Creating the Perfect Christmas Morning Feelings: A 5 Senses Checklist
I’m imagining Christmas morning right now. How do I want to feel? How do I want my home to feel?
December 25, 2019 was the last Christmas morning we spent as a “family.” I moved out 16 days later. This will be the 5th Christmas morning since that time that the girls and I started a new tradition. My daughters spend Christmas Eve with their dad and I pick them up at 10 AM on Christmas morning. My parents pick up my grandma (who is 92!) and we all meet at my house to open presents and enjoy cinnamon rolls and breakfast.
The feeling in my home is love, peace, and comfort. It’s not the way it was “supposed to be” and Christmas tends to be the hardest holiday for me and others who have experienced losses of all kinds.
So as I begin to think about this holiday approaching again, I try to focus on what I can control to make it as beautiful and memorable as possible. Lexie has four Christmases left before she graduates and Lauryn has six. Wow.
Back to Christmas morning. Here’s my “5 Senses Holiday Checklist” to make sure it’s perfect:
To Taste:
- Coffee (with Bailey’s optional)
- Orange juice (with champagne optional)
- Hot chocolate
- Homemade cinnamon rolls
- Egg bites
- Candied bacon (with Peppermint RumChata optional)
- Christmas cookies galore
- Holiday plates, napkins, silverware & cups
To Smell:
- A beautiful holiday candle
- Diffuser in the powder bath
- Freshly baked cinnamon rolls
To See:
- A safe driveway - scoop and salt if it’s a white Christmas :)
- A clean, holiday decorated home
- A spot to put coats
- Christmas tree lights on
- The Grinch movie on the TV
- Presents under the tree
To Feel:
- Turn on the fireplace
- Turn up the heat a degree or so - everyone feels cozier when warm
- Plenty of seating
- Lots of love - hugs aplenty!
To Hear:
- Christmas music piped throughout the house thanks to Alexa, including the front porch and garage.
- Love and laughter. Giggles of delight when presents are opened.
The day will be wonderful. We will all gather, open presents, and eat too much. After my parents and grandma leave, the girls and I will make popcorn and watch Christmas movies. The dog will sleep all day. I will journal as I always do before I go to bed and thank the Lord for everything we have. It doesn’t get much better than that. :)
