After the months of stresses, the last minute flurries and anxieties, suddenly it was upon us.
Christmas Eve. And so, with our offspring in tow, we went to the children's mass at the Cathedral in Sydney.
It's hard to hide tears when you watch three little heads excitedly bob up and down as they join in the singing of the carols. Husband and I exchanged grins as they exclaimed over the Nativity Scene, and we helped to steady nervous little hands, as they lit candles to honour the memories of family members who were and always will be absent from our Christmas festivities.
The pang of sorrow I will always feel about my aunt and godmother was ever present. But we have learned to co-exist this pain and I. She may be gone, but the love? That was and will always remain.
Christmas day itself was magical.
My brother and sister in law opened their heart and home to us. This was despite the fact they had become parents again only days before.
From the delicious cinnamon rolls Kenna baked for us, through to the pecan pies my brother made as well as my mum's cooked turkey and hams, there was a veritable feast for all.
It was of course, served on plastic plates and eaten using knives and forks of the same vintage. When you're moving house in a couple of weeks and the house itself is about to be knocked down, it's the perfect way to eat.
(and this was brunch, you should have seen lunch!)
There was an amazing wine tasting session and the introduction of a new family tradition called "Dirty Santa." And naturally there was a continual stream of jokes that left my sides aching from laughter the next day.
We watched as the offspring and their cousins played on the "slip and slide"outside, and all day I felt total contentment.
That this Christmas, that was spent on the other side of Australia, in a house that will be demolished in a few short weeks was the perfect place for us all to be.
In some way, this rundown, almost ramshackle home symbolised exactly what Christmas means to me. That it doesn't matter really what it all looks like at all, it's the love we are surrounded by that really counts.
I hope you and yours had a wonderful time
xxx
