This is what our living room looks like right now.
We are having new tile put into our downstairs and attempting to paint over our ridiculously bright green walls. It was supposed to take a week, and was to be finished by the time we got back from vacation over Thanksgiving break. It has now been over two weeks and is not finished. The work is being done well, and James and I are happy with the results, but there is something to be said for efficiency.
But this is Mexico, where things always take longer than expected and efficiency is not always the main goal.
I was hoping to have the house finished in time to decorate and put up a Christmas tree with enough time to enjoy it before we leave on the 18th for San Diego. It is Isa's first Christmas, after all, and I wanted her to experience a bit of the festivness.
Not to mention, since James and I have been married, we have never had our own Christmas tree. We're going on three years now.
Yesterday I got myself so worked up over not having the house decorated that I found myself crying over it to James. But this is Isa's first Christmas, I said. But, we've never had a Christmas tree of our own... But I just wish once we could have what other couples and families have...
Today I was awakened by a squealing daughter who my husband brought into our room and lied down between us. We lied there as a family for 20 minutes or so, the three of us.
Christmas is not about Christmas trees. It is not about decorations, or jingle bells or snowmen. It is not about festive music or having it all put together. It is not about Christmas cards or pretty outfits. It is not about lights or hot chocolate.
It is about love. The love of family, the love of friends who are like family, and the love that was first given to us in order for us to even have the chance to love each other.
For Isa's first Christmas, she's not going to remember a pretty tree, or how the house was so clean with everything in its place.
She's not going to remember the music or the lights.
And who cares about those things. What I hope she does remember is how much her family loves each other. How much her mom and dad love each other. How much she is loved and cared for. How it's not what others have that matters.
Besides, how much better is this picture than a Christmas tree
