Let the Decorating Begin

The boxes are tucked away underneath the stairs, where they reside throughout the year.

Forgotten.

The calendar pages turned, one by one, but the decorations remained hidden from sight, waiting their turn. The seasons arrived at their appointed times, as the dark winter days turned warmer with each passing week. Turn the clocks ahead and enjoy the extra hour of daylight. Days turn to weeks, bringing sweltering heat and long walks on the hot beach sand.

Summer gives way to crisp fall days. We turn the clocks back as darkness falls earlier each day. The skyline explodes in hues of orange, yellow, and red until the leaves fall one by one.

Our minds race as meetings and phone calls interrupt our days. Family dinners, bruised knees, and bedtime stories fill our evenings before the little ones are snuggled in their beds. On the weekends, we rush from store to store, buying this and that before we return, bags in hand, bedraggled from our adventures. We fall into bed, exhausted, needing respite. Then we wonder...

Where did the year go?

Suddenly, I stand at the top of the stairs. Waiting. Watching.

Here come the boxes!

It's time! It's time!

My heart beats a little faster in anticipation as the boxes are scattered around my living room. It's almost like Christmas morning! Fond memories surround me as I open the boxes. I can't wait to turn my living room into a winter wonderland.

But first! Tradition!

I turn on the TV, call for help, and wait for the technical wizard to turn on the DVD player. The decorations cannot possibly come out of their boxes until The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is playing on the television.

Now!

Let the decorating begin!

First, I love to unpack my Santas from around the world and place them on the bookshelf. In the background, the children have just arrived at their uncle's house, and they are getting bored playing dictionary games.

Before Lucy could hide in the wardrobe, I had already started unpacking my Nutcrackers. Each Nutcracker is arranged and placed by height.

Lucy Pevensie has fallen prey to the music of Narnia and I stand in the center of the room, watching the flames dance in Mr. Tumnus' fireplace. Shaking off the trance, I unpack my carolers from their dusty boxes.

The piano music never stays on the little black piano, but I stick it on once again. I mumble that this will be the year I reglue the Nutcracker into the basket and the crown on the Mouse King's head. Shaking my head, I laugh, knowing that another year will pass and they still won't be glued.

As I finish placing the carolers, I watch Peter deny Lucy's accounts of Narnia. Oh! Brotherly love. It brings back memories of my kids and the mischievous things that they got up to.

As my mind lingered on their adventures, I pulled out my nativity sets and placed them in their annual spot on the bookshelf. I smiled at the little animals that I placed around the manger.

In the background, the music grew tense, signifying a shift. Edmund abandoned his siblings. The Beavers were on the run! Once again, I stopped decorating and watched as Lucy, Susan, and Peter ran!

It doesn't matter how often I have watched the movie in the past; I still get nervous, as if I'd never watched it before.

The next box is ready to be opened. I can't wait to put out my little wooden village. This year, I have a few additions from my trip to Amsterdam. With each little house placed on the piano, I turned on the lights.

Oh noooooooo!

The batteries are dead. I race down the hall to find the batteries and replace the old ones.

Now! It is time! I smile as the little lights glow and the shadows flicker on the wall. The battle for Narnia rages on as the closing scenes are about to unfold, and I hang each stocking on the door as my grandbabies ask which stocking is theirs. I tell them that they will find out on Christmas morning.

There's one thing left to do.

It's time to take the boxes downstairs and enjoy the Christmas season, as it will fly by.

Plopping down on the couch, I finished the movie and looked around, enjoying my little winter wonderland, knowing the best is yet to come.

The Christmas Tree!

The branches have been fluffed, and the tree is ready as we all gather around, taking turns adding the ornaments we have gathered through the years.

As the day draws to a close, we turn the lights down low and cuddle on the couch, enjoying the dark winter nights with the hope of the season in our hearts.

Author Notes

I hope that you enjoyed this little holiday story.

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