Well, I didn't get to enjoy the holiday season this year. Yes. We had a very nice Christmas, and I'm so grateful. Everyone was healthy (well except for the hubby), and we were blessed with many nice things. But I didn't get to "feel" the holiday spirit like I wanted.
One reason would be that I work in the scrapbooking/crafting industry, which means that December is CRAZY crunch time with preparations for the biggest tradeshow in our industry in late January. That means professional designers everywhere are cranking out layouts, cards, and altered projects in droves. We stay up late, get up early, and walk around with adhesive squares stuck to our shirts, pants, and socks. I feel ornery, tired, and mentally exhausted from all the creating. And although, this year I haven't had to do as much designing as in days past I still feel the stress as we prepare to release our biggest release ever. It's wonderful and exhausting all at once!
Secondly, is for the amount of activities that fill up the December calendar. I rush from one thing to another; and although we actually eliminated several of those activities it's still too much. I struggle to say "no" and end up with way more on my plate than I really want to accept. I'm very selfish with family time, and I don't like to share. I already feel like my kids are growing up too fast. The last thing I want is to share that time with other people. Like I said--selfish.
So I felt all down and yucky during the later part of December, and I'm just not ready to let go of the glow of my trees, or the decor. It will come down. I promise. But this year it's going to be on my timeline and when I feel ready to let go.
Because I'm still in Christmas mode (or the craze), I have one holiday layout to share with you today. It documents my darling niece's fascination with opening gifts. Just one more reason why I'm reluctant to share family time with others: how could you resist a face that enthralled with gift wrap?
Tell me I'm not the only one who needs the holiday to stick around just a little bit longer. Perhaps it's not the decor so much as it is the feeling after all:
Supplies: (Click the photos for the products used in this project.)
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good for you! i tried to make sure to take the december days slow and experience the fullness of each one but i somehow frantically got my cards done (rather than truly enjoy stamping them and creating them). so i still have my Christmas stamps and paper on my desk because i'm not ready to put it away. i haven't put our Christmas music away either. heee! :)
ReplyDeletep.s. that layout is a-mazing! :)
ReplyDeleteMy tree and all the decorations are still up too! Christmas is so hectic that I don't get to enjoy the look and feel of the sparkle of Christmas until after the mad rush of the holidays is over. I'll put it away by the end of January but I'll be enjoying it until then.Plus I'm still working on my December Daily!
ReplyDeleteThis year Christmas just seemed to fly by and I missed it. Every year I take things off my plate to enjoy the holidays but over the last couple of years with my daughter dancing in the Nutcracker, every weekend in December is packed with rehearsals or performances. My tree did come down because here in Florida, it got too dry to be safe, but every night on our way home from dance, we drive through the neighborhoods appreciating those houses that still have their lights up!
ReplyDeleteMy tree is still up so you are not alone!
ReplyDeleteJeannine H.