{a few more holiday photos on Flickr}
It's been such a 'full' week here with lots of Solstice and Christmas celebrating. The holidays go by so fast, don't they? So incredibly fast, and there have been many, many moments this month - despite keeping it all as simple and mellow as we can - where I've felt as though I'm running a marathon that might never end. Or one that ends, only to begin again. The lists, the food, the preparations, the making, the gifting, the wrapping, the driving, the cooking, the cleaning, the meltdowns (theirs and mine), the on and on and on.
But then - there are those little moments. These little oh-so-tiny moments that in reality amount to only minutes worth of time. But the weight of those little moments make them so much bigger - and fill up the whole of the holiday season with their essence. The marathon disappears and in it's place is the feeling of love, friendship, family and joy. The holidays. One little merry moment at a time.
On Solstice evening, as we all returned in from the setting sun and our little bonfire, we set about getting settled in front of the table of food and our tree with gifts. Calvin excitedly began scurrying about into all the corners of the house - under his mattress, in the basement, and everywhere in between - and returned with package after package of tucked away gifts he'd made for us. We knew nothing of these - each one was a surprise, and so perfectly suited for each of us - some he's had planned for months he told us later. Wrapped in cardboard, paper, and duct tape, with gift tags thumbtacked to to the package. They were - without a doubt - the most beautiful gifts I've ever seen. His joy in giving those gifts - and the love in which we were all showered with upon opening them...well, there really aren't words. It was one of those merry moments.
I know this is true of all of life - it goes by so fast and it really is always about the little moments. But I feel it to be particularly true at this time of year. Things are moving faster...and hand in hand with that, those little joys seem to be even more plentiful.
Wishing you many more merry moments as you continue celebrating...or as you move on to the wonder of the post-celebratory rest!
