Ahhh Christmas time. A happy but in some respects, stressful time of year. Gifts need to be bought, bags need to be packed, coffee dates with friends need planned.
I’m always excited for Christmas more than any other holiday because it means I get to hop on an airplane and go back to Washington to visit my family. Louisville is home now, but Bellingham will always be my hometown. My entire family is there, and I have a handful of wonderful friends I get to see as well from my primary school years. I still have one week before I leave, but I’m already planning in my head of what I need to pack and what I need to do to lock the house up while I’m gone.
I don’t wish for any extravagant gifts except quality time and maybe an adventure with my family. Ok, I might still be that horse girl who asks for a horse for Christmas. And my birthday, especially after losing my girl over a year ago. But anyway, I might be hoping for a new laptop, you know, for work purposes. If I could ask for anything it would be an international trip with the family
Christmas 2017, featuring Amber
Moving to Kentucky from Washington has made me more appreciative of all the things Washington has to offer. Now, I feel like a tourist when I go back to visit, wanting to do all of the fun things and see the sights. This visit home I would love to make it up to Vancouver, Canada or maybe Leavenworth. Leavenworth is an adorable Christmas town with all the German flair in the Cascade mountains, and its everywhere on Pinterest in the winter season. And Vancouver, of course, is an amazingly diverse, metropolitan city with a touch of European flair. This would be a perfect little adventure for us siblings, while mom and dad are working. I don’t want to go just for the photo-ops, but to enjoy time as a family doing something, and engaging with each other. Last year I went skiing with one of my younger cousins, and we had a blast, despite it being a very wet day.
Working in the service industry means that the holidays keep us busy. And this year is no exception. The past few months have been rather taxing mentally. I’m extra ready for a couple weeks off work this year, and am looking forward to just decompressing and going back to see my horse trainer for a couple of cutting lessons.
There is so much to be thankful for this season. I can’t wait for a long, warm hug from my momma and a lazy grey afternoon full of football playoff games and Louisville basketball with my dad. As my siblings and I have all gotten older and are all legally adults now, we’ve become so close and are great friends. We really appreciate our time together now since it’s fewer and far between, as life goes.
Cheers and Merry Christmas!