Ghosts of Christmases Past

I wrote this as a guest post for G.I. Joe's Wife while her hubby was home for R&R. Thanks for letting me blog for you doll! Check out the original post here or read it below!

Ghosts of Christmases Past

Rewind to Christmas 2005. I know, you may need to sweep the cobwebs from your brain but I believe in you. For me, I was in high school. Blech. That Christmas was spent doing the same thing I always did. It always started on Christmas Eve for us. My whole life, we all got to open one present and it was ALWAYS new pj’s. Score! We always did the Nativity and read Luke 2 as well. The morning started bright and early and we all took turns going from oldest to youngest opening gifts. Then it was my parents turn and they took turns followed by us kids divvying up the “family” gifts. Afterward, we spent the next couple hours cleaning up and putting out all of our gifts on our beds for when people stopped by later. All of those shenanigans were followed by loading up and heading out for the annual Christmas Brunch. You know how I’ve mentioned that my mom’s family is BIG and LOUD? Yeah there are those two little understatements again. Thanksgiving is all about the volleyball game but Christmas is all about the omelets, muffins, basketball, and lots of talking and laughter.

Moving on to 2006. Life was different. Mr. Superman and I were together and I was so freaking excited for my first Christmas together with a man that I just knew was different too. About two weeks before the big holiday, he notified me that he would not be there. Yeah. A two week-long snow-boarding trip was on his agenda instead. He was sorry but not sorry enough to not go. I was more sad than mad but the gift he sent me that year was so worth it all. He topped it all off by fibbing to me and coming home early. What a keeper :)

2007 found us as a newlywed married couple. Booyah! Christmas was a blast and totally different just because of the feeling of finally being out on our own and starting our own traditions. I also had the beginnings of pneumonia. Sweet!

2008 was spent up in Utard uh I mean Utah with Mr. Superman’s family. It was really hard for me to not be with my family or even in our own space being able to continue with our own traditions, but we had a good time. Lots of food and snow! The snow was the bees knees.

2009... I guess all I can say is whoa. We were getting the hang of the married holiday thing, but it was our very first year of being in the military. We also had been in Georgia for a month and we felt a little lost being that far from everyone and everything familiar. We had a great time though. I made a Cafe Rio copycat feast for Christmas Eve dinner and we got to open one gift each. Whatdoyaknow? It was pj’s!!! We stayed up past midnight and then got to sleep in! Oh the perks of no longer living with younger siblings. We opened our gifts and then had cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We got spent the day together and got to have phone calls with the fam damilies and Christmas dinner was complete with a honey baked ham, mashed potatoes, and all the other trimmings. We were a little lonely but so stoked about beginning our brand new adventure!

Here we are, now in 2010 and life couldn’t be further from our expectations or plans. That’s the military though right? Here we are, another holiday upon us, and we are nowhere near each other. Once again, we are determined to make the best of it all. I organized a drive to get 100 or so stockings to his unit and I sent a Christmas tree. I just tried my hardest to send bits of Christmas to The Sandbox and with the help of family and friends, was able to do that. As for me, I will be spending it with my family back in Arizona, soaking up those traditions and making memories similar to my childhood.

One thing that I have learned as my Christmases have transformed and changed throughout the years is that no matter where I am, who I’m with, or what I’m doing, the reason behind it all is to celebrate my Savior. He makes all things possible and the best way I can honor Him is to show my love for everyone dear to me and continue to give thanks for life, love, and happiness. 

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all you Lovelies!