Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Home for the Holidays

by Kelly



My daughter Kelsey got home from college last Thursday.  And since then, I have been soaking up every minute of time that I get to spend with her.


Over the weekend, she and I were invited to my friend Becky's house for her annual gingerbread house decorating party.  It was such a blast. Friendship and laughter and candy...seriously...so much fun.  

Sidenote:  My choice, however, to create a split-rail fence out of mini-pretzel sticks may have got me kicked off the invite list for next year though. #overachiever 


One of my favorite things though, was seeing everyone's finished houses.  Such awesome creative ideas!



All of those unique gingerbread houses got me thinking about about home...and what exactly that means to me. Part of it is a definite attachment to my physical dwelling.  I love cooking and baking and decorating for the holidays and for the most part, home is where that happens.  And then for the past few years, home has taken on the additional dimension of having my daughter home from college.  For weeks I look forward to the text that says she's finished with her last final and in the car heading home.  Yeah...I'm basically a walking Hallmark commercial.  


But I also know that 'home for the holidays' can mean different things to different people. Perhaps 'home for the holidays' means travelling to be with loved ones.  Home being the place where you grew up.  The familiar sights and the familiar faces of family and friends.  Or maybe, home doesn't look like anything like that...maybe being at home is on the beach or an exotic location.


Regardless, though, of whether it is a red-brick traditional or a thatched-roof tiki hut, I believe home is that place where we feel most alive.  Home is where we feel loved and inspired.  And so this week I urge you to celebrate it. Share with us what 'home for the holidays' means to you.


Wishing you every peace and blessing this holiday season.


Love, Kelly

11 comments:

heyjudephotography said...

This looks like such fun!! Gathering together with friends and family - so special this time of year especially! And you had me laughing out loud when you said you may be banned next year because of your pretzel fence!! Great laugh to start the day, great post.

Unknown said...

Love these gingerbread houses ... I think I can smell them ... I too love to be at home - truly that's where I thrive, cook bake, photograph, walk, rest ... This year we're spending Christmas at each of our daughters' homes so they become my "homes for the holidays" and I'm grateful to be with my family - it's true "home is where the heart is" ...

Kim Stevens said...

Oh golly, it's so much fun to decorate those - I didn't get to it last year because I was sick - but hopefully we can this year. When my kiddos were little, our local grocery store always had a decorating party and they loved it! Love the palm tree..... :)

Cathy H. said...

Oh how fun! I would love to see more of your pretzel fence! Home is with family and they come here to our home. This year we're celebrating Christmas early, this weekend in fact. I can't wait to hug them all!

terriporter said...

Well, I was in love with that split-rail fence the second I saw it and you would not be banned if I had anything to say about it! Such a fun tradition! Oh, yes, home definitely has different meanings to different people. Before kids, we used to spend Christmas with my parents or my inlaws but once my children were born, I was adamant that they spend Christmas in their own homes and so the grandparents would come to us. All these many years later, my kids still come home for Christmas and it makes me so happy. It may not always be this way, but for now I will treasure every Christmas I can spend in my own home with my children and grandchildren gathered around.

CarolHart said...

Such a fun gathering and all these houses look grand. We have been living in our home for 32 years. Its walls are filled with memories we have built over the years. But even with that, I can say that for me, "home" is wherever I am with loved ones. Merry Christmas.

Margie said...

Where do you find the time to do all you do and work? Do you sleep?

Odd Moon Designs said...

Such a lovely post! Love seeing all of the gingerbread houses (love your fence!). What a wonderful way to connect with friends during the holidays.

Dotti said...

Gingerbread Houses! I love them! I've never made one ... I know the limits of my culinary skills. But these are so whimsical and fun. And, yes. I know how your heart feels to have your girl home. Enjoy. And then enjoy some more.

Unknown said...

Lmao at your split rail and over achiever hashtags. You have a fun holiday tradition going. I think I can smell the gingerbread too!

Anonymous said...

I'm just as happy at my land home for Christmas this year as I was at my boat home last year! Guess I'm lucky that I can be happy pretty much anywhere. Love the image of the split rail pretzel fence :D and am digging those pretzel windows too. Thinking that one year I'll have to make a gingerbread sailboat!

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