Bringing Order After the Holidays

I love the holiday season! The lights, music, and gatherings with family and friends make it a very warm and magical time of year. So many wonderful memories made to carry forward once the festivities come to an end.

After taking some time to unwind and breathe, we look around and realize that it is time to undo all the Christmas magic we created so many weeks ago. Keepsakes to carefully wrap and store, trees that need to have decorations removed, candles to be taken from the windows, and cards to reread before parting with the warm sentiments they brought. So many mixed emotions come with this task.

Slowly we begin to undo what it took so long to create. With each task, our home which seemed so warm and cozy for weeks, starts to transform. The tree that once filled the front window is put back into storage leaving a big empty void. The decorations once again go into hiding, staying safe and snug until the time arrives for them to shine once more. 

We dust, vacuum, and clean through the house, clearing away any signs of the holidays that remained. For a time, our home will seem barren and a bit cold. Any winter storms will not help in erasing this cold feeling, and the shorter daylight hours make it seem colder at times.

As January progresses the sun will rise higher in the sky, and we will be graced with more daylight hours. The bright sunshine and longer days make it seem warmer even if the temperatures do not tell the same story. Funny how sunshine changes our perception to the point where we can almost feel the warmth in our bones.

In time, what seems barren will once again feel normal. Order will once again replace the hustle and bustle of December, and everything will be back where it was before being set aside for that special time of year. For a couple of months, we will settle in and enjoy hot soups and stews, and an occasional cup of cocoa to warm us. Our time to "nest" or "hibernate".

Before we know it, the seasons will slowly begin to transform. A hint of spring will bring us from hibernation, and our minds will be filled with anticipation for the gardening season ahead. Eager to bring order to what the earth has to offer. 

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