My typical Christmas recap would include a snap shot of the gifts we gave and received, the food cooked and the friends and family we spent time with. However this year we took a Christmas off… between the passing of Allyn’s father passing and being laid up with bum knee we had desirer to celebrate Christmas.

The only Christmas related things we did was go across the street for dinner with our neighbors, which I really enjoyed.   We also sent Christmas gifts to Allyn’s kind-of-kids, which after hearing how thankful they were for them made me happy and made me miss Christmas.

I think I have been in such a fog I didn’t miss the Christmas tree, shopping, wrapping or opening gifts, nor did I miss the Christmas music, lights or festivities around town until everything was over. Christmas day I missed the fellowship with friends and family and the preparing and eating of various holiday foods but I think I only missed because I saw it on television.

Having an anti-Christmas this year allowed me really reflect about what the season is all about and the future. So I think after this year I want to do or focus on the following forward:

• Go to a Christmas Church service
• Always spend Christmas with family – currently that would be Allyn and my mom, unless any of Allyn’s siblings, their families or any members of our extended family want to join in
• Cook or plan a Christmas Day meal
• Cook or plan a Christmas Eve meal.
• Do something festive on Christmas Eve
• Give gifts to love ones … this means shopping for the prefect gift and wrapping
• Give gift or food to those in need.

I want to start some traditions, things that we look forward to every year and build memories around.

While I would not say this was a terrible or miserable Christmas, it was just another day. I was happy that Allyn and I got spend Christmas together.   I am looking forward to my mom joining us in a few days and having some family time and starting 2016 with family.