Letting go...

Christmas has come and gone. No more twinkling lights, yummy scents and that overwhelming sense of anticipation. Christmas decorations are slowly finding their nesting home in the garage. Although the Christmas lights are still clinging to our gutters and shingles they had no life in them last night as I regretfully denied them their glow for fear that some might think me crazy. New Year's day I was kindly reminded by a friend that the new year had begun and it was time to "let Christmas go". The tree still stands in our front room but it has met it's final hour as I intend to take it down after I write this. By tomorrow evening I will have removed all traces of Christmas evidence. In this sense I will have done exactly as I was advised - I will have let Christmas go. As I ponder this year's Christmas festivities I can't help but smile. We had such a wonderful time with family this year...

On the 23rd we went to Leavenworth with Mark's family. His brother and sister were in town (with their families) for the holidays and it was such a treat to spend this special time of year with them.

Gracie with her cousins Tori and Dylan. All 3 of them are 1 year apart. Tori is 2, Gracie is 3 and Dylan is 4. 

Despite the age gaps, the kiddos played quite nicely together, as if they see eachother all the time.

On the 24th we celebrated Christmas Eve "Francis Style". They have a long standing tradition of making enough food to feed an army and then going to the movie theater to watch a family movie - this year the food was delicious (as always) and the movie was 'Tangled'. When we got home the kids were hanging around in Grandma Francis' living room waiting for the 'green light' to open a few presents. (Obviously Grandma Francis was not around at this partiular time. :)

Finally, present time!!!...

Just before bedtime, Aunt Bean huddled the kids up and helped them lay cookies and milk out for Santa. Then she helped them write him a letter...

Gracie standing next to Santa's goodies...

On the 25th we woke up at a reasonable 8:30am and opened our gifts.

Gracie was such a good girl this year that Santa granted her request for a "princess bike and helmet".

She was tickled pink!

Later that afternoon we went over to my grandparent's house to eat and socialize. We didn't stay long this year so that we could spend as much time as possible with Mark's family, while they were still in town. I missed spending time with my family but I am fortuntate enough to live close to them so I will make up for it in the near future. Here's Gracie with 'Papa Craig' and her peeping uncle Andrew...

Gracie with Grandma Jack. (Yes, I've been told I look like my mom:)

On the 27th we invited Mark's family to our home for dinner and games. The kids had one last night to play together and they definitely didn't waste a second. Gracie and Tori are enjoying a "horsie ride" together. Tori is smaller than average and Gracie is bigger than average so when the two of them get together we see a 'David and Goliath' thing happening. :)

Creating this post was such an eye opener. Browsing through all of these photos I couldn't help but feel love in my heart and Christmas came alive for me all over again. I think Christmas is difficult to let go of because it isn't meant to be experienced only once a year and it shouldn't be tucked away in boxes. The true meaning of Christmas - love - should be shared every day. Yes, the decorations need to come down - but I refuse to let Christmas go. It is my New Year's wish to love like Jesus loves me.