The Unexpected Surprise of Christmas

Caring for home:

If you’ve been following our story for more than a minute you know our future plans. (If not, you can catch up here.) The short version is, we sold our house of eighteen years and plan to move somewhere new every 12-18 months, living like locals everywhere we go and experiencing every day as its own adventure. But with it comes a few surprises I wasn’t expecting. Like Christmas…in a new place…almost every year. Here’s the unexpected surprise of Christmas I didn’t see coming. Maybe you can relate.

Life brings change…

You know it and I know it. Life brings change. We may want some types change and look forward to it, while other change hits us from out of the blue and knocks us clean off our feet. Sometimes change is more ambiguous; change for change sake, I suppose. That is what our semi-nomadic lifestyle is like. It’s more ambiguous – it’s change for change sake. We like new things, new places, new people, and new adventures. So, for us, moving gives us all of those little ‘adventures.’ But it can also take away some of the tradition.

This year looks very different for us. In April we sold a 3,800 square foot house and downsized to a 1,200 square foot flat (apartment.) Our flat looks very different than our home did. Obviously, it’s more than just a decrease of space. It’s more modern, more neutral. We made a few changes like upgraded furniture for our move, and while a few things came with us, many of the things we have are new…different. Our surroundings have changed.

Some things remain the same…

As I’ve started decorating for Christmas, I’ve noticed a few changes, that much is true. The giant tree we always put up in the corner of the house is in storage; we swapped it for a nine-foot pencil tree. The stockings are not hung by the chimney with care – we have no chimney this year. Instead, I bought over the door hooks and hung them to display at the top of our stairs. The nine ‘ring wreaths’ we hung on the front of our house are in storage, and we opted for smaller twelve-inch wreaths for the apartment windows.

While a lot of our belongings have changed, a lot has also remained the same. Our love of family has not changed. The familiarity of hosting a holiday dinner has not changed. Somehow, we are going to stuff sixteen full grown adults into our little home this year. Although we won’t all sit around three six-foot tables draped with table cloths dressed in vintage china, we will all be together…in one room…laughing, loving, and celebrating. These things remain the same.

Unexpected nostalgia…

When we first took possession of this flat, I wanted everything to feel new. It was the symbolization of the start to our new adventure. I purchased Christmas decor that was modern and sleek; white Christmas houses, and ceramic trees, black and white ornaments, and modern table top lamps. It was stunning – but it didn’t feel like us.

This year, I’ve opted for the old – or rather what I already owned. I pulled out our cream colored matelasse’ table runner. I hung tartan plaid and velvet ribbons on almost everything I could find, and unboxed a few pieces of our Royal Dalton Christmas china. I’ve started playing the Christmas vinyls: Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra.

Gentle reminders appear like gifts…

The unexpected surprise of Christmas has been the gentle reminders that appear like gifts. I must admit that this year has felt different. Last year we decorated both the house and the flat. Christmas was spent in our family home of eighteen years, and Christmas felt like Christmas.

This year, we will celebrate in the apartment: The surroundings are different…change. But as I unboxed ornaments carefully wrapped in red and white tissue paper, Christmas started to feel like Christmas again. Mercury glass Christmas trees and votive candle holders came out of hiding. Red and gold ornaments donned with velvet ribbon ties, tartan plaid blankets, and quilted stockings all took their rightful place. In the span of a few short moments, the new place that was different started to feel like home.

The feeling of Christmas…

These moments of nostalgia are what makes Christmas feel like Christmas. It’s the unexpected surprise of finding the Santa ornaments, and the soothing gentle opening chords of Nat King Cole’s Christmas Song. It’s the aroma of a turkey roasting in the oven, and the familiarity of precious voices filling the space we call home.

I can still remember the Christmas tree of my childhood; the colored C7 twinkle lights, the raveled satin ornaments, and the silver tinsel garland. My children have their own memories, as do you. For some it’s the scent of a freshly cut Balsam fir or the first taste of Divinity candy. Some may remember a specific carol sung, or the Christmas story being read by firelight.

It’s those things that have been my unexpected surprise of Christmas. I suppose I thought everything would be new this year. I thought Christmas would feel strange and unfamiliar. But what I’ve learned is that there is a feeling to Christmas. It feels like home – no matter where home may be.

And so this year, whatever change life has brought you, I encourage you to seek out the feeling of Christmas. Is it a family recipe, a vintage table runner, or the sounds of the season? You may be in a place that feels unfamiliar and strange – it may be of your own choosing, or it may be one of life’s little curve balls. You can still experience the joys of Christmas when you learn what is important to you and embrace those things. They will be your unexpected surprise of Christmas.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re experiencing, I hope you have a beautiful holiday season. Make new memories, but don’t forget to include the little unexpected surprises of Christmas, too.