The 12 Day experiment

I'm walking through this 12 Days of Christmas with a light touch, few expectations and an air of experimentation. Also, with determination to acknowledge all those little, beautiful things.

I traveled. Isn't that the perfect way to celebrate Epiphany? I would love to tell you that it was meaningfully thought out and purposefully executed, but that would be a lie. By happy accident, my work schedule had a chunk of time missing that was exactly right for me to hop in my car and make the drive to my family. I'll tell you though, I plan to do it again. Every time I see that sign that says, "Ellsinore 17" I get excited. Just about a 1/4 hour until I hug my Aunt and Uncle. And, technically I made 2 trips, because coming home is also a beautiful thing. Imagine the Magi seeing their home towns after tricking Herod and making it out of Israel without putting the Messiah in danger.

I did purposefully take down some of my Christmas decorations on New Year's Day. It was a slow, lazy day for me. I put on some movies and gathered things together at a leisurely pace. So leisurely, in fact, that much of it is still in piles in my dining room. My poor roommate, she accomplished the same thing in one day (including the dusting and vacuuming). Don't worry, I feel no shame. It's new for me to leave some of the things out, and I did another round of Marie Kondo-ing with the Christmas tree decorations as I put them away. I'm ok with this new pace.

Also, I embraced candlelight. In my early 20's I developed a bad reaction to candles (their scent, their smoke) and I haven't been able to burn them in my home. I was thinking how much I was going to miss the lights of my Christmas tree and how much I missed candlelight soaks in the bath. And I heard a little voice (it sounded a lot like my Aunt Robbie) telling me to stop being so silly. So, I took some of my Christmas money to the after Christmas sales (another benefit of celebrating the 12 days "after" Christmas) and stocked up on battery operated candles and batteries. I love coming from work to my home and "lighting" the candles. Yes to atmosphere and no to headaches and itchy eyes.

So, Santas are away, the tree is out on the curb. Nativities from around the world are still out and sharing space with all of the lovely candles. It's beginning to look like Epiphany (once I get those stacks packed away).

Finally, people are coming to my house to share a meal. Shauna Niequest has written a book (she's written several) that really expresses how important sharing a meal with people is. It's called Bread and Wine, and I found the collection of essays really heart awakening. Sharing food can  happen anywhere, it really can. For me, though, there is something very special about preparing food (be it ever so simple) for people I care about and welcoming them into my living space. So, I'm very excited about ending my Christmas celebration this year with a gathering of women around my table. I'm not stressing, things are going to be simple. The magis gifts were expensive and symbolic. My offering is simple and meaningful.

Travel, candlelight and fellowship, sounds like a beautiful new tradition doesn't it?

Karlie