12.27.2019

santa paws

The day after Christmas, was awkwardly quiet. I had enjoyed grand dog chaos (most of it) the week prior, and as always hosted Christmas Eve. It was good, exhausting and loud. Grandkids sure have a way of livening things up! 

Christmas will always be bittersweet for me, a result of childhoods lasting affects. It doesn't matter how much, or how little, I do. This time of year brings out all the feels. Good and not so good. I practice letting go, a lot. I will never master the holidays, or letting go, but I will always try. A time of year when my heart is reminded, that less is more.

There was only one gift left under the tree come Christmas morning, for our bundle of energy. It was a doggie delight packaged deal. Tank didn't know what to do with four new toys all at once! The destructible kind that I don't normally get him. He was like a kid in a candy store. It was too cute, and as always he made us smile. A lot.

Tank (1 year old)

I hope each of you enjoyed a merry & memorable Christmas season!!



5 comments:

C-ingspots said...

Merry Christmas Aurora. Your celebration sounds lovely to me. So glad you were surrounded by beloved family members. You're so right about the kids, they definitely liven up the scene! Ours was a quiet affair. We met with my side of family almost 2 weeks ago for a meal and gift exchange game. Then Christmas Eve was spent at my brother and sister in-law's for dinner. Both were just alright for me. We did enjoy a wonderful get-together with our riding club and this one held the spirituality that I crave for this holiday. I always feel more loved by friends than I ever have with most family members. Some things never change I guess. Christmas day the hubs, dogs and I stayed home and enjoyed a quiet day with a delicious meal and we watched It's a Wonderful Life on tv. My favorite! Overall for me, it was peaceful and enjoyable. I know exactly how you feel about melancholy thoughts during Christmas. I've suffered many years with that. However, this year I'm happy to say that I didn't have those thoughts and old, sad memories of "what once was" creep into my mind. Dare I say it? Maybe I've finally come to terms with things being as they are now. I hope so, because those days are but fond memories now. Hope you and your family enjoy a new year filled with blessings and joy.

Grey Horse Matters said...

We hosted Christmas Eve this year too. Past memories do play a part each year for me about those who are no longer with us but we remember the good times and enjoy the grandkids and our kids. My son in law and daughter in law’s family joined us and we had a good time. Too much food though. I think I gained a few pounds which isn’t good😐 my granddaughters gave Ginger a huge knuckle bone which she has almost worked her way through. I even let her have a toy with stuffing and she ripped that apart in no time. So the rug has white fluff and bone chips decorating it at the moment until I vacuum. For the most part it was a quiet Christmas Day for us too. Just looking at all the decorations that need to come down and be stored for next year I wish I had put up less!

Tank is gorgeous I’m sure he enjoyed his toys and will be looking for more in the future. You may have started a trend now.

aurora said...

Thanks for sharing your joy! Glad to hear Christmas was enjoyable. Yes too much food, that we are still eating...ugh. My mixed feelings come mostly from enduring negative family relationships (one in particular). Treasured family members do help immensely. The holidays also bring back feelings of what wasn't in my youth, and inadequacy. I just can't do it all anymore. Other then one tree, I barely decorated. I used to put multiple trees up, along with my expansive village collection. So what are the 50 billion tubs of decor I am storing for? I know, next year lol! Me practicing letting go is a beautiful thing, and now I don't have to put them away. Looking forward to more letting go in the future! I truly want less, not more. Our beloved animals sure put everything into perspective, love them for that and so much more.

Shirley said...

Christmas was quiet here, no family close by. Ted went 4 hours away on Sunday to visit his daughter and her husband and meet his grandson for the first time, but we had a quiet Christmas. Spent lots of horse time with Shayla but not much else. I kinda don't mind at all. I used to host Christmas for our large family but we are all dispersed and comfortable in our own routines as we age.

aurora said...

Shirley I love comfortable routines, sounds like the perfect Christmas! It's so great to read about your time with the horses and Shayla. I can do without hosting, all the hoopla overwhelms me. Our kids all live fairly close, it is nice to have them all together with the grandkids. The extended family part will change eventually...