Monday, December 18, 2006

Christmas Time is Here

When I was about 15 or 16 my Mom found these Christmas sheets for our beds. She bought 2 sets, one for me and one for MIchelle. She made our beds and hung mini lights above the beds so when we came home there was this glow and fresh turned down beds with the sheets showing. There have been other friends over the years that Mom has suprised with this little treat. This has become something of a tradition. Every year on or around the first of December we'd put the sheets on our bed, sometimes we'd put up the lights, sometimes we wouldn't. Michelle and I moved away from home and made sure we took our sheets, every year we'd continue to put the sheets on. Not only a Christmas tradition but however cheesey you may think it, it's also a bit of a bonding thing... Michelle and I knew that both of us were sharing in our sheets, even though we don't live close anymore.

So last year I got this fantastic new bed, it really is the best bed ever. Let me explain the beauty of it... The magic starts with the upgrade from the regular twin to a grown up queen. Pillow top on the top and bottom. I have a heated mattress pad that goes underneath the sheets, no more cold feet. Then I have these really nice chocolate brown sheets, a quilt from Grandma (Grandma quits really are the best) and then to top it all off a lovely feather duvet with a pretty cover. I sacrifice a lot of space for the bed and it wouldn't fit down the stairs so it had to come in the window but all this is worth it. The only real downside of this bed is that I no longer have Christmas sheets that fit. Last year I just did without and figured it didn't really matter. I was fully prepared to do the same this year but in Michelle's blog she mentioned her sheets... Michelle got married so she also upgraded and doesn't have sheets anymore either but she at least has pillow cases. Her blog made me realize just how much I miss my sheets... I know this sounds stupid but they are the beginning of Christmas for me.

So last year I felt a little scrooge-ish, I had a really hard time getting into the spirit of things. That's unusual for me, I normally really love Christmas. This year I'd been making more of an effort, I've been listening to Christmas music and trying but something was lacking. I've been putting off buying presents and I'm not even putting up a tree. I haven't taken any goodies to my neighbors yet and I feel this overall stress.

Yesterday was our Institute Choir Christmas performance... my Mom really loves our director and our choir so Mom, Dad and Grandma came up to listen to me sing, and play the handbell (insert handbell arm motion here).

They got to my house at 4:30 ish, I'd made them dinner so we ate but I had to leave at 5 to practice so I left my parents at my house, they came to the church at 7:00. The performance went well, I played my bell (insert handbell arm motion here), did the usual visiting and went home. I was heading downstairs to change and there was a light on in my room... I was surprised I'd left my lamp on cause it's not very like me. I decend the stairs, face my room... and freeze! All I could do was stare, open mouth. While I was gone my Mom had made and turned down my bed with brand new flannely Christmas sheets (they have snowmen on them). The glow wasn't my lamp but mini lights hung above my bed! So she's pretty much the best mom ever :)

So I slept in my super cozy sheets last night and for the first time in 2 years it really feels like Christmas. Apparantly the sheets were vital to my Christmas spirit. I'm looking forward to making goodies for my neighbors (I'm still not setting up the tree though). I feel like I'm really ready. It very much felt before like I hadn't done something I was supposed to do so nothing else was in the right order. Well the order is right and now I'm ready for Christmas, bring it on!

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...
L

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok, I'm crying. I'm like literally teared up. Aw!

- ItzMitz

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful story. And the theme to 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' really topped it off. Merry Christmas, Laura.

- Sanitomo