I got home to quiet stillness and a house decorated…

I got laundry done, caught up on some reading, and took a short nap on the couch.  I even got out my 2014 calendar to start looking ahead.  And while that was kind of nice, I was feeling a little lonely and a tad let-down.

The kids have not had “their Christmas” with us yet so I don’t want to take down the decorations.

In fact, I had so little time to actually enjoy my decorations, I don’t really mind not taking them down right now.

I’m just in this odd little in-between.  In between celebrating the actual day of Christmas and event of Christmas with our children.  It’s very strange — to be alone during what is, for most, family time.  You know — game playing, movie watching, eating, visiting, outings, Big Kid shenanigans.

Ours will be back later this weekend and we’ll have “our” Christmas.  And then it will be a rush to get the house (to undecorate or NOT to undecorate???)  ready for a posse of Texas Aggie family coming for the Chick Fil A Bowl on New Year’s Eve.  And I will love having a bustling, full, totally NOT clean and straight house for a bit.  And my world will be right again in its crazy quirky way.

And so today, I’m putting away all the gift wrapping remnants, getting my hair cut, finishing a booth project, grocery shopping, lunching with a girl friend, and –in general — trying to make the most of these quiet in-between days.  Trying to use them to center myself and not wallow.  I may even try to finish my book.  And spend some extra time with Him.  He, who gets neglected in the flurry of holiday preparations so often – the Reason for the Season.  After all, He is Immanuel… God with us.  Not feeling so lonely now. 🙂

Update: I just read this amazing post from Flower Patch Farm Girl about the After.  Looks like I’m not alone.  Let’s all take a breather and see the importance in each day and not just the holiday. 🙂

So tell me what you’re up to — un-decorating?  Enjoying family?  Resting?

Enjoy…