I have three or four must-see Christmas titles during the holidays. Love Actually, The Holiday, and The Family Stone are my absolute favorites. I’m not sure which I love the most, but each leaves me with a different feeling.
I leave Love Actually feeling hopeful and giddy, The Holiday feeling inspired and adventurous, and The Family stone leaves me feeling full and a little wistful…and honestly, it relates to my life more than the others.
The hustle and bustle of the house full of family, tensions and all. The little girl begging for gifts and siblings fighting over the most ridiculous things. The cooking and fridge full of groceries, and even the spilled casseroles.
The bittersweet time spent with those you love, and the knowledge that it all doesn’t last forever. The mama reminds me of mine so.
There’s this line at the end, after all the fighting and spilling breakfast casseroles, and swapping fiancés. Luke Wilson and Sara Jessica Parker are lying there, looking at the ceiling and both begin humming Joy to the World. Ole Luke has this moment where the importance of what they’re singing sinks in…Repeat the Sounding Joy.
A to the men. Such resounding Truth in a little four-word phrase.
And so it was this year. Our Christmas came and went, in a flurry of last minute wrapping and insane surprises.
P.S. the fort bed and flooring in gray’s room, in fact, did get finished and it was. a. hit.
There were only mild disagreements over the most ridiculous issues, and there was a lot of hugging and so many wistful, teary moments between my mother and I. Not sure what we had going on, but we could not keep it together.
The presents were wonderful, and the company even better, but it was the Sounding Joy that caught my breath this year as my little boy read us the Nativity Story on Christmas Eve.
The Savior is born.
Repeat the Sounding Joy.
Yes, we must take the time to hear “the sounding joy! ” so happy your season was a good one. We share the same gratitude. Nothing like family to spread the LOVE.
Looks like you and your family had a great Christmas and I hope nothing but a Happy New Years to you.
Such happy faces, really,really cute kids! For unto us a child is born. Thanks for sharing!!!!!
If I had to name my favorite holiday movies I would have to pick these exact movies – with Family Stone being #1. I think. Don’t really care much for the old Christmas movies but these make me very happy. Glad you had a happy holiday.
…and now I can’t hold it together after reading your post. Things just aren’t the most important things. Relationships…now that’s the real gift. And you’ll love this next question since I said “things aren’t the most important things.” What is that little thing Ava is riding? I do have 2 granddaughters that might enjoy that little contraption… 🙂
Hey Pam!
It’s an Ezyroller…they LOVE them!! We ordered them on Amazon.
🙂
shaunna
It was a lovely one for us here in Arizona as well. That’s really cute that Grayson read the story of Jesus’ birth. Very special.
Hope you are feeling refreshed. 🙂
So glad that you and yours had a great holiday! I bet that giant bottle of TUMS on the kitchen counter helped prevent the repeat of sounding joy as well! Ha! sorry! I just love that we all have it handy!
ha! exactly!!!
🙂
We all need to repeat the sounding joy!
Awesome! I know that the joy alone is something that drives me to have a great Christmas each and every year. There’s no replacing the look on a kids face or a relative or significant other when they are happy on Christmas! 🙂
Hey i feel good, it reminds me my childhood days such a lovely moments……….