The accumulation of beauty.

I left a note on my parent's bed tonight to let them know that I am sincerely glad to have spent this Christmas with my family.  I did this firstly because yesterday my stance may have been questionable.  It was Christmas Eve and I was worried that I may have found myself stuck in a rut.  This is because I looked back to last year; living away from home, in a different country...I began to worry that a year on and I may be heading in the wrong direction; doomed to become a child again Benjamin Button style.

So Mum and I spent the evening on the sofa playing eye spy, making silly plans for the future; houses, jobs, weddings.  And remembering that life is long and its worthwhile taking the time to slowly develop beauty and good character.  I was reminded I'm not in a rush.

Then Christmas came and this year tradition was swept aside for me (though Dad and Emz have been doing this for a few years) and all four of us went to serve the homeless lunch at the People's Kitchen.  How nice to be together as a family (for obvious reasons Christmas morning church used to cause a divide).  How nice to have a homeless man tell you, "Your Father is a top man!" and to be introduced to all the people who respect your Dad.  How nice for young men fallen on hard times to ask you for a cuddle because its Christmas, or to laugh at yourself because a kiss on the cheek from the local big issue seller is the closest you are going to get to Christmas romance. And oh how nice to have crimped hair the rest of Christmas because you HAD to wear a santa hat.  It was fun, it felt like Christmas.

And then for both Grandmas to come round for family dinner. Grannie because she is usually in Wales, Granmummy because she wrote, "I miss you and Emma when you are away the house is empty" in my Christmas card.  She isn't one to ever share feelings so this melted my heart.  I actually cut it out and stuck it in the cover of my journal, that's how much it meant. And yes I got to be frustrated by yet ANOTHER year without being able to drink wine... or whiskey... or port.  Though I will be thankful for that when we embark on the boxing day run tomorrow morning.

And then as I tidied my room to make space for my new gifts, I stumbled upon my memory boxes.  I hadn't gone through them in forever so it was such fun to reflect on the different phases of life.  Medals, photos, letters, keepsakes.  And then I started a new one, for this phase.  This sweet and colourful phase.  Merry Christmas, today is a good day.