An advent calendar to countdown the days until the big one has always been a favorite of mine. Case and I have a house with candies in it every year, he is odd, I am even. This year, my sister Kadee is working as an intern on the east coast. Working the weeks leading up to Christmas with one day off and then working on Christmas day, mix in some snow, a dead car battery and late nights…it’s been a unique season for her most definitely. Of course she is not the only one, and she is fortunate to be coming home a couple days later, although this is the first time we won’t be with her on December 25th. There’s nothing to be done about it, she has important work at the hospital to do and we all knew this leading up to the holiday. When I allow myself to think about it, I do get sad, some tears, and a deep desire to climb back into a memory from past years, as if I’m in a movie and maybe somehow it will be real.
As a family we wanted her holiday to be special and for her to feel the season everyday, so we each chose little items and were assigned different days. We sent it before Thanksgiving so it would be ready for the first of December. It has given her comfort, she opens one each evening. I’m so grateful we are adding what may be new traditions to the long standing ones. December 25th will come and be quietly enjoyed, although we are happily waiting until Kadee is home to wear our pjs all day, eat cookies for breakfast, exchange gifts, watch movies, play games and celebrate Christmas as a family.
I’m counting the days, only 7 more until we are hugging Kadee.
