Merry Christmas!
If you're celebrating, I hope you have a lovely Christmas today, and I hope joy comes easy for you (some years are like that!)
But.
Maybe today you are facing hard things.
Maybe this Christmas doesn't look like you thought it would.
Maybe you've had losses of one sort or another.
Maybe this is a Christmas full of change, and new firsts that are a little hard.
Maybe you are in physical pain. Or emotional pain. Or relational pain.
I don't know what specific difficulties are in your life, but I want you to know that I understand the way that holidays press a little extra hard on the sore spots in your heart.
You are not alone in struggling.
And yet, I also know that in the midst of great struggles, there are always bits of joy to be found as well. Sometimes they are tiny, and you have to hunt to find them...but I promise they are there.
These things can co-exist...if you recognize the joys, that doesn't erase the struggles, and recognizing the struggles doesn't erase the joy either.
I'm over here, holding both of these things, and I hope that you too are able to make space for both the pain and the joy.
Speaking of joy, here's something to make you smile: Lisey's crazy idea for our Christmas tree this year.
It's Brobee, from Yo-Gabba-Gabba and I can tell you more in a future post if you'd like. 😉
Sending lots of love your way,
Kristen
What a beautiful post! So good you remind all of us that joy and hardship can/do coexist - and both need to be acknowledged.
Merry Christmas to you Kristen and your family and everybody dear and near to you.
Kristen, your kindness, honesty, empathy and generosity of spirit are gifts to us all every day of the year. Wishing for you and your family the many blessings of Christmas and smoother sailing in the year ahead. Please tell Lisey she deserves an A+ in creativity - love the traffic cones!
Kristen, you and the community you've created here keep me going every day--but this Christmas message is truly special. Thanks and blessings.
Merry Christmas to you, A. Marie!! I hope that your day includes plans with lovely people (perhaps the Bestest Neighbors?).
@Kristen, yes indeed: I had the BNs and my next-door neighbor over last night for Christmas Eve dinner, and I'm on my way over in a few minutes for Christmas Day brunch with the BNs. I remain lucky beyond words in my neighbors and other friends.
Merry Christmas, Pollyanna! Sending you love and this: https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/author-quotes/optimistic-quotes-from-pollyanna/
@Becca, these are great! Thanks!
Thanks, Kristen. I will try. Christmas is normally a joyful day for me, but BFF died last night and I'm not feeling much joy. Most of yesterday I frantically needed to talk to her--as I do every day--and I couldn't and I won't be able to ever again.
Instead I am going to try to find a bit of joy and remember all the crazy fun things we did together. And how lucky I am to have had a friend like her for 40 years.
@Rose, I'm so sorry. Hands across the miles to you from Central NY to Long Island.
@Rose,
I'm so sorry, Rose. I hope your memories are a comfort to you.
I was thinking of you as I typed up this post; I know today is gonna be tough for you. Sending you lots of love.
@Rose, I am so very sorry.
@Rose, maybe give yourself as much time as you need to find the joy again. There's no hard and fast rule about how you should feel on Christmas Day. With 40 years of friendship, I'm sure you have so many memories! And I hope you can find the ones that make you smile and hold on to them tight!
@Rose, so sorry to hear of your heavy loss. A lifetime with someone in your life by choice is a rarity. I can feel the headache on your words. Many condolences.
@CrunchyCake, stupid autocorrect! That should say heartache
@Rose,
Hugs to you at this time.
@Rose, thinking of you today and so sorry for your loss. Thinking of that Winnie the Pooh quote "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard".
@Rose, Oh dear. So sorry.
@Rose, am so sorry.but you can talk to her from your heart. i talk to my parents all the time. i know they are somewhere and sometimes they watch over me. i know for sure my dead mother saved me from drowning on my honeymoon and also that she was at my wedding.
@Rose,
So sorry to hear of your dear friend's passing. I agree that you can talk to her when you’re in need. And that you will hear her answer in your heart.
@Rose,
So, so sorry. What luck to have found each other in college. So
many years of cherished memories.
@Rose, Oh, Rose, I'm so sorry. So many hurting hearts. . . there is a time for this, too. But see how you are looking for they joy? Especially with that joke you made! (You know, the one about you being old enough to have a friend for 40 years? I mean, that's totally not possible when you're only 27!) 😉
@Rose, my prayers & hugs for your loss.
@Rose, I am so very sorry you are experiencing this sorrow.
@Rose,
I am very sorry for the loss of your dear friend.
@Rose, I’m so very sad for you. What gift for each of you to be friends for so many years.
@Rose, This is such a rough time for you Rose; I'm very sorry for your loss.
@Rose, so sorry for your loss!
@Rose,
I am so very sorry. I am also very glad that you had the opportunity to visit her recently, and share some precious BFF time. Having a friend for 40 years is indeed a great gift; I know she will be with you in the many memories you have of time spent with her.
