Embrace Today : Hangar Progress
Late at night, I make two milky hot chocolates. Martin is wrapped in a thick quilt. I hand him one and wrap myself in a quilt. We pause and sip. I always want moments like this to last forever.
Neither of us can contain our excitement for the progress we make on the hangar remodel.
It will be so nice to have a place we can call home again.
We had to tear up the floor to install plumbing. Now here’s Martin measuring our future kitchen counter. Oops! I can’t be taking pictures. I’m supposed to be writing down numbers. Hang on a second…
I get so wrapped up in this project that I forget how time is slipping by. How Christmas will be here.
We don’t have a tree or stockings this year. (We’ve actually never had a tree for just the two of us.) There are no advent candles on our table or little advent calendars with tasty chocolates.
There’s just Martin, me, a very dirty hangar, and a dream.
We’re carrying Christmas in our hearts. If I am not careful, I can find myself slipping into sadness when I see all the beautiful holiday decor being showcased around the blogosphere, in stores, and in the windows of homes we drive by. When that happens, I have to pause. I have to remind myself that Christmas isn’t an outward expression. It’s the way we feel in our hearts. It’s the way we feel and give to one another.
It’s handing Martin a hot chocolate at the end of the night and knowing. Embrace today. It’s beautiful.
December 14th, 2011 at 8:50 am
It’s so much fun to see the progress you are making at the hangar, Katie! Why don’t you wrap some twinkly lights on the banister of your staircase or loft railing and consider *your new home in the making* as the biggest, bestest Christmas gift ever? An ever present reminder of the good things happening right now that just might banish the Christmas blues.
December 14th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Sounds perfect! What is more Christmas than sharing, loving and dreaming? Merry Christmas!!!
December 14th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m overloaded with decor on blogs right now! We’ve somehow gotten too much HGTV in our lives and thinking, huh? Enjoying watching your updates. Blessings.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:51 am
Your home is growing every time I look and it’s so exciting to watch. This Christmas will be the last for the hangar and next Christmas will be the first for your new home.
I understand how you feel about all the Christmassy goings on around us, as we haven’t been able to enjoy them this year yet either because of our own renovations. But like you, I find that paring down the glitz and tinsel goes a good way to reminding us of what the holidays are really about, no matter what our spirituality. Christmas (or Yule for me) is a feeling, an attitude, a spirit, a soulful celebration of something much deeper than can be expressed with fripperies. :)
Season’s blessings to you and yours (including your new home)!
December 14th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Oh Hon… you are making your dream a reality with Martin by your side. You definitely carry Christmas in your heart.
I love that image of you and Martin, milky hot chocolates in hand.
December 14th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
You always say exactly what I need to hear/read, exactly when I need to hear/read it. Thank you so much for your spirit of gratitude when, like the comment by Vickie said, “there’s so much HGTV” in our lives.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Amen to that.
December 15th, 2011 at 8:42 am
What a wonderful sentiment; thank you for the reminder!
December 15th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Katie, this post reminds me of the line in that Faith Hill song “Where Are You, Christmas?” that goes: “If there is love in your heart and your mind, you will feel like Christmas all the time.” Remember that, as you drink up those hot chocolates!
December 15th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Go cut some branches of cedar, , those wonderful branches with the red berries that are out in the woods, grab some red ribbon, and decorate the banister, your door, or tire for that matter! Grab some candles and enjoy! Merry Christmas & a Wonderful New Year!
December 15th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
I agree with Toma, go cut some fragrant green branches and put them on the counter in the tire house. Put a candle in the middle and you have “decor”. The smell of evergreen while sipping hot chocolate by candlelight definitely says Christmas.
December 15th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
So how much needs to be done before you move in? Are you going to move in when the essentials are in place or wait until the whole thing is done? The whole thing is so exciting to watch.
December 15th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
What more does one really need besides hot chocolate and someone to share it with? :)
December 16th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Wow. I am completely blown away by your kindness, ladies. It really means so much.
December 17th, 2011 at 5:41 am
Hot chocolate, an old quilt, and time with hubby sounds delightful to me!