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Normally, Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year, even more so now having kids. There is nothing like seeing Christmas through their eyes. Normally, the weekend after Thanksgiving our tree is up and the house decorated. Normally, the by the first weekend in December I am almost done with my Christmas shopping. Normally, I can't wait for the lights and all the joy that Christmas brings. But, nothing about 2020 has been normal. We didn't get our tree up until 4 days ago. The tree may be up but I didn't pull out all of our other Christmas decorations. I have been rushing doing last minute gifts. Even though I know, this year, more than ever is a time we should be putting extra into the season. To make it so much more in light of the year I am having a hard time this year feeling the spirit. I took a few days to think about that. To think about why and the answer for me is simple. Family. Christmas has always been about so much more than the gifts and the decorations. Its about God and family. And this year family time, with extended family that is, has been few and far between. It leaves me feeling a little like a Grinch. I miss my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, my nieces and nephews, our friends who have become family. I miss playing Shanghai, getting all the kids together to play, and just being together. The next few days I want to get back into the Christmas spirit. Tonight I am going to watch a Christmas movie and have popcorn with my boys. Tomorrow we are going to do Christmas painting and Christmas day make Christmas cookies. Christmas day we will get to see my parents and this weekend my husbands brothers and mom. I am going to enjoy every moment I can even while missing my extended family that we will not get to see this year. Covid, you have taken a lot from everyone this year. I am done letting you take my favorite time of year.
