Christmas Away from "Home"

These days, I have really been feeling the Christmas spirit. Friday is our last day of school before our big holiday break, everyone in my neighborhood has their houses dressed to the nines in lights, my house is decorated and our mini tree glows with lights every evening. Michael and I have even received and opened our Christmas presents from Santa (aka: my parents).

Wait! What? We already opened our presents from "Santa"?!

Yeah..

This year for the first time in my entire life, I will be spending Christmas away from my parents' home.

Away from my family.

Away from my childhood friends.

Away from all of my favorite Christmas traditions.

This summer when Michael's mom approached me about spending Christmas with their family I wasn't surprised. I expected it. I knew that it was about time we grace the other side of the family with our presence on Christmas.

But that didn't make it any easier for me. In fact, at the time, I even shed a tiny tear over the impending loss of Christmas as I know it.

I'm not going to lie or candycoat. The truth of the matter is that spending Christmas away from my family is a huge deal for me. But I also know that Michael leaves for Afghanistan for a year in a few months and his family deserves to have that special time with him before he leaves.

That's not to say, though, that I am dreading Christmas. I'm not. I'm excited. We will be spending the holidays in Arkansas with Michael's sister, her husband, our two nephews, and Michael's parents. I know that we will have a great time. I know that my five-year-old and 2 and a half year-old nephews will make Christmas Day special. I know that my sister-in-law will prepare and serve a delicious Christmas meal. I know we will have lots of laughs and even go on an adventure or two.

I'm sure this Christmas will be wonderful. It just won't be my traditional Christmas. And I won't get to be with my family this year. That's the part I'm having a little bit of trouble with.

I guess it's time for me to grow up, though. Because if you ask me, nothing says "grown up" like Christmas away from "home".