A Christmas Wish Come True

I keep thinking about magic. It’s the time of year no doubt. The tales I tell of Santa and his sleigh. The songs we sing. The reindeer food that we’ll throw up to the roof on Christmas eve. The enchantment of gifts that will spill out from under the tree, delighting us all with their pretty papers and silky bows. It is magical. The spirit of giving. The charm of a season. The memories and traditions we are creating in this cozy house of ours.

Despite all the stresses of money and time–how much to spend, what to give, when to fit the shopping in to my already too busy schedule–I still adore it. All of it. Every little thing means a little bit more when I’m here in this house planning for Christmas morning. When I’m going through six months worth of photos trying to find one to send with the Holiday cards. When I’m trying to find just the right words to describe the joy of this family.

I am confident in the life I have. In the magic that has carried me to this point. In seasons like this one where that takes on another meaning. A firmer meaning. It is the holidays, I think, when I feel most fortunate and most full. Surrounded by cherub faces. Children who delight in the smallest of gifts, just because they are wrapped up tight with the belief that Santa carried them down the chimney.

It will be a giddy, happy time as we dole out the gifts on Christmas morning and watch the kids shriek and smile. I am excited for it as much as if I were still a child myself. But we have cheated a little bit. My husband and I are impatient souls and tonight we granted a Christmas wish a few days early: a puppy. The boys shrieked and smiled and once she adjusted to the new noises of her life, the puppy chased the boys and the boys chased the puppy and it was just the way this house is supposed to be. Full of life. And magic. And spirit.

And now, as the boys rest their heads and their hearts and gear up for another day, I sit and watch the nameless puppy frolic about, wrestle the lower branches of the Tree, nibble some kibble in the corner of the living room. Magic. Life. Love. Happiness. I don’t think any gift from Santa will top this one we’ve given the boys, we’ve given ourselves. We lost two dogs over the past eighteen months and we are grateful to be able to welcome the animal spirit back into our lives.

Let chaos reign. Three boys and a puppy. A house filled with hope and dreams and love.

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I’m not sure why I didn’t post this the night I wrote it. But here it is. Late. Like me. Always late.

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Season’s Greetings. And a very wealthy, joyous New Year on the way…for you, for me, for our new little Chocolate Labrador now named Stella. Woof.