Just the Two of Us

Any "This Is Us" fans out there?  Remember the Big Three chant?  "First came me.  Dad said gee.  Then came me.  Mom said wee.  Then came me.  They said that's three.  Big three."   Maybe your family chant was the Big Four or the Big Six.  Now our chant in the Empty Nest is "Just the two of Us."    

We all started out that way - the Big Two.  Once we met our man, he was more than enough.  At the risk of isolating friends and devoting too much time to our budding romance, we felt like three was a crowd.  The two of us could do anything or nothing at all and be giddy with contentment.  No one else mattered.  In fact, others seemed to get in the way.  All changed when those little people took up residence in our home. 

Becoming two again can make a profound impact on the holidays.  Do your seasonal celebrations look different this year?  Mine do.  That is to be expected.  The Empty Nest does shake things up a bit. 

If your kids are not yet married, enjoy that fleeting time when they still come "home" for the holidays.  My youngest once came back from college and stated he was "going home" as he was leaving.  My heart sank as those words spilled from his lips. One day their "home" will have a different mailing address.  No need for the long face.  It's not all bad.  That also means their bills will be sent to a different mailing address! 

May our children always have the warm feelings of "coming home" as they walk across our threshold whenever that might be.....even if it's less often than we would like.   

My oldest sons declared last year they wanted to be in their own homes at Christmas.  We get it.  We're fine with it. They have every right to build their own traditions, but where does that leave just the two of us?  What about all those treasured family traditions I created and cultivated through the years?  Poof....Are they over and out?

It may take a little extra work to keep the merry in our Christmas.  It may take a shift in our mindset.  It will definitely take a lessening of our expectations.  It will take a reminder that it is now not about us. The two of us can keep it about us, but no one else should shoulder that responsibility. 

My loves will be spread out across the globe this season - Tennessee, Texas and now New Zealand.  Thanksgiving was celebrated with "just the two of us."  We had advance notice to prepare our hearts for that holiday but were unsure of our Christmas options.  We thought a grand idea might be to book a trip for "just the two of us." It was up to us to create our own Christmas fun so not to sit home alone feeling sorry for ourselves.  That same day an invitation was graciously extended. Yay!  We have a place to go. 👊

These days we don't determine the agenda.  The agenda is determined for us.  We don't invite.  We hope and wait for an invitation.  We are grateful to receive.  Good things come to those who wait....silently and patiently!

Often the holidays warrant a surge of our creative juices.  How can we make the best out of less? The first Christmas day was rooted in simplicity.  It's ok if ours is too. 

We should celebrate Jesus every day so shifting our Christmas celebration by a day or two shouldn't be a big deal.  We treasure being accommodated.  We must also do some accommodating.

I used to think going to see a movie on Christmas day was lame.  Don't people have better and more sacred things to do?  Well....one year I became one of those people.   Be forewarned:  Christmas movie-going is not for the faint of heart. It is a popular activity.  Get your tickets early.  Waffle House is another happening place.  No one is home to enjoy my traditional Christmas breakfast, so a Wa Ho breakfast will do and do quite well! If that is in your plans, go early.  Plan to stay long.  You will fit right in if you come as you are in those festive reindeer jammies!  No shoes required.  Slippers will do!

The great thing is there are no rights or wrongs.  We can celebrate Jesus' birthday anywhere as long as we do.  All's good if we make certain He is the focus of our day.

This is Us...the new us.....Just the two of Us!

I'd love to hear how you keep a flexible heart open to new ways of celebrating.

Merry MERRY CHRISTmas to all and to all a good night! 🎄

Christmas time is so sublime.

All are filled with cheer.

Don't we wish that was the case

for every day next year.