Deck the halls at double speed

I glance at my December calendar with a mix of excitement and mild panic. With Thanksgiving falling so late this year, I'm feeling the squeeze of fitting an entire holiday season into just three weeks. My kitchen counter is already lined with ingredients for the annual cookie baking marathon – something that usually unfolds over peaceful weekends is now squeezed between work days and my son's various Christmas performances (orchestra, choir, vocal, and more!).

There is also a tree to find and decorate, searching for the perfect gifts, and carving out time to meet up with various friends. The decorations around the house went up in record time last weekend, though half the ornaments are still waiting patiently in their boxes. Oh, and of course, there’s work to be done – end-of-year summaries and planning for 2025. And don't get me started on the shopping list that keeps growing while the days until Christmas seem to shrink.

Yet somehow, between the rushed Target runs and late-night baking sessions, there's still that spark of joy when I catch the scent of pine needles or hear my son practicing his solo for the school concert. Maybe it's the urgency of this shortened season that makes each festive moment feel a little more special, a little more worth savoring.

I hope you find time to pause, reflect on the year behind, and celebrate the year ahead.