with a sprinkle of contentment

Hi there! Just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and chitchat over a cup of tea for a minute. I promise this won't be long. After the hustle and bustle of finals the past week, I feel like I'm only now catching a big breath and winding down for a much-needed break. This could be a long mushy post about how sentimental I feel about finishing up my first semester of college, but instead I'd rather document how I feel at this moment and that is contentment.

People usually count their blessings for Thanksgiving, but it's been a month and I'm still counting. Right now the house is quiet other than my Mat Kearney Spotify playlist crooning on repeat from my speakers. The parents have retired for the night; a little something that I still haven't quite gotten used to yet. I can't even remember when that started becoming a thing, when my brother and I started staying up later than our parents and they went to bed earlier than we did. Life pedals onward.

Just earlier, the four of us stood around the living room, having just picked my brother up at the airport, admiring his new jacket. I noted how my mother had new boots to wear and me a cheeky sweater splurge from my trip to the city yesterday. I glanced at Dad in his pajamas. He stood in his usual pose, one hand running through his thinning hair, and the other on his chest, a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Man, Dad doesn't have anything new" I felt a twinge of guilt that I hadn't gotten him anything.

Mom responded without missing a beat, "He does. He has a new heart."

Every single time I think of how easily it could have been just three of us opening presents Christmas morn instead of four, I tremble. It's not the idea of dying that scares me per se, but thinking about the possibility of  having to live without a loved one around.

And so, this is why my heart is content tonight as I sit typing away at this keyboard. This is why I'm still counting my blessings. When it comes down to it, this whole "aura" of the season that society emphasizes is about family or being together with people you love. I know it's awfully cliche, but having just walked out of this with my own family, I believe every word of it and it only affirms that God has big plans for us. He's not done here yet and Lord willing, we're going to finish the job.

Okay, I've said enough now. Heed my last parting words. I don't care if that extra bite will make your jeans too tight, eat it anyway. Go to bed whenever you want, but get up early and spend time with your folks because honestly, they love it and chances are, you will to. Be merry. Laugh because you just finished school and don't have to think about it for a good few weeks. Make more food than you can eat. Bum in your pajamas, because... pajamas. Why not? But mostly, let your heart be grateful. A sprinkle of contentment goes a long way. It truly is a beautiful time.