One day. That would have been perfect.

Just one day with the kids back at school

and my sweetheart back at work.

Just one day back in the real world

just long enough to catch up on housework.

And then I wanted pajama days back.

Sledding, iceskating, board game, movie days back.

Giggling, pingpong, cookie making, chocolate eating days.  

Because NOTHING is better than days full of family.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit

that I cried as I was putting Christmas away.

It wasn't a tear or two.  

It was an ugly, I'm alone 

so I don't care what I look or sound like, cry.

I cried in gratitude for the spirit

that had filled our home over the past two weeks.

I cried with the realization that these times are limited.

My children are growing up.

Two more Christmases with our oldest at home?

I kissed the baby Jesus on his chubby little cheeks

before packing him in next to his mother.

I cried in gratitude for His birth.

For Him.

My son says it's too late in the season to have Christmas lights on.

I plug them in from time to time anyway

because some things

are just hard to let go of.