Christmas Isn't Your Birthday

Dear Santa,

A lot has changed in the past few years. It's like I woke up one morning and life was altogether different. Maybe I had grown up too fast, or held too high of expectations but presents that once covered the skirt beneath the tree now decreased in numbers. That holiday magic that I so treasure every year, well suddenly it went missing like someone came in and raided our home of cheer. Grandpa walked through our front door for dinner, without Nan trailing behind, and I'm not sure who was more heartbroken, him or us. It's not that I want more presents, more holiday cookies, more Christmas carols on the radio; because these things don't mean anything to me. But instead, this year I want to feel the joy of the holiday with my heart. I want our tree to stand proudly over gifts that you can't find online or at the mall. I want holidays to feel real again.

This year for Christmas, I don't want that new flat iron I'd been hinting at. Those Ugg boots I've always wanted but never owned, they don't mean a thing to me. And that pretty little Swarovski bow necklace that's been calling out to me from the store's window, I probably would only wear it a few times anyways. This year, if you could bring my family some happiness, a lot of good health and a little holiday joy, I would be entirely grateful. Please bring my Grandpa the strength to find happiness and the courage to accept our love and support. We're not the perfect family, we don't always make the right decisions and from time to time we surely drive one another crazy, but we're a family, promising to stick together through this thing called life. Santa, please help me to never forget what it feels like to sit at the dinner table with my Mom, Dad and brother. Because one day it's times like these that I'll treasure the most.

Love Rhiannon

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Diana Scott who for the first time in 18 years, captured our family together in our silly ways. Despite the moaning and groaning that day, I'm so lucky Dad dragged us all out to the beach for the photos. A huge thank you as well to Liesl, one of my sweet blogging friends who held up her end of the deal and actually wrote her Dear Santa letter on the first of the month. Be sure to visit her and say hello! Happy Holidays everyone, please make sure you let those closest to you know how much you love them xo