Lessons From Christmas Pasts

This Christmas is one I’ll count as special for years to come.⁣⁣⁣⁣It marks many beautiful moments. ⁣⁣⁣⁣It’s funny how hard things in life can cause you to count your blessings every day a whole lot more. ⁣⁣Joe and I couldn’t have been happier to have everyone home yesterday. ⁣⁣Today we got to spend five wonderful hours together. ⁣⁣We haven’t gotten to have everyone home together for three years and it was as good as life gets. ⁣⁣⁣Even the crazy conversations at the dinner table that always seem to happen, the many wrestling matches and even the wild nerf attacks⁣⁣- all of it was just like I expected. ⁣⁣⁣⁣It wasn’t this way for years though. ⁣⁣Because I wasted a lot of years striving for something that wasn’t real. ⁣⁣For many years my disappointed expectations led to many tears. ⁣⁣And it wasn’t because of anyone else. ⁣⁣⁣⁣Honestly, it was because of my unrealistic expectations of what I thought we needed to be. ⁣⁣You see, I thought we were supposed to be a perfect version of what we see all over our social media feeds. ⁣⁣⁣But the more I arrived for some imperfect version of this the more I failed. ⁣⁣And the truth is I no longer find myself wanting this any more...⁣⁣Because, this family I’ve been given is real and I wouldn’t change it for anything in this world. ⁣⁣⁣⁣I’m a real mom who’s sensitive at times and who often can say the wrong things at the wrong times. ⁣⁣.⁣⁣This past year has taken a lot from us and it has asked more of us then you could imagine. ⁣⁣And yet it’s also given us more than we ever hoped it would. ⁣⁣It’s taught us being real can be excruciating at times but it’s also how a beating heart experiences the depth of love. ⁣⁣⁣⁣And friend, this makes the hard of being real worth it. ⁣⁣⁣⁣So, this day looks a bit like this most times we get together for a family photo ⁣⁣but we all love it and that’s what makes being real so good. ⁣⁣Merry Christmas to you all and a happy New Year from our beautiful messy family to yours . . . ♥️⁣⁣