Waking up without any presents…

Growing up, every year my brother and I would stay up all night with butterflies in our stomach because we couldn’t wait for santa to bring us our new Barbie and demolition derby track. We would finally get some sleep and wake up feeling the magic throughout the house. Running to the stairs our mom and dad would wait at the bottom and make us sit at the top in our matching pajamas. We already knew this meant millions of pictures. I dont know why it didn’t set in our head that if you complied like good slaves it would take one photo to get it right and then we could destroy all the pretty wrapping paper and bows. But of course, we had to fight and push and make funny faces until we got it right.
Running down the stairs barely putting one foot in front of the other we would gaze at the beautiful tree full of colors and toys and a mountain of presents underneath. I don’t think you can capture a child’s face and the feelings they have on Christmas morning. Taking turns, dads annoying rules, we opened our gifts one by one and was equally thankful for the last one. Finally when we were finished we would lay with all our toys around us like they were apart of us now.
After playing with our new toys we would have to get ready and take off to our Mimi’s where family and MORE PRESENTS were 🙂 oh and this pickle ornament that my cousin Madelyn ALWAYS finds. She’s up to something I swear. One day it’ll be my time to shine. Anyway we are a big family so that means *cue the church bells* tons of foooooooddd! And amazing food at that. Oh man I’m really hungry right now. We would eat ourselves into pot belly piggies and then spend hours playing canasta (don’t ask). And finally we would head home back to our toys who we missed oh so much.
Man wasn’t it great being a kid!!!??

Sitting in Colchester England, 5,000 miles away from family I couldn’t help but have a breakdown yesterday. Not being surrounded by family is hard when it’s such a special day. Not having presents or cards or a big Christmas tree is something I’m not used to and it was hard on me. 

But then, I sat and reflected. I sat and realized my sadness had nothing to do with not getting gifts because this trip was a gift. From me to me with a nice passport stamp as a bow. The prayers and support and safety from Jesus is a gift. Every person we meet is a gift. Every moment of laughter and joy is a gift. All the support from my family is a gift. What made me so upset yesterday was with all of the amazing Things I have been blessed with around me, it still isn’t the same without family. And the Mac n cheese… but mainly family. It made me realize that the point of Christmas has nothing to do with presents but presence.
All I wanted going to sleep last night was to wake up with all my family next to me, going to church at hill country and lighting our candles worshiping our Saviors birth. I wanted to get mcdonalds on the way to Mimi’s because we knew that we would be the first ones there and snacks wouldn’t be ready. I wanted to wake up and everything be back to Normal. I realized that nothing in this world means anything without love and family.
So this Christmas, for me, hug a little tighter, eat a little more, invest in your families stories and listen to them without distraction, love on them and spread joy. Oh and save a plate for me!

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you have a blessed day with every loved one around you!

-B