Blog Swap - Let Your Hearts Be Light - Chambanachik

Riding the Roller Coaster

This is my second year in a row participating in the milspouse holiday blog swap. Big thanks to Riding the Roller Coaster for hosting this awesome swap. I always have so much fun trading blogs with some of my favorite bloggers. This year, I have gotten the fabulous Chambanachik (you're so awesome!!) to blog for me. I am so excited to have her here and I just know you will enjoy her post as much as I have! You can leave a comment here or over at her blog to leave her some love!

Oh - I totally forgot!! To see my post in this awesome swap, head over to G.I. Joe's Wife where I got the pleasure of posting on her awesome blog!!


Without further ado, Erika of Chambanachik's post:


Her eyes shine brighter than any lights on the Christmas tree. She draws in a big breath and points at
the red and green decorations in wonder. She's "no more than two" like Cindy Lou Who- 17 months to
be exact- but Millie takes in the glory of the holidays with more excitement and joy than anyone I've
seen.

Everyone has heard it preached that we should see things through the eyes of a child. And it always
seems a little trite, a little stale, a little recycled to me. Once my daughter came into the world, I
realized what a beautiful concept it really is. My favorite Christmas song, "Have Yourself a Merry
Little Christmas", has the line ,"Let your heart be light." Millie's found the secret to a light heart, I
think.

When I was young, I remember the scent of Christmas cookies would fill the house. I remember
helping my mom stir the batter, and decorating them with icing that stained my fingers. I remember
pulling out ornaments from dusty boxes that smelled like our attic, and turning them over to see what
year I had made them. We helped each other string the big, multicolored lights around the tree, and
Dad would lift one of us up to put the angel at the top. We'd sneak a candy cane here and there, and
deny it if we were caught. We would shake presents for any clues of what they might be. We would
spend hours in snow forts and come inside to homemade hot chocolate.

And just like my parents must have had, our family has bills that we worrying about paying. We have
the stress of getting everything done before the holidays. We are tired after a long day at work or
household chores. A recipe doesn't come out right. A present hoped for won't be bought. A snowfall
interferes with plans. Something goes wrong, and the hopes of the holidays make it seem even more
upsetting than usual.

But Millie doesn't see any of this, just as I didn't see it when I was little. She sees the beauty of the
paper chain hung high and snowflakes taped to her window. She's oblivious to the number of presents
under the tree, or what brand they are, or how much they cost. She hopes for a taste of sugar cookies.
She is thrilled with the Christmas lights everywhere we go. She's content with the family she has
around her. She sees only good things.

There's a line from famous story “A Christmas Carol” by Dickens that reads,“I will honor Christmas in
my heart, and try to keep it all year.” And maybe it isn't possible to do that, although my heart would
like to think so. But we all have this one day each year that has a chance to be magical if we let it. The
stress and worries can wait.

Let this day be a day of joy.


12 comments

  1. This is amazing... I love the way she writes!

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  2. Thanks for capturing the beauty of the simple joys of Christmas. I'm committed to keeping Christmas simple, warm, and joyful in remembering that the marvelous gifts of Christ and His life and example are all we need to celebrate.

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  3. Yes, it's rather dull being an adult at times ;).
    Lovely post Erika, and bring on the joy!
    (And wonderful to meet you Mrs P :).
    mj.x

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  4. This is so beautifully written and oh so true! Love the perspective!

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  5. Love this post, Ms. Erika! 'Let this day be a day of joy' - even when there are stress and worries, because that's what Christmas is all about - the joy and peace it brings!

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  6. Awww... these posts in the swap make me so excited to have a little one one day to enjoy Christmas with. What a magical blessing (:

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  7. Beautiful, Erika. It's good to step back, breathe deep, and make an effort to be conscious of the joy we can take in the world around us -- no matter what time of year it is.

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  8. Thanks for having me on your lovely blog! :)

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  9. What a sweet post! I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of my boys. It is so special.

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  10. Oh Erika, what a lovely post. And what a wonderful reminder to look at the holidays through the eyes of a child. I'm sure my parents had holiday stresses as well and I know I didn't always get what I asked Santa for, but I'll always remember my childhood Christmases as being filled with joy and happiness. I guess that's easy to forget when we grow up. Thanks for the reminder to remember that feeling again. :)

    Thank you both ladies for participating in the blog swap! (And sorry for the delayed response!) Wishing you both a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year! xoxo

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