Danita, your Christmas sounds so lovely. Christmas was always such a special time in our house...we were all convinced that Mom was the reincarnation of Santa Claus, not just at Christmas but all year round. But her Christmases were phenomenal all the way around.

That was one of the most difficult losses when Dad and Mom died. Our Christmases. They'll never be the same. But our house became the new Christmas central, not just for my family, but for hubby's family as well. It wasn't an honour I particularly wanted, being so introverted and easily stressed. But it is what it is, and now we have double the family sitting at the table that we had when Mom and Dad were alive! In fact, it's become so big that we have to have a second Christmas on the 27th for my brother and two nieces.

So we've spent the last four Christmases trying to create our own special celebrations, taking what we most loved from Mom's traditions and combining them with what we want Christmas to be (i.e., less gift-oriented), plus trying to incorporate some of the traditions on hubby's French side (which are completely different from my family's!) What ends up happening every year, despite my best efforts to gentle it down, is that the 25th is an overwhelmingly hectic mish-mash of traditions that don't always blend well, while the 27th is a much gentler, more enjoyable second chance to celebrate!

It hasn't been easy, and I admit that what used to be such a cherished family celebration has turned into a day that I dread. But I keep persevering, trying to relax and make it the day that I want it to be - while not disappointing the varied assortment of house and dinner guests. It helps to remember that we have that second Christmas on the 27th...I always enjoy that one more and consider that to be my REAL Christmas now.