December Days

When I say “Happy Holidays” I’m not trying to be unChristian. I’m not taking Christ out of Christmas. I’m actually thinking of the span of weeks that encompass the holiday season. I celebrate three holidays during this season: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. During this time of year I might say “Happy Thanksgiving!” (though, granted, that holiday is past) or “Merry Christmas!” (though it seems just a little early for that) or “Happy New Year!” (and it’s way early for that)… but if I say “Happy Holidays” I’m just wishing you joy of the season. Nothing more. Nothing less. Please don’t be offended.

December days are so busy. I don’t thrive on the hustle and bustle like many people do. My Christmas decor is simple. My Christmas shopping list is short. I am grateful for the “Reason for the Season” but I don’t enjoy the overblown, over-commercialized production it’s become. And I pretty much hate Santa Claus movies. Just call me Scrooge, I guess. Mainly, I like to keep things simple.

Yesterday I ordered photo Christmas cards on the Walmart website, which isn’t, apparently, smart enough to realize that during the Christmas rush orders can’t possibly be ready in one hour. It gave me a pick-up time of exactly one hour after I placed my order. I was surprised, but pleased. When I arrived about an hour-and-a-half later, the sweet-but-overwhelmed photo department lady told me that my order was still processing. According to her that meant it was in queue in the machine, but there might be 50 orders ahead of it. I told her I would do a little shopping and check back. An hour later: still processing. “I figure I’ll be here till midnight, Precious,” she told me. “I promise I’ll call you just as soon as they come out.” And she did. Bless her heart. By then it was going on 10:00 p.m. so I told her I’d pick them up today. “That’s fine, Honey. I just wanted to let you know they were done.”

We awoke this morning to several inches of new snow. The ground was bare yesterday and the stars were out last night, so it was something of a surprise. It’s been snowing steadily all day. It’s a good day to be at home enjoying a good book and a hot cup of coffee. I worry about my husband and daughter who had to drive to work today across the city. I’m thankful I can work from home. But I still have to go out to pick up those Christmas cards later. Or maybe they can wait until tomorrow. Except I don’t see when I’ll fit that errand in tomorrow’s schedule.

We’ve got a road trip planned for this weekend. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Rebecca went home with my parents at Thanksgiving, and we’ll be going to Arkansas to get her… with a couple of stops along the way for quick visits with some of Lyle’s family. We’ll be going through Kansas and Missouri, and will be back Sunday. In case you hadn’t noticed, we do intense road trips. I’ll plan to post to Instagram as we travel, so please follow me there.

I’d like to curl up with a book this evening, but I probably won’t, except just at bedtime. I’ve got office parties to prepare for, gifts to wrap, and packing to do before we leave. Maybe I can read some as we travel.

December is the only time of the year I enjoy reading Christmas stories. Am I the only one that’s like that? I had several Christmas novels saved on my Kindle, but I didn’t start reading them until after Thanksgiving.

Recently Read:

• Away in a Manger (Molly Murphy Mysteries) by Rhys Bowen
• Star of Wonder: A Novella (The Incense Road Book 1) by Tracy Higley [This one is still free for Kindle!]
• Unwrapping Christmas by Lori Copeland

Currently Reading:

• Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

To Be Read (but only if I get them in before New Year’s, otherwise they’ll have to wait until next year):

• A Wild Goose Chase Christmas: Quilts of Love Series by Jennifer Allee
• One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson
• Blue Christmas by Diane Moody
• A Log Cabin Christmas: 9 Historical Romances during American Pioneer Christmases
• A Texas Legacy Christmas (Texas Legacy Series #4) by Diann Mills
• The Judge Who Stole Christmas by Randy Singer

Yeah, I doubt get all those read this year, but at least I have plenty to choose from.

What are your favorite Christmas stories? Have you read any on my list?

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{Linking up with Christmas Extravaganza and Literary Musings.}