Home for the Holidays

After another year of working “mostly” from home, 2021 is closing.

And if you’re anything like me, it’s also been another year of home renovations. My husband and I joke that by the time this pandemic is a thing of the past, we’ll have fully renovated our house and be ready to move into another one. Or maybe move cities or even countries for that matter. I could certainly use a change of scenery and an adventure of our own.

But first, I’m ready to welcome the holidays.

For us, it will be another holiday season celebrated in the comfort of our own homes. And this may be an unpopular opinion, but I prefer spending Christmas at home. It’s where we can create and share our favourite holiday traditions as a family. And while I’m all for a warm-weather getaway during those winter months, there’s nothing better than a fresh snowfall on Christmas morning.

Speaking of holiday traditions, this past weekend, we drove into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with my father-in-law to cut down our Christmas tree. This annual tradition is something that I remember well from my childhood, which is why I wanted to share it with our daughter this year.

Growing up in northern British Columbia, the hunt for our family Christmas tree was a long and often miserable ritual that started shortly after sunrise, typically the coldest part of the day. If we were lucky, we’d make it back home before sunset, just in time for fresh-baked Christmas cookies and a warm supper.

Of course, up north, the snow was so deep that my younger brother and I would have to follow in our dad’s footprints, or else we’d end up getting stuck in the snow ourselves. But what stands out most from those memories is when we were sent back into the cold to get another tree because my mother wasn’t happy with the one we’d brought home.

Through years of experience, I’ve learned that it’s not about finding that elusive “perfect” tree; it’s about spending time together as a family. And that’s what we focused on this weekend when we introduced this tradition to our daughter.

Before I officially unplug and disappear into the rest of our family traditions, I’d like to thank you for your support over the past year. You’re the reason I continue to share my reflections and insights here. So whether you’ll be spending the holidays bundled up in winter gear like me or sunning yourself on a tropical beach, I want to wish you a memorable and joyous holiday season with your loved ones.