A New Response to "Happy Holidays"

What if, “Happy Holidays” was reciprocated with a polite, respectful question, “Which holiday do you celebrate?” And then happily greeting that person accordingly? Why is it so difficult for Americans to personalize their conversations between a cashier and customer? Trust me, it is difficult for me too, but I am changing this year.

No more diluting the meaning of the season...even if it means something different to someone else...ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE BELIEVES IN SOMETHING!!

To mask over this important time of year to many people with an all-inclusive greeting, steals away some respect from those of us who celebrate. When someone says, “Happy Holidays” they are really saying,

“I am sure you are one of the majority who celebrate either Christmas or Hanukkah, but I don't want to acknowledge your belief outright.”

We are in America, Land of Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech! So let's stop hiding our hearts behind our words, and embrace the freedoms that we hold dear.

My first attempt at this new response to “Happy Holidays”:

At Hobby Lobby at closing:

Cashier: Tired, it is the end of the day. “Happy Holidays”

Me: Polite smile and lean in, “Do you celebrate Christmas?” after I noticed some religious jewelry on her finger.

Cashier: Big smile, bright eyes. “Why, yes I do!”

Me: “Well, Merry Christmas!”

Cashier: “Thank you!”

December Baby

I had an overwhelming sense of grief today. I thought about the tiny heartbeat I saw and the baby that would have turned 1 this month. It is strange that I am still brought to tears when I have a sweet 8 month old in this season. But my December baby is in Heaven and I can't help but remember. I looked back on my post last year, and I posted this song on the 11rh. Strange how it hit me around the same date this year. This is the song that I found after my miscarriage of my baby due in December.

Sad and Happy All at Once

We've started a new tradition at our house: Wednesdays are Family night. It is so easy to get caught up in the sports galore lifestyle, and congest our evenings with driving back and forth for extra activities. We've been there done that, and although there is much to be said for organized sports (our boys are on basketball teams with Coach Daddy), we are going to reserve at least one night of the week for organized FAMILY!

So last night was Family night numero uno... On the agenda was:

--Make a plan for Giving this year...we are going to be intentional about giving to at least one organization/week or providing needs for people in the community at least once a week up to Christmas."We're gonna get AFTER we give!" Check out your local radio stations for ideas...our list keeps growing!

2007

--Eat popcorn and drank cocoa while watching Family videos. This was the best therapy I've had in a long time. We watched a Christmas video when we just had two toddlers. And then we watched a video of Batman Daddy role-playing with Spider Man and Baby Monster...wow, we had energy back then! It was a tear jerker only because we saw how much joy we have let slip away as we've grown older. Life with the little ones was so much fun! It seemed so simple back then.

What got me most, was my nine year old seemed to feel the same as me. He said, "That was happy and sad."
I asked, "Why was it sad?"

"We just don't play Batman and Spider man anymore. I want to go back to that time."
He knew. He felt the small loss of innocence...not that he's not innocent now, but he knows that to play like that now is not for him...he's outgrown it. Daddy spends a ton of time with his kids now...they play guitar together, drums together, play sports, go to the local nature trails...Daddy is a superhero! But, my little boy is growing fast and he knows it. We need to make these days better than each yesterday.

I have been in a funk lately. I let materialism get to me in this recent move. I let the kinks become big ol' knots. I am done being like this. I want to make this time the best ever, and next month to outshine now, and so on and so on. So one day when we look back, it will be sad and happy all at once!