Thanks, folks. I feel like I lost a very important part of me. Plus, I don't any anyone to snark with about how some of our college classmates, who haven't seen her in person in 35 years, are making it all about them on social media. "Holding you in the light while tears are falling..." We'd laughed about that person over Thanksgiving, saying how neither of us liked here much anyway. And now here she was again.
Merry Christmas! Love the tree…it reminds me of when my boys were little!
Kristen. I think of you, your daughters, and this fellowship of readers a lot as this community has become dear to me despite not knowing any of you in "real" life.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Love the tree and the creative mind that conjured it up. Stay warm, Texas is still frozen.
Merry Christmas to you and your girls! I appreciate how different the tree looks between night and day - it’s like you have two entirely different trees to enjoy. Thank you for sharing.
Merry Christmas! I love that you don't get caught up in the designer/decorator tree each year. Yours are beautiful in their simplicity - a metaphor to be applied to life, as well. I'm sure your fun trees make your girls happy and they will remember the Christmas trees years and years from now!
And yes on the two things co-existing!
Merry Christmas to anyone reading! Thanks again Kristen for your message.
@Sandra Hajdu,
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your girls, Kristen. We are absolutely and completely snowed in here, in eastern Ontario. Blizzard of the century, they are saying. A state of emergency has been declared and we've been told to shelter in place. I really wasn't prepared for this, we always have a big Christmas eve with extended family and then of course, Christmas day. But we cannot even get to family relatively close to us as the roads are closed and mostly impassable. We managed Christmas eve quite well, the girls and I but I am not sure how we will manage Christmas day. What I do know is that I am grateful for this Christmas with my girls, grateful for every day I get with them and I will never take the gift of time for granted.
Happy holidays to all of my friends here, enjoy your time with your loved ones.
@Leann, I send my sympathy re: the blizzard and its effects on your Christmas celebrations. The same goes for Katie in Buffalo, any other Buffalo-area commenters, and anyone else affected by this monster storm. Two cities to the east of Buffalo, we've escaped lightly--cold and wind, yes, but only about 2" of snow.
@A. Marie, Thank you! Things are looking up here, primary roads are being cleared! Plus one of our neighbours cleared out the end of our driveway with his snowblower and since it was about 4 feet of snow plow drag and another 5 foot or so of drift, well, that is huge. Very grateful!
@Leann,
We are snowed in in Northumberland County too. While I think the roads might be starting to be passable, the 4-5 foot drifts in my driveway aren't. We were supposed to go to Brockville to see my Mom. I think we will have a do-over on New Years Day - when it is supposed to be 10 degrees and raining! I hope you are able to get together with your family. At least we will be well fed here!
Merry Christmas! Sending peace and love to you all!
Merry Christmas to you and your girls.
It's mostly quiet here. I've been in treatment for breast cancer since September. Christmas does have a different feel this morning. I'm thankful for online church services. I received a text out of the blue and friends are coming for a short visit and bringing food! I am so grateful for kindness, love and support. There have been big and little ways people have been there for me. Every little bit has helped my thru this journey.
Added to my grateful list is you. I don't know when I started reading the blog but it's been a very long time. The kids were so little.
I know you have so, so many followers but it always feels like you know us individually. You often speak to my heart. Love and hugs to you. Here's to a lighter and brighter new year for all of us.
@Kathleen Mayin,
Sending wishes of love, healing and strength to you as make this difficult journey.
@Kathleen Mayin, Many have been in your shoes, wishing you healing and calm thoughts. Be extra nice to yourself.
Omg love it!!!
My kids used to love watching Yo Gabba Gabba!!! Love the tree!! Merry Christmas to you and your girls.
Merry Christmas to you, Kristen! And to your lovely girls too.
Thank you for this beautiful and real post. Joy has come easily for me this year, and for that I am grateful. But it is not undiluted, and it is not at all a joyful Christmas for my dear wife, so I will share your words with her today. Thank you for always speaking from the heart. You reach other hearts that way. ❤️
Right back atcha, Kristen with an "e." 🙂
Merry Christmas, Kristen!
my zoe's favorite show was yo gabba gabba. thanks so much for this post. she is 14 now.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kristen! I LOVE the Brobee tree. My daughter, now almost 12, was such a huge fan of Yo Gabba Gabba when she was a toddler <3
Thank you for all the support and encouragement you bring to those around you. Your future patients will be so blessed to have you as their nurse.
Merry Christmas to you! Once again, we used your Easter bear bread recipe to make overnight cinnamon rolls and sausage rolls (that we call kolaches around this part of Texas). They were amazing and are my kids’ favorite Christmas tradition.
Thank you for sharing words about the holidays being complicated; people don’t give enough validation about this reality. Bless us for living through hard times and doing our best to enjoy it for ourselves and our families.
Kate Bowler is someone I follow on social who speaks a lot about the complications of life. She is a cancer survivor and dr of theology. Here’s a great post from her for this time of year https://katebowler.com/blessings/a-blessing-for-when-things-dont-make-any-sense/
Happy Holidays to you all!
Oh yes, I love Kate! I read her book not too long ago and enjoyed her perspective.
Yes, true at Christmas, thank you for your beautiful words! And the Brobe tree, brought me right back to Yo Gabba Gabba days! Loved that show or maybe that it seemed simpler days!
Merry Christmas, thanks for the perspective!
I love the tree Kristen, you and your family are very creative.
Merry Christmas to everyone, and best wishes for health, happiness and peace in the coming year.
Merry Christmas everyone!
I love that tree! Your family is so creative, whimsical, and talented. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the gift of you, Kristen. Merry Christmas!
This post and the comments are a Christmas blessing. We are with our son and little granddaughter for the first time in 8 years because our son left his abusive wife in July and they moved in with us. So yes, mixed blessings but God is good and faithful. And
this blog and its followers are a huge blessing. Joyous Christmas friends.
@Nancy, How brave of your son--not an easy move to have made! And how wonderful he has you in his life. A most happy Christmas to all!
Oh, I am so happy that you are there to support him. That is a hard road to walk and I'm so glad he doesn't have to do it alone.
I don't do Christmas but there were some vacation revelers next door that were noisy and running all around until 3 or later this morning. They are strangley quiet well after noon today. I suspect they may not feel as merry anymore. >^..^<
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas. God bless you Kristen!
Beautiful post.
Looking at your Christmas Tree makes me think of Christmas past when I was younger and living with my family. Best Wishes.
I needed this today ❤️ Wishing you a Merry Christmas to you and the girls!
Thank you, as always, for your down-to-earth writing and thoughtful posts each day.
Merry Christmas to everyone here! Kristen’s message is right on point, as usual, for the majority of us who love and follow her. This is a hard time for me, in years past my father died in mid December and my mother died on New Year’s morning when she passed. I am thankful for Kristen and all of you readers, contributors, and lurkers. I’m thankful for the birth of Jesus who came to earth as a savior for all people.
Thank you for taking the time to blog dear Kristen. You and your family are in my prayers.
Rose, I am so sorry you lost your dear friend and I pray you are able to find comfort in your 40 years of memories with her,
To quote Tiny Tim, “God bless us, every one!” And may all of you have a peaceful Christmas and a healthy 2023!
Oh, that's a lot of hard days for you in a short period of time. Hugs to you!
I forgot to say how funny your tree is, so creative!
I got a Christmas letter from a woman I know who is bed ridden. The letter was filled with all the things she is thankful for in her life. I would like to be more like her this coming year. Happy whatever you celebrate to everyone who is part of the community you have formed with this blog.
Merry Christmas, Kristen. This post touched my heart today for many reasons. Thank you for sharing your special gifts with us. I hope that the promise of Christmas brings with it love, joy and peace to all.
I just composed a blog post and published it, right now. Then I thought, "Get a life! Who will bother going online on Christmas?" But not having a very full day (family has all moved away), amusing myself while Husband is napping on the couch, I decided to check Kristen's blog. SHE POSTED TODAY TOO! What a lovely reassurance that: A. Christmas can be a real mixed bag but we can look for the good parts, and B. posting on Christmas must be okay if my blogging role model does it too. Thank you, Kristen!
P.S. I emailed you a few days ago with a blog posting idea.
Oh, I am so glad you let me know about your email because I went to look for it...and gmail had put it in my spam folder! I have unspammed it now. 🙂
Merry Christmas. Thanks for bringing your life and wisdom to mine.
Kristen, thank you for your posts. I applaud your tenacity and willingness to acknowledge how hard real life can be, but also the hope and joy that faith in Jesus provides. God bless you today and in the new year and your pursuit of a nursing degree. You are blessed to realize a calling where you can use your nurturing, caring nature. Merry Christmas from another Kristen (and mother/baby nurse)!
Thank you for this kind and thoughtful post.
I live your thoughtful post Kristen, as always.
Happy holidays to everyone. I hope you all and those you love are safe and well in the midst of the turbulent weather.
Thanks, Kristen, for your post. This has been a super hard holiday season for various big reasons, and your post was cathartic for me. It lightened my heart a bit. And, I smiled at your cool, creative tree, and your fun daughter. Someone said you are a role model, I think that’s very true. Happy New Year
Oh friend, I am so sorry it's been a tough time for you. But I am glad our ridiculous tree made you smile!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Kristen. Merry Christmas!!
Belated Merry Christmas to you! Our daughter in law passed away a little over a year ago - this is our second Christmas without her. Thank you for so eloquently putting how I feel. It can be so sad but I also just light up with joy at our 18 month old grandson. I'm posting your words on our refrigerator for the reminder year round. Blessings of peace and contentment to you!