feeling christmas-y

...or not. this was me the majority of the past week.

maybe it is the fact that i'm pregnant and the reality of a second child is beginning to sink in (overriding the imminent things-to-do list of the holidays).

maybe it was, with my husband now home, i was more concerned about all that needs to be done in the next 1-3 months.

maybe it was that i hadn't even really decorated our house for the holiday, watched a single christmas movie, and it feels like a not-so-hot summer day outside.

maybe it is being a grown-up?

regardless, it bugged me. i wanted to feel christmas-y, to be excited about decorating and not see it as something else to do. i wanted to go shopping and not feel stressed about getting the perfect gift for so-and-so. i wanted to just sit and listen to christmas music and soak in the feeling of christmas.

i kept waiting to feel christmas-y. but, i'm not even sure what that means. it's like i was stuck in a bad christmas movie and the "angel" of christmas present never showed up to sprinkle some christmas dust and create the happy ending.

the reality: christmas is here. in just a few days, we will attend a christmas eve service, read the christmas story as a family, open gifts, eat a lot, and celebrate the joy, hope, and peace of what christmas truly means. i don't have to feel christmas. Jesus came as a baby, born in a manger. His glory was revealed and the Light of the world came. Immanuel, God with us. i'm sure there were many who didn't feel the warm fuzzies of that special night. but, regardless, Christmas was here. and it changed the world forever.

i am very excited about the next few days. our christmas tree is finally up (and decorated!). christmas shopping is complete and i am more excited about the giving than the getting. i am thankful to celebrate with family and friends. i love christmas baking and am thrilled that my husband is home to eat what i bake. i am excited to watch our little boy experience the holiday and get excited about lights and wrapping paper.

so, i guess i do feel christmas-y after all.

merry christmas! i hope this season is especially joyful for you as we celebrate our Savior's birth!