A few weeks ago, my son Will told me to, “Slow down, take your time, and do Christmas right.”

His simple request has had me considering how to approach this holiday season.

My mind keeps circling back to the fact that… it MATTERS.

Our memories, the holiday moments, the effort, the love… it really, really, matters.

I could just sleep through Christmas, and let it happen, and let December disappear into a new year… OR… I can help to create magical and meaningful memories for my family, friends, and for me, too!

I started looking back at pictures of past holidays, and memories began to flood back into my mind of the joyful good times I have experienced over the years of my life.

I have had such wonderful holiday moments.

There were some difficult holiday seasons, of course…

After experiencing the death of Charles, and during/after a divorce… I had immense sorrow in my heart, and there was the weight of grief that made everything feel more… heavy, and hard. But when I look back at the pictures, and when I see the good happy times, the sorrow is drowned-out by the imagery of lights, laughter, and love that I have always enjoyed with my family… no matter what we have gone through.

I love Christmas.

I love to create the magic with my family.

I love to make the memories special and meaningful.

This year, I want to be even more deliberate about what I do for the holidays.

This does not mean I want to make myself crazy with holiday chaos… nope, not me… not that.

This year, I simply want to be fully present, with my family.

I want to soak in the light, and the love of the season.

I want to rejoice in the Lord, and His miraculous birth and life.

Last year, Christmas was a little rough, because I was still in the middle of a difficult divorce, and I was very stressed.

This year, it already has been more beautiful and wonderful with my family, with more peace and pleasantry in our home.

I have been listening to a lot of really beautiful music about Jesus, and that is healing my heart. I turn peaceful instrumental Christmas music on as I fall asleep, and it is so soothing, like a lullaby to my longing soul.

More Jesus… more… much more Jesus!

He is the Source of light and peace… and healing.

So, when you are putting up your lights, and decorating the tree, and doing Christmas things… keep in mind that it really does matter.

It matters to the children, and it can matter to you, too.

Christmas, to me, means… MORE CHRIST.

More LIGHT!

More… PEACE.

We all need more of that. And it takes effort to do, but it is worth it.

Invite the Light.

Let’s make Christmas matter more this year.

Christmas memories… can be magical.

I know mine are magical for me.

Here are some memories from my childhood Christmas time in Alaska… I remember… a lot of SNOW!

Here are more memories from Christmas with my family… I have such sweet, sweet, memories of Christmas with Charles and our children. Christmas was so important to Charles. He told me that it was one of the times his parents got along, and made a big deal about Christmas for him, before they got divorced, when he was just six years old. (He was an only child.) It meant so much to him, and he specifically mentioned getting massive amounts of Star Wars toys one year, and that was his most cherished memory.

Charles would spend extra time making Christmas presents perfectly wrapped and beautiful. Even when we were struggling college students, he would still want to make a big deal out of Christmas for the kids. He loved Christmas as much as I did. It was very important to him, and he understood how to make things magical for the children. I can vividly remember taking Christmas packages for the children to his law firm office, and wrapping them together on his lunch break. He wanted to be involved in making it special for them.

Oh man… I miss him, and his help.

But, I still have done my best to keep the magic alive for our family.

I know that’s what Charles would want me to do.

Charles is always close during Christmas.

He wouldn’t miss it.

He would want me to slow down and enjoy it… and to do it RIGHT.

Here are some pictures of Christmas past, with our little family… some were with Charles, and many were after he died.

Make it matter… make it count. 🙂