Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la!
A random fact about me: I love listening to Christmas music. I will turn up the volume and belt it out. If you’re in my car, I will insist that you sing with me. I can listen to it throughout the year, not only in December.
But what if your season ISN’T jolly?
There is nothing jolly about my heater breaking the other day and it was only 35F degrees out — and I have 3 kids and a puppy to keep warm. I was struggling to stay sane with my husband, Lawrence, away on another business trip. This past year, I had some health issues, which has effected us emotionally and financially. And every Christmas, I feel the void of my dad’s passing because this was the holiday when I’d see him.
Well, get this…
I still love listening to holiday music even though it may sound contrived when there are things I’m worried/stressed/unhappy about. You know why?
Because every Winter, there are cheerful holiday songs playing on the radio. No matter what. That reminds me that time never stands still. Things are ever-changing, and that includes how we see things.
We had warm clothes to wear when the heater went kaput. Whenever my kids found out I was cold, they’d rush over to hug me to keep me warm! Lawrence travels frequently for work, but he always returns home safely. I found some great doctors who helped me with my health issues. And although I wish we could be spending the holidays with my dad (or just have my kids and Lawrence meet him!), I know that it was his sudden passing that gave me the kick in the pants to change my career to one that makes my heart happy.
The songs remind me that things will be okay, so why not be joyful. Be thankful. Be good to others because some have it worse than I do. And enjoy the little things because time continues to move, and you don’t want to find out that the ‘little thing’ was actually a ‘big thing’ and miss it.
So last Sunday, I had my last shoot for 2016 with Leonard, Gabrielle, Christian and Livvy. It was a Styled Shoot with a Winter theme, so we had it at a Christmas Tree Farm.
Everything about it makes me want to belt out holiday music. <3